Month: March 2016

Grocery Retail Recruitment Experts in Dublin City Centre

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

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Excel Recruitment MD, Barry Whelan and Head of Grocery Retail Recruitment Nikki Murran answered some questions for a March feature in Shelflife Magazine. Here they discussed how Recruitment Agencies can help you and absolve all hardship when it come to a new hire. Statistics from the most recent Retail Sector Survey show the sector has the propensity to be worth €46 billion by 2020. Currently, our industry employs 270,000 people nationwide, with the potential to grow to 310,000 by 2020.

You can read the full fact-file by Orla Keeling here or as attached below.

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Musgrave Marketplace and Bord Bía launch FoodService Academy

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

 

Ten Irish food and drink companies will join the first FoodService Academy, a partnership between Musgrave Marketplace and Bord Bía. Launching today, March 30th, it aims to help small food and drink businesses develop within the Irish market.

Musgrave Marketplace currently works with over 6,000 clients on a weekly bases. The aim of the Academy is to envelop and educate small business which will allow them to achieve growth within Musgrave Marketplace food service businesses. FoodService specialist for Bord Bía Maureen Gahan said ‘’Bord Bia is delighted to work with Musgrave Marketplace for the first time on the inaugural FoodService Academy, looking to grow the sales of small businesses in the market. The FoodService market is delivering real growth and value for Irish food and drink companies’’.

Market Place

Sheena Forde who is Trading Manager at Musgrave Marketplace commented “As the largest and fastest growing wholesaler in Ireland, we are ideally placed to understand the needs of the FoodService market and, as an Irish family business, we are delighted to work with small Irish manufacturers, many of which are family owned, to give them a head start in the market.”

The ‘out of home food market’ which references small food and drink companies is worth €6.37billion and is expected to grow to €6.9billion by 2018. Blanco Nino, Nobó, Tipperary Kitchen and Secret Recipe are amongst those who will benefit from the FoodService Academy.

Image via RTE.ie

‘Tell me about yourself’: Interview Answers

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

The question that is guaranteed in every interview, yet one that can perennially ruin them.

N.B. See it as an opportunity rather than a question.

It can be the most challenging question throughout an interview. While you can recite roles, responsibilities and past duties, this question isn’t so easy and needs to be adjusted per interview. This is yet another point where the Hiring Manager is looking to ascertain whether or not you are a good fit for the job in question. While it may be seen to be a conversational question and often asked quite informally, it is most definitely another instance to see whether you are a fit for the job in question.

Think about what you want the interviewer to know about you.

Don’t go in and try wing it. Prepare and have a natural flow to the question.

This isn’t a filler for the actual interview. There is a purpose behind the question.

Reveal the information which highlights you as a suitable candidate.

As Ireland’s Retail Recruitment specialists, our consultants prepare candidates for interview every day. Here is one such example we think would suit the jobs we recruit for:

Good Example

‘‘I’ve worked in Retail all my life and have ascended into management in the last five years. I first started as a Sales Assistant in _________ where I worked to supplement my income as I studied _________ throughout College, graduating in _______. I grew to love the retail environment and the industry and have held ____________, ____________, and ___________ titles across the years. While at times very challenging it has been incredible rewarding. My highlight was opening the first Flag Ship/ A New Store Opening/ Being promoted etc. as it proved that the company valued and trusted me and the contribution I’d made to date’’.

This is a fool proof answer, which highlights your expertise, beginnings and career trajectory, showing you as a dependable and experienced professional. This is far more beneficial to you as a prospective candidate rather than the answer below:

Bad Example

‘I’m originally from Limerick but live in Dublin. I love animals, good food, fashion and friends. My favourite book is ________________ and I’d love to travel to ___________ someday. In the past I’ve lived in ______________, _______________ and _______________.

Personalise this towards the job in question, preparing a short script in advance.

Think about what you want to convey and how best you can construe this.

Career experience is always pertinent to this question and you should build the answer around this.

Physically write out your answer, as this will also help you visual and remember it.

Avoca to create 80 new jobs and open new store

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Avoca Ireland synonymous with Fashion, Foodhall and Café offering will open their largest Retail Store in Dunboyne Co Meath. It will see 80 new jobs created and will be their 12th store in Ireland. The new store which will reside along the M3 will include a food market, café and fashion & retail store. It will accommodate 35,000 sq. ft across a 4 acre site and have the capacity for 300 cars.

Avoca was recently acquired by Aramark the US catering group for €60 million. It will invest more than €3 million in the new store. Simon Pratt, Avoca Managing Director said “This is our 12th store and our largest and most ambitious to date. We’re investing more than €3 million to create a gorgeous experience for our customers and the fit out will be to the highest standards. The location is superb and will attract consumers from west Dublin, Meath, Kildare and beyond, looking to enjoy the Avoca experience.’’

