World’s largest Meat Packer JBS buys Moy Park for $1.5 billion

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

The world’s largest meat packer JBS, has bought Moy Park in Northern Ireland. The Brazilian meat packing company acquired Moy Park from its owners Marfrig Global Foods for about $1.5 billion.

Marfrig expressed how the sale would enable them to significantly reduce their debt and allow a higher focus on pursuing growth opportunities. The transaction is still subject to approval from relevant authorities, but is expected to be signed by the end of 2015.

Moy Park have their headquarters in Craigavon Co. Armagh and is Northern Ireland’s largest private sector employer. They employ 12,000 staff across Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe. It accounted for 26pc of Marfrig’s revenues and has consistently shown annual growth with revenues of €1.9bn recorded last year.

Source: http://www.businessandleadership.com/business/item/51078-worlds-largest-meat-packer

Thornton’s chocolatiers to be bought by rival for $177 million

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Italian company Ferrero, who are behind brands like Nutella and Ferrero Rocher have agreed a deal to buy British Chocolate Retailer Thornton’s for £112 million / $177 million. This is the first deal by Ferrero since the death of patriarch Michele Ferrero who generally shied away acquisitions.

On Monday Ferrero agreed to pay 145 pence a share in cash for the 104-year-old Thornton’s.

Thornton’s has been hit in recent years by the rise of newer and innovative upmarket chocolate brands. After a profit warning in December its chief executive of four years, Jonathan Hart, is due stepping down. Thornton’s shares had lost around 40 per cent since March 2014.

 

Analysts said Thornton’s was a good fit for Ferrero, which has strong, premium brands but no retail platform to showcase them. The death of its patriarch had sparked speculation Ferrero might be a takeover target for rivals such as Mars, Nestle and Hershey. Ferrero are also responsible for the Kinder Surprise Egg and Tic-Tac brands.

 

Discounter Dealz eye up new Irish Stores

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Popular discounter Dealz, which own Poundland in the U.K, have expressed their long term plans for the Irish market. Having reported strong growth in its Irish and British operations, they did cite the weak euro as a genuine challenge they will come up against.

While still relatively new to the Irish market, Dealz have established themselves as a leading go to discounter and sell the majority of their products at the €1.49 price point. It opened 10 stores, including one retail park across Ireland in the year to March 29th. This brings its total number of Irish outlets up to 41 stores and its total number of retail parks to four.

While Dealz doesn’t disclose results for Ireland, but said that it now serves some 300,000 customers a week in Ireland. The average basket price per customer is €6.50 (across the UK and Ireland) and would mean annual Irish gross income in the region of €100m.

In all Poundland expects to open at least 60 new stores in the UK and Ireland in the 2015-16 year and continue with a trial in Spain.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/dealz-targets-70-shops-for-ireland-1.2254221

BWG’s €23 million acquisition of Londis approved

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Retail group BWG have had their €23 million acquisition of the Londis franchise given the green light by The Competition Authority. BWG already have Spare and Mace is their portfolios, and this later acquisition will mean they will own over 50% of the Irish convenience market.

The Londis franchise, which is identifiable in every town and county across Ireland, has over 200 stores in Ireