Top stories in the papers this week 8 – 15 July 2011
Shopping basket costs on the rise again as price wars fizzle out; Aldi awarded 19 gold stars in Great Taste Awards; Upward only rent reviews to be banned
Print15 July 2011
1. Shopping basket costs on the rise again as price wars fizzle out
A National Consumer Agency (NCA) survey has shown prices for branded items have risen by more than 5% at supermarkets over the past year. The Irish Independent reports that the survey also found identical prices existed for many items – indicating that the retailers involved – Tesco, Dunnes, Superquinn and SuperValu – were more focused on matching competitors’ prices rather than beating them.
2. Aldi awarded 19 gold stars in Great Taste Awards
Irish-made products have won 325 awards in the 2011 Great Taste Awards. The Irish Times reports that among the winners are Supervalu, Superquinn and the Irish arm of the Aldi retail chain, which got more than 15 awards each. Aldi was awarded 19 gold stars for products sourced by Irish suppliers, while further Irish winners from other retail chains are expected to emerge in coming days.
3. Upward only rent reviews to be banned
Upward only rent reviews are to be banned by the Cabinet within weeks in a bid to stop the haemorrhaging of retail jobs. The Irish Examiner reports Ministers are set to radically revise the law before the Dáil rises later this month. Property owners will face court action if they fail to be flexible with businesses under the new legislation which will be pushed through the Oireachtas when it returns in September.
4. Greencore to buy Uniq for £113m
Greencore is to buy pre-packed UK food group Uniq in a deal valued at £113, or €128m, the food giant has announced. The Evening Echo reports the group believes the purchase will help achieve greater scale in the food-to-go and chilled desserts markets. Uniq focuses its business on pre-packed salads, sandwiches and chilled desserts for the major retailers and food service such as M&S, in the UK.
5. Cheese producer plans expansion with €500,000
Cashel Blue Cheese producer J&L Grubb will double its exports to the USA and reinforce its sales routes into Britain, as a result of a new €500,000 fund secured from Ulster Bank. The Irish Examiner reports the funding has also allowed J&L Grubb to construct and furnish a new, state-of-the-art factory premises at Beechmount, Fethard, Co Tipperary, which was completed in December 2010.
Also:
Mayo retailers appointed to national Eurospar council (Mayo Advertiser)
Low levels of consumer confidence temper pricing and flatten inflation (Irish Examiner)
Council thumbs up for out-of-town development in Ennis (Clare Champion)
Emails from UK supermarkets ‘bullied’ farmers (Irish Independent)
Dozens held over credit card fraud (Irish Times)
Market hit as values and rents fall further (Irish Times)
ISME: Retailers unable to pay rates (Irish Examiner)
NI business survey shows further fall (Belfast Telegraph)
Who makes a 5,000% mark up on credit cards? (Irish Independent)
Daily Mail refuses to pass on cut in VAT (Evening Herald)
Decision on town parking fees delayed (Belfast Telegraph)
Costs of food waste are mounting for consumers and the environment (MEP Liam Aylward)
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