Top stories in the paper this week 1 – 7 January 2011
'Irish Daily Star Sunday' to close; Superquinn Naas to close next month following lease expiry; Calls for minimum price for alcohol sales
Print7 January 2011
1. ‘Irish Daily Star Sunday’ to close
The Irish Daily Star Sunday newspaper is to cease publication with the loss of 17 jobs. The Irish Times reports the ‘Star Sunday’ has never recorded a profit and last year reported losses of over €1 million. Independent Star Ltd MD, Paul Cooke, said the paper was projected to lose more money in the current year. However he said the move would have no impact on the Irish Daily Star, which is expected to report 2010 profits of almost €6 million shortly.
2. Superquinn Naas to close next month following lease expiry
Superquinn has confirmed that it intends to close its store in Naas, Co Kildare next month after the landlord of the site, Primark, demanded possession. The Irish Times reports that Primark, which trades as Penneys, went to the High Court on Wednesday to demand that Superquinn vacate the store after the lease expired. The Irish-owned retailer has said it will try to redeploy some of the 100 affected staff to other stores after the closure on 4 February.
For more on staff and trade union Mandate’s reaction to the closure in the Irish Independent, click here
3. Calls for minimum price for alcohol sales
The Vintners Federation of Ireland has called for a minimum price to be set on alcohol sales. RTE News reports President Gerry Mellett says pubs cannot compete with the low prices charged by supermarkets who, he claims, use alcohol to attract customers to buy groceries as well. Figures released by the Revenue Commissioners show the number of pub licences in Ireland has fallen by 1,300 over the past five years.
4. Britvic Ireland implements 100 redundancies
Britvic Ireland has said it is seeking approximately 100 redundancies across Ireland. The Belfast Telegraph outlines how this will affect the company’s businesses in Omagh and on the Castlereagh Road in Belfast. According to MD Andrew Richards, the changes were due to a "much-altered market". "This is critical given a structural shift in the market over the past three years that has included volume growth in the grocery channel and contraction in the licensed and impulse categories," he said.
5. UK’s Waitrose to open 39 new stores
UK supermarket chain Waitrose has capped its best ever Christmas trading period by announcing expansion plans that will see it create 3,000 jobs this year. The Evening Echo reports the retailer will open 39 stores in 2011, nearly doubling its rate of growth from the 20 it opened in 2010. The new outlets will include 27 convenience stores, marking a big increase in the roll-out of this format, launched last year. Convenience stores will open in locations including Old Brompton and Palmers Green in London.
6. Retailers in North warn VAT hike will take toll
Northern Ireland’s business groups have warned that the UK rise in VAT from 17.5% to 20% will slow the economy and threaten job security. Francis Martin, president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, said in the Irish Times that a VAT increase could push many companies – already hit with bad weather before Christmas and the subsequent water supply crisis – to the wall. However, newspapers, magazines, childrens’ clothing and food are exempt from VAT in the UK.
Also:
Asda chairman Bond steps down (Belfast Telegraph)
Dan White: I got it right (unfortunately) about 08, 09 and 2010, now here are my 2011 predictions (Evening Herald)
Unease over Sunday trading (The Irish Catholic)
Big freeze hits high street stores (Belfast Telegraph)
– Fashion chain Next said it lost £22 million in sales in December as a result of the big freeze, while HMV’s UK and Ireland like-for-like sales slumped by 13.6% in the five weeks to January 1.
Full of beans but running on flat sales (Sunday Tribune)
– Interview with McDonald’s Ireland chief executive, John Atherton.
Arrival of rates bill on doorstep is nail in coffin for many businesses, says Chamber CEO (Galway Advertiser)
Retailers try to forget festive season (Cork Independent)
Dublin retail sector hit harder than regional shops by Christmas slump (Mayo Advertiser)
Heat is on to recruit eco-friendly retailers (Belfast Telegraph)
Rose to step down from M&S helm (Evening Echo)
Retailers rejoice in shopping bonanza (Irish Independent)
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