Grocery Salary Survey 2016

Excel Recruitment have been recruiting for the Irish Grocery Market for over 15 years. Our Grocery Team is comprised of former Grocery Managers who know the industry inside out. This guide was is designed to give our clients and candidates a guide as to the current market prices for the various roles within the Irish Grocery market.

If you would like to discuss any of our findings , need advice on your manpower, planning, or assistance with your recruitment needs please feel free to contact our Grocery team here.

Our past Retail Salary Survey covering aspects of Grocery, as well as Non-Food, Fashion and FMCG is available here. All Grocery Jobs with Excel Recruitment are available here.

2016 Grocery Salary Survey

Tips for Interview Presentations

SWOT Analysis and Powerpoint presentations are increasingly demanded by employers during the interview stage. Nikki Murran, Head of Grocery Retail at Excel Recruitment wrote this blog as a source to help her candidates prepare for a variety of different job interviews. At Excel Recruitment, we prepare candidates daily for interviews across all areas of Retail. For more useful tips you can visit our blog here.

Prepare

The age-old classic and the most important piece of advice. Don’t leave it to the last minute, as this only heightens the pressure you will already feel during the interview process. Give yourself amply time to prepare a solid presentation that allows for re-writes and changes.

Who are you presenting too?

Don’t assume and always ask. It isn’t always the case that the audience or person you are addressing is disclosed. Your presentation needs to engage, and address the right points.

How should I research?

There is so much readily available information at the click of a button. At the very minimum you should browse the company website and social media pages to establish company culture and company news.

Structure of presentation

The most common and advisable structure that we at Excel would recommend is thinking about this in 3 steps.

The Rule of Three

  1. Introduction or aims of presentation.
  2. Presentation content, broken down across three main points.
  3. Surmise your presentation and finish with a memorable statement.

Alternatively, a ‘Four Point’ structure can be used.

Four Point Presentations

While very much favoured in a sales environment, this structure can be made applicable for any interview.

  1. The why (Needs, resources, Relevance)
  2. What about? (Provides more information)
  3. How? (How it will work)
  4. What if? Looking into the future.

Whatever structure you decide on, understand that your opening statement needs to be memorable, and you need to engage your audience with impact, from your introduction.

What content?

This is the big question. Content is king.

  • Avoid filler and waffle. Just don’t include it.
  • What exactly are the asking you to present on? Grasp the keywords of the presentation title, build and elaborate on these. Stay focused on what they want you to address. This will help you demonstrate that you understand the position and company.
  • What innovation, knowledge and new ideas can you bring?
  • What can you as a potential new employee bring that will make a measurable difference, in terms of market position, sales and growth and competitive advantage.
  • What is your USP (Unique selling point)? What wow factor sets you apart?

Powerpoint

Like marmite. Some love, some hate it. While your content and USP is crucial, presentation is also very important.

If you do have an understanding towards Powerpoint, we recommend utilising it. Do choose what feels right however and what you believe will work with the audience.

If you do choose to use Powepoint:

  • We would suggest a max on 6/8 slides.
  • However much you put on a slide, make sure it is easily readable by your audience.
  • Keep it simple, you’re marked for knowledge rather than graphic presentation.
  • Utilise the notes section and concentrate on putting the main point on the slides. (see below)
  • Practice, then practice more. You want to ensure you are comfortable with content, your delivery and doing both of these in the stated time.
  • Reading the slides word for word can frustrate your audience and isolate them. Avoid focusing your eyes solely on the presentation.

Powerpoint Example

Practicalities

Presentation copies – ”I prefer to email my presentation a couple of days before so the company can load it up and print copies for the audience. If you have decided to use pictures with just the odd word, then obviously it’s not necessary. If you decide to do this you can mail it back directly to us and we will forward it on for you. I would recommend printing a few copies of the presentation and handing them out on the day – sometimes technology just adds to nerves! ”

——- Nikki Murran

Back-up – Technology being what it is- take a backup copy of your presentation on another USB stick.

Clothes and delivery

Suitable clothing is a given. Most of us have an interview outfit we favour. Try it on and make sure it fits and avoid anything you are hesitant towards.

  • Sip water before to avoid dry mouth.
  • Deliver the presentation standing up- unless there is a good reason you can’t.
  • Avoid jokes, unless you are 100% confident you will pull it off and it is in the tone of the presentation.
  • Smile, relax and engage.
  • Address the whole room rather than focusing on an individual.
  • Don’t speak too quickly and avoid excessive hand movements.
  • Sound enthusiastic, passionate and however nervous, try to enjoy it.

Nikki

 

This blog was written by Nikki Murran, Head of Grocery Retail at Excel Recruitment. View Nikki’s profile here and all her live jobs in Grocery Retail here.

HMV to cease trading

Four of the five remaining HMV stores in Ireland will close over the next few months. HMV Belfast, the largest HMV worldwide will continue to trade. The remaining four stores in Dundrum, Henry Street, Liffey Valley and Limerick will close with the loss of 45 jobs. Hilco have confirmed the closures will take place over the next few months.

HMV will cease physical trading in the Republic and instead concentrate on an online-streaming platform. The service will launch in the final quarter of 2016, or the first quarter in 2017. The service will be available on all smart devices, smart TV’s as well as tablets, laptops and desktops.

Almost €6.5 million will be invested in the new platform as HMV aim to continue trading in a digital age that has dissipated the sales of physical music and movies. Paul McGowan, Chief Executive of Hilco Capital, owners of HMV said the platform will launch in Ireland, UK and also Canada.

Over 3,000 films will be offered across the platform to view or purchase.

Four Shops to merge on Dublin’s Grafton Street

 

The amalgamation of four separate premises on Grafton Street is being assessed by Irish Life, after their recent acquisition of the former Three Ireland Store at number 50 Grafton Street. The premise which currently lies vacant, means that Irish Life now control the four properties 47-50 Grafton Street.

Irish Life has a rental income of €1.1million from the four buildings. Combined, they would create a spacious and lucrative location for a store, or two reasonably large outlets. 47 is currently leased to Ecco, 48 to Vodafone and 49 to Londis. It is believed that such a move would be highly welcomed by the business community as they seek to strengthen the city’s main shopping street and secure International tenants that have previously struggled to find suitable locations.

More recently Irish Life amalgamated two units at 57-58 Grafton Street which is occupied by LifeStyle Sports and is the sports retailers’ flagship store.

Image via The Irish Times website, by Aidan Crawley. Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/irish-life-may-merge-four-shops-on-grafton-street-1.2711404#utm_sguid=133667,3b528243-ec2b-1580-c3b5-0aa2679174fa

 

SuperValu retain top spot in Supermarket spend

 

SuperValu have maintained their top spot as Ireland’s favourite Supermarket. The figures released by Kantar Worldwide show continued growth in the volume of sales in the Irish Grocery market, with a 2.5% increase year on year.

The period covering the 12 weeks to June 19th show SuperValu retain their top spot and all other grocery retailers seeing sales growth, with the exception of Tesco. It also indicated an average increase in spend of €27 per household this year.

12 week increase in sales

 

  • Dunnes Store – 5.9%
  • Lidl – 5.8%
  • Aldi – 3.6%