Did you know… Spar has launched a ’Twitter Christmas Tree’ campaign? The campaign, which will be 'powered' by tweets using the #underthetree hashtag, is part of a fundraising initiative that will see the convenience retailer donate €20,000 to the National Children’s Hospital. Each #underthetree tweet will contribute towards helping turn on the 1,600 festive bulbs one-by-one until the tree is completely lit. Once fully illuminated, Spar will make the donation to the National Children’s Hospital, marking the launch of their official charity partnership. Spar’s Twitter Tree will be on display above Spar Ranelagh in Dublin until from December 30. People can also watch their tweets light up the giant Twitter tree through a live camera feed on the Spar Ireland website.
Did you know… Unilever is reportedly on the look out to acquire high-end personal care brands? According to Reuters, CEO Paul Polman told investors that the company continues to look at opportunities to make its personal care business 'more premium'. He said that high valuations would not deter the company if the deal was right.
Did you know… Daybreak Ballina has been awarded Daybreak Forecourt Store of the Year? Owner managers Eamonn and Rowena Judge collected the award at the Daybreak annual Store of the Year awards, held recently at Killashee House Hotel. Eamonn said, "We are delighted to have been recognised and this award is testament to all the hard work that our team in Ballina put in on a daily basis. I would also like to thank our loyal customers who continue to support us throughout the year.” Paul Kerrigan, MarketPlace Director, Musgrave Wholesale Partners, said that the awards recognise excellence across our retail network nationwide. “I would like to congratulate Daybreak Ballina on their win,” he said. “At Daybreak, we are passionate about providing a first class and convenient customer experience and all our winners tonight embody what our brand is all about.”
Did you know… Broderick’s Bars and Cakes has won the €70,000 Brand Development Award from Love Irish Food? The prize includes an out-of-home campaign which will run for two weeks nationally across Exterion Media’s retail portfolio PurchasePoints and across its premium digital retail network. The prize also includes print production and digital animation for broadcasting on Exterion Media’s digital network. Following the win, Broderick’s will also be mentored by Love Irish Food and Exterion Media. The company produces individually wrapped cake bars, boxed Mini-bites and tray bakes. Kieran Rumley, executive director, Love Irish Food, said: “This is a significant opportunity for Broderick’s Bars and Cakes to engage with Irish consumers on a national level and to tell the brand success story behind their portfolio.”
Did you know… Last Saturday was 'Small Business Saturday'? The campaign urged consumers to shop locally on the first Saturday in December to raise awareness with shoppers of the need to support local small businesses. Seán Murphy, Retail Excellence Ireland Deputy CEO, said, “We at REI are glad to see that this initiative has been supported by so many in Ireland, as this day is dedicated to supporting the local businesses that help sustain our towns and communities. REI is passionate about supporting and promoting small and town centre businesses. Small Business Saturday can play a key role in securing the future of many of our smaller town centres as the economy improves.” Murphy said that for every €1 spent locally, it brings €4 to the local community through employment sustained and enhanced economic activity levels. The Small Business Saturday initiative first began in the US in 2010 and has spread to the UK and Ireland.
Did you know… Graham’s Bakery, a Northern Irish bakery, has won its first business with one of the biggest supermarkets in the United Arab Emirates for a new range of mini-bite cakes and biscuits. The family owned and managed bakery, which employs 30 people in Dromore, County Down, has recently started supplying Spinneys in Dubai with a mini bite range including shortbread biscuits, brownies, Viennese whirls and swiss rolls. It follows business won with Ocado, the online retailer. The company has been assisted by Pan Euro Foods in Dublin in developing the business and in the delivery of products to Dubai. The products are being air-freighted straight from the bakery to Dubaim and have six week shelf-life.
Did you know… Tesco has taken a long-term lease on a site on Sandwith Street, Dublin 2, of around 348 square metres in sze? Fitting and fixtures are currently being installed, and the plan is to open doors and begin trading early in 2015. This is the third retail letting concluded at Trinity Central in 2014 as Units A and C were let to DHL and Subway. This leaves two other retail units ranging in size from 119–135 sq m (1,281–1,453 sq ft.) The development is defined as a “modern-mixed use” site constructed by Trinity College Dublin. The Trinity bioscience facility, office space, and a new Pearse DART station are incorporated into the development.
Did you know… Bord Bia has won the Grand Prix Award for its Glanbia Consumer Foods/Local Turning: Avonmore in China Research project, at the Research Excellence Awards in Dublin. At the event, Bord Bia also won two other awards, in the 'Innovation in Research' and the 'Excellence in Qualitative Research' categories. Behaviour & Attitudes picked up two awards in the 'Public Policy & Social Research' category and the 'Brand Development & Strategy' category. Other winners at the Awards include Millward Brown (Advertising Research) and RedC (Excellence in Data Analytics). Chairman of the Marketing Society, Mark Nolan said: “We are delighted with the continued success of these Awards, which have attracted over 50 entries this year. It is clear from the quality of the winning entries than a piece of in-depth and incisive research can provide the edge that will create a point of difference for a brand or a business in a competitive market place.”
© 2014 - Checkout Magazine by Genna Patterson and Robert Moloney.
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