Acting Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said that the introduction of a 'special tobacco levy' on the profits of tobacco firms operating in the State would "involve complexity and could undermine the attractiveness of Ireland's corporate tax offering". The Minister was responding to a question from Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty, who asked what the expected revenue from such a tax, set at a rate of 25%, would be.
Hyde Single Malt Irish Whiskey has been named as Best Single Malt Irish whiskey in the world at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition, where it also took the top Double-Gold Medal for outstanding taste. Hyde Whiskey is produced by Hibernia Distillers and is available in 15 markets around the world.
Aldi is applying for planning permission to build a new outlet in Monaghan town. According to NorthernSound.ie, the discount retailer wants to build an 1,800 square metre supermarket, with parking for 83 vehicles, on a site known locally as McNally's carpark.
Aramark’s boss, Donal O’Brien, has revealed to Sunday Independent how the company plans to grow the recently acquired Avoca business abroad. He says Avoca will be positioned as an “aspirational and contemporary” brand to consumers in the US and UK. British locations for new Avoca stores are currently being scouted.
Glanbia has lost part of a contract to supply milk to Tesco, after the retailer decided after review to use Kilkenny Group, Arrabawn and Aurivo instead for its private label milk. However, The Irish Times reports that Glanbia will continue to supply its Avonmore brand to the retailer, as well as Tesco-branded butter and cream.
The UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Aspire Scholarship Programme 2016 is offering up to three MBA and nine MSc scholarships to graduates for the seventh year in a row. Since 2010, nearly 70 scholars have benefited from the scholarship programme. The closing date for entry is 29th April 2016 and applications can be made at the Smurfit School website.
The UK’s National Farmers Union has criticised Tesco for using fictional farm names on a range of new private label products. Phil Bicknell, the NFU's Head of Food and Farming, said on its blog that the names of the farms used by the retailer "don’t have any link to where the product has been sourced from, something that has the potential to confuse or even mislead customers."
There has been a crackdown on illegal abattoirs as the Gardai and the PSNI go after a gang suspected of organising cattle rustling in the Border counties. The Irish Independent reports that two abattoirs were found in unhygienic sheds in Co. Cavan. The meat from these sites was allegedly sold on to butchers in the Border region.
The Competition Authorities in both Brussels and Dublin have not been formally notified of the proposed tie-up between ABP Food Group and Slaney Foods, according to Agriland.ie. The IFA says that the deal would mean ABP would have control of 30% of the country’s beef kill, and around 40% of the sheep kill.
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