Following heavy flooding across the country, the Department of Social Protection has announced details of its Humanitarian Assistance Scheme to give financial support to those who have had their homes damaged, as well as to small businesses (up to 20 employees) that could not secure insurance against flooding. Details and forms can be found at www.redcross.ie
Dunnes Stores is reportedly lining up a number of stores to feature a new 'farmers market' style Food Hall, according to The Sunday Times. The paper reports that the retailer is planning to unveil the new food format at Cornelscourt, Tralee, Bishopstown and Newbridge, to add to the recent launches in Rathmines and St. Stephen's Green.
After overseeing the purchase of Avoca for more than €60 million, Donal O’Brien has been named the president of Aramark Northern Europe, which will encompass Aramark’s operations in Ireland, Britain and Denmark. O’Brien will now oversee a team of 14,000 staff and a company with revenues of more than €800 million, says The Sunday Business Post.
Lidl has opened a new concept store in Banbridge, Co. Down. The Irish Independent reported that the store follows recently-unveiled new format outlets in Gorey and Clonmel, and will be larger and more energy-efficient than other stores in its estate. "This state-of-the-art design will allow us to streamline our processes and to enhance our customer shopping experience even further, while still offering top-quality products at market-leading prices," a Lidl spokesperson said.
Kellogg’s has been confirmed as an official Team Ireland Partner for the Rio Olympics 2016. The partnership means Kellogg’s will have Team Ireland marketing rights across its brands, including Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Special K, Squares and Pringles from now until the end of 2016. In a statement, Kellogg’s said that it will engage in a 'full year marketing and activation program', leveraging its portfolio to create category-driving events, executed across multiple channels.
Chairman of the Irish Farmers’ Association, Nigel Renaghan is urging Irish consumers to support local farmers by buying Irish-reared turkeys this Christmas. “Buy an Irish turkey and be sure of what you’re getting for Christmas. Irish turkeys are reared to the highest possible welfare standards and are fully traceable back to the farm,” he commented, adding that buying Irish helps sustain the 300,000 jobs connected to farming and food in the country. He also thanked all retailers who are supporting Irish farmers by selling Irish-reared turkeys.
Trade union SIPTU is calling for greater action on wealth redistribution, following the publication of a study by TASC that indicates that half of all wealth in Ireland is held by the top 10% of households, with the bottom 50% only holding 5%. The study used data from the Central Statistics Office’s Household Finance and Consumption Survey, and also shows that 72.7% of net wealth is held by the top 20% of households.
Fingal County Council has granted permission for a new Lidl to be built at the ‘Old Tin Church’ site in Portmarnock, Co. Dublin. The development is set to include the construction of a two-storey building with a supermarket and off-licence, two retail units, a café and two office units. The proposed development also includes both car and bicycle parking.
While the latest CSO Inflation Figures show minimal variation in overall inflation figures, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) has warned that headline figures are disguising a steady increase in business costs. “While the composite CSO figures show negative or zero inflation in each of the last twelve months, the figures disguise the high business costs that are seriously impeding SMEs’ ability to grow,” said ISME Chief Executive, Mark Fielding. ISME has also drawn attention to what it calls “the unaffordable wage pressures” being placed on small Irish businesses, following the recently announced minimum wage increase.
The Bandon Business Alliance, a group, claiming to represent 64 businesses in Bandon, Co. Cork, has sent a letter to the Cork County Council Commercial Rates Department, saying if construction of a proposed Bandon flood relief scheme does not start on time, they will refuse to pay rates, reports Breakingnews.ie. Construction is due to begin on June 30th, 2016.
© 2015 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan.
