Did you know… Lidl teamed up with Womans Way Magazine to award an Irish Mum €5,000 in Lidl vouchers? The awards were held in the Four Seasons Ballsbridge yesterday and recognised the efforts of Irish Mums from all over the country. Now in their 11th year, the Woman’s Way Mum of the Year Awards asks children, spouses or family members to nominate a Mum who deserves to be rewarded for raising her family. The 15 finalists were chosen to attend the lunch awards ceremony after being whittled down from thousands of applicants. Lidl teamed up as sponsor of the awards two years ago and were pleased to award Olive Duffy from Leinster as the overall winner, nominated by her daughter Sinead. Olive took home a €5,000 Lidl voucher amongst many other prizes.
Did you know… Orpens Cider has won three awards at the International Cider Challenge? The Dublin-based cider company won gold for Design and Packaging and a trophy for Packaging. The cider also won bronze at the awards, which were held in the UK. Additionally, the company won a bronze award at the great Lakes International Cider and Perry Association (GLINTCAP) awards in the US. Orpens cider is currently stocked in Tesco and a number of off-licences and restaurants in Ireland. The company prides itself on only using Irish grown apples. The cider retails at €2.69 per bottle of €10.49 for four 33cl bottles in Tesco.
Did you know… The tonnage of fresh potatoes on the Irish market has fallen by 17% in the past twelve months? Research commissioned by Wilson’s Country highlighted the trend, which is due to ongoing pressure on household budgets and strength of potato prices in the last year. Wilson’s Managing Director Lewis Cunningham told Agriland that the research also shows a strong link between inflation and potato consumption levels.“During those period when inflation is high, the level of potato purchases tends to drop off.” He also said that the research shows that potatoes have a 96% household penetration across all Irish households, but there is a growing shift towards older age groups becoming the main purchasers of the vegetable. Cunningham said,“It is crucially important for the potato sector to ensure that younger people continue to have exposure to potatoes.” Cunningham also expressed his concern for the amount of food wastage by consumers. He said, “Obviously, consumers are aware of the sheer volumes of potatoes which they are throwing away. And this, in turn, brings up the relevance of smaller retail pack sizes.”
Did you know… Aldi has been refused planning permission for another store in Mullingar? Westmeath County Council had granted the permission but it was overthrown by An Bord Pleanala. The Dublin Road project was refused due to inadequate parking, loading areas and turning space, which would be safety hazard for the public, according to An Bord Planning Inspector Fiona Fair. She said, “The proposed development would constitute overdevelopment of a restricted site and result in undesirable piecemeal development of lands zoned for mixed use development.” Cllr Aidan Davitt criticised the decision to remove planning permission as the new Aldi store would have brought jobs to the area.
Did you know… An e-cigarette company has announced 80 new jobs at its plant in Waterford? The company, Healthier Smoker, will employ 40 new staff in its retail outlets, while another 40 will work at the 24,000 sq ft production facility in Waterford. Healthier Smoker was established two years ago and now employs 300 people. However its rapid expansion, and demand for its products from the China and the USA, means it could have 1,000 people on the payroll by this time next year.The company now produces in excess of 50,000 bottles of e-liquid and its expansion will see it produce around two million bottles per week. Company spokesman Stephen Ryan said, "The fact that we have a 95% retention rate among people trialling the liquids speaks for itself and the response from customers certainly attests to it."
Did you know… The Irish Atlantic Seafood Company (IASC) is set to export its new shellfish butter to the Middle East? The innovative product is the first of its kind in the world and is produced in Cork. Managing director of IASC, Colin Ross told the Irish Examiner, “Everybody who launches a product believes in it, but we have a truly unique product in this shellfish butter. It is the only one of its type in the world. We were the first to come up with a process to make long-life protein butter.” Ross said that the company have a range of products in development and plan to launch 20 new products over the next five years. “We want to be setting the trend and on the crest of that wave.” IASC was founded by Ross and his Prestige Catering partner, chef James Grimes. They developed the mussel butter as part of Bord Bia’s Foodworks programme. The Irish Shellfish Butter won the BIM Seafood Innovation of the year 2013 at a prestigious Blas na hÉireann/Taste of Ireland awards.
Did you know… Marks and Spencer has agreed to take a unit in the planned redevelopment of the Limerick parkway Shopping Centre? The centre was abandoned mid-build when the recession hit the country but will now be renovated for €100 million. Belfast-based developer Suneil Sharma has submitted a planning application to Limerick City County Council. He said, “Marks & Spencer have agreed to take 100,000 square feet in the new scheme — their largest store outside Dublin.” He said that he is also in talks with other major retail brands to confirm them taking units in the centre and will announce once confirmed. The centre, known as Horizon Mall, has 29,000 sq metres of retail space, 2,800 sq metres for food outlets, 3,400 for leisure as well as car parking for 1,575 cars and a creche. The proposed building will create up to 2,000 jobs in construction and retail.
© 2014 - Checkout Magazine by Genna Patterson
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