Avoca currently employ over 800 people staff across the country and are intent on opening another 5 stores over the next 2 years.

Tesco announce 2% pay increase

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

 

Tesco Ireland have announced a 2% pay increase for all staff which will be backdated to April 2015. A Tesco Ireland spokesperson said “Our business performance has not been what we would want it to be over the last few years with sales declining by -6.3% last year and -5.5% the year before.

Tesco have seen their ranking figures in decline as they continue to compete with SuperValu. They furthered ‘’We are awarding a 2% pay increase to all eligible colleagues backdated from the 1st April 2015. We have taken the decision to make this 2% pay award in recognition of the contribution our colleagues make in helping to serve Ireland’s shoppers a little better every day.’’

The Labour Court also made a recommendation that Tesco Ireland pay a bonus to staff, with the retailer saying it is not feasible at this time.

Source: http://www.checkout.ie/tesco-announces-2-pay-increase-backdated-to-april-2015/25467

Wetherspoons on Camden Street put on hold

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

The €4 million planned development of JD Wetherspoons has been put on hold following objections of the over concentration on pubs along Camden Street and Wexford Street, one of the city’s largest strips for nightclubs and revellers.

Dublin City Council have requested further information from the UK publican regarding the super-pub and 98 bedroom hotel development planned for Dublin’s South inner city. Wetherspoons have expressed their desire to open 30 pubs throughout Ireland in the next five years.

In recent months there has been a vast increase in pubs and restaurants popping up within a matter of weeks from Camden Street down till Georges/Dame Street. Dublin City Council have told Wetherspoons it has ‘’concern in relation to the over-concentration of bars and restaurants on Camden Street” It also stated their concerns for noise from the proposed restaurant and outdoor seating area.

Wetherspoon consultants stated it “will deliver a commercial development that will create vibrancy at street level and restore vitality to the surrounding area. The closing time would be 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and the proposed bar will not be a late night bar in the traditional sense they furthered.

Dunnes Stores to overtake Tesco in Grocery league

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Dunnes Stores are just .1% behind Tesco in the Supermarket league according to the latest figure from Kantar Worldwide panel. While Tesco remain in second place with a 24.2% market share, Dunnes Stores are seeing the merits of their recent growth figures. Sales in the Irish Fashion & Food Retailer have grown by 7% year-on-year, commanding a new market share of 24.1% and an astounding €3million increase in revenue per week, across the quarter.

SuperValu continue to dominate at the top with a market share of 25% and an increase in sales of 3.7%. Growth amongst the discounters continues to accelerate. Both Lidl and Aldi sit on par each with an 8.1% market share. The figures accounted for the 12 weeks up until February 28th and is the third successive period where growth has been above 3% for Irish Grocery.

Noteworthy Trends

  • Sales of Fresh Fish increased by 13%
  • Fruit sales increased by 11%
  • Nuts increased by 17% versus last year

http://www.kantarworldpanel.com/ie/Press-Releases/Irish-grocery-market-continues-rapid-growth-in-2016

Nine Dublin Restaurants included in Michelin City Guide

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Dublin is well on its way to becoming one of the most revered cities in Europe in terms of exquisite food. The Michelin Main Cities of Europe Guide is an annual publication which lists over 3,900 restaurants and hotels across 46 cities and 20 countries throughout Europe.

Nine new restaurants in Dublin gained recognition and are acknowledged as Michelin acknowledged eateries. The full list of newcomers:

  • Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
  • Chapter One
  • L’Ecrivain
  • The Greenhouse
  • Pichet
  • The Pig’s Ear
  • Delahunt
  • Pigeon House
  • Etto

Loam in Galway was another inclusion outside of the capital.

Aldi to expand premium range

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Aldi will increase their premium range to facilitate the demands of current shoppers. The discount grocery retailer that has been experiencing a growth trajectory over the past 2 years will grow their product line by a further 150 to 1,500.

Aldi currently operates 132 stores across Ireland. They will expand their premium range by a third, capitalising on renewed consumer confidence. Sales of their ‘Specially Selected’ premium range had experienced sales growth of 24% in 2015.

Aldi will expand their total number of product lines by 150 to 1,500 which will include a one-third expansion in ‘Specially Selected’, Aldi’s premium line. The majority of these will be in yogurt drinks, wines, cooking sauces and deserts.

Ikea Ireland announce profit of €13.2 million

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Retailer Ikea doubled their Irish operating profit last year, registering a pre-tax profit of €13.2 million. Sales in the North Dublin superstore jumped by 17% to €132 million in the 12 months, till end of August 2015.

This meant a considerable leap in pre-tax profit, up from €7.2million in 2014. The flat pack retailer have experienced accelerated growth over the past 24 months. Last year Ikea announced that employees in their only Irish Store would all receive a ‘Living wage’ with this being implemented in April of the current financial year.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/ikea-ireland-profits-nearly-double-to-13-2m-1.2568148