Did You Know… 7Up Free launched a installation of coloured balloons on Dublin's Coppinger Row last week? The installation, called 7Up Balloon St, will cover the street until 8 August, and forms part of 7UP Free’s wider 'Refreshingly Original' campaign, which kicked off earlier last month with the launch of a limited edition Tropical Splash variant. The balloons will also be showcased throughout the night with specially designed LED lights decorating the street. As part of the 'Refreshingly Original' campaign, 7UP Free is currently engaged in a series of OOH marketing activities around key Irish landmarks.
Did you know… Teeling Whiskey Company (TWC) has won three Irish Masters Titles and a Gold Award at the Irish Whiskey Masters? TWC received three Masters Titles for each release within its Vintage Reserve range of Irish Single Malts, including the 21 Year Old Silver Reserve, 26 Year Old Gold Reserve and 30 Year Old Platinum Reserve. The Teeling Whiskey Small Batch Blend was also awarded Gold by the judges, at the awards held in London. Additionally, the Teeling Whiskey 30 Year Old Single Malt Platinum Reserve was awarded Gold ‘Outstanding’ at the 2014 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), where it won five medals and has been shortlisted for the IWSC Overall Boutique Distiller of the Year Award, the winner of which will be announced at an awards banquet in November. Jack Teeling, founder of The Teeling Whiskey Company, said, “We are truly honoured for our whiskeys to be so widely recognised at the biggest competitions in the whiskey world, especially at such an early stage in the development of Teeling Whiskey. With construction about to get underway at our new distillery in Dublin, we hope to be able to build on these awards and continue to provide high quality and unique expressions to Irish whiskey drinkers around the world."
Did you know… Tayto Park has applied for planning permission for a €25 million expansion and the development of a rollercoaster? Meath County Council has granted the theme park permission to build the rollercoaster, along with the development of a new entrance, more car parking and visitor facilities. The rollercoaster is to be built by American wood-coaster specialists Gravity Group, and will be one of the largest in Europe, with heights of 32m (105 ft) and speeds of 100kph (62mph). Tayto Park aims to have the structure completed by the beginning of 2015. Receiving 450,000 visitors this year, the park estimates that the 18-hectare expansion could help bring visitor numbers up as high as 850,000 by 2019. Tayto Park, which opened in 2010, is owned by Largo Foods, owners of the Tayto crisp brand.
Did you know… Subway has launched a new €1 million Irish marketing campaign? The marketing initiative aims to notify customers of the return of the ‘Sub of the Day’ offer, which consists of seven subs, one for each week day for €2.99. The campaign will utilise TV, radio, print and digital advertising, on-street activations and a PR campaign. Manaaz Akhtar, regional marketing director for Europe for the Subway brand in the UK and Ireland said, “Our franchisees are excited about the campaign and are really getting behind it. It’s great to be in a position to offer them a bespoke campaign here in Ireland to support the great work they’re already doing.” McCann London and Mediacom have created the the advertising, while Pembroke Communications are creating the public relations aspect.
Did you know… Ireland’s first Tea Academy has been established by award-winning boutique blender Suki Teahouse in Belfast? The academy is part of a £250,000 investment by the tea company. The company is also introducing new blending and packaging equipment as part of the investment programme. The specially-developed workshop and demonstration tasting laboratory are being used by the company for business customers including delis and chefs to learn more about teas and infusions and to work with Suki in creating bespoke blends. Oscar Woolley, Suki Teahouse managing director, says: “The introduction of the Tea Academy is a logical extension of the work we’ve been doing over recent years to brief chefs and staff in delis, independents and cafes about what sets our tea and business approach apart from competitors.” Around 80% of sales for the company’s existing portfolio of 45 teas comes from customers outside Northern Ireland.
Did you know… Kildare Village has launched a Kitchen pop-up to showcase local Irish-produced food? The alfresco restaurant has been created by The Silver Restaurant, Harte's, Fallon’s and The Cheeseboard and will be available until August 31. Food from The Silver Restaurant includes the Beef Burger Feirme Naduirtha and the Tandoori Lamb Burger, while The Cheeseboard offers fresh cut farmhouse cheeses bought direct locally from Irish artisan producers including Coolattin Cheddar Wicklow, Castlefarm Gouda Kildare, Kockdrinna Kilkenny and Mossfield Offaly. Other dishes will range from Prime Hereford Steak Burgers, Handmade Sausages to Warm Bacon Blaas. Kildare Village is open seven days a week until 7pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8pm Thursday and Friday and 7pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Did you know… The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises association (ISME) has requested that the government put a focus on competitiveness in the forthcoming Budget. ISME said in its pre-Budget 2015 submission that it is important for the government to encourage generating savings through cost savings and productivity rather than increased taxes. ISME chief executive Mark Fielding said, “This Budget must focus on the transition from austerity to growth for businesses who have survived the recession and are now ready to capitalise on the recovery.” Fielding said it is vital for the Budget to dispel the uncertainty and provide a clear outline and direction on how the Government intends to deal with the public finances, business costs, lack of bank credit and unemployment. ISME also called for the Government to reaffirm stable and transparent corporation taxation regime and recommit to the 12.5% corporate tax rate for companies trading here. Did you know… Revenue Commissioners and Gardai seized over 40,000 illegal cigarettes and 27kg of tobacco in Cork City last week? The North City seizure was estimated to have a retail value of €32,000 and a loss to the Exchequer of €25,000. A sniffer dog named Harvey assisted with the search which uncovered brands including MG, Golden Seagiies and Eastenders. Two men in their 50s were arrested at the private dwelling and investigations are ongoing, according to the Revenue.
Did you know… Lidl has conducted a series of blind taste tests across the country? The independent survey was conducted by Coyne Research in four provinces, and 4,600 people from all ages, genders and social classes were asked to taste test over 170 products over 65 days in nine centres. The research found that consumers rated Lidl products “as good as, if not better” than their more expensive rivals such as Moët & Chandon, Nespresso, Tropicana and Nivea. The total price of Lidl’s 129 food products tested was €299.95, compared to €579.57 if a shopper opted for a rival brand. Claire Moran, communications manager at Lidl Ireland commented; “We have put a huge investment into our brands and we undertook the challenge confident that our brands would be winners. Irish consumers want good quality food at a good price – the 'Approved by You' campaign shows that switching brands does not mean that taste or quality is compromised”.
Did you know… Repak sponsored the music festival Castlepalooza, which took place last weekend, in an effort to encourage festival goers to reduce, reuse and recycle to minimise their impact? In 2013, Castlepalooza festival goers wasted 15,600 litres of material, or the equivalent of nearly three articulated trucks filled to the brim of recyclable material lost. They also filled enough skips with material to fill 12,800 two man tents and only recycled one tonne of metal cans – or 2,940 beer cans. While the results from this year's event are not yet released, Repak estimates that the average Castlepalooza festival goer will generate 5kg of rubbish and six in ten will leave their tent behind. They also forecast that 30,000 cans will be used and recycled, equalling 12 per person - which is enough liquid to fill 48 x 25m swimming pools. Castlepalooza took place over the bank holiday weekend in Tullamore, County Offaly.
© 2014 - Checkout Magazine by Genna Patterson
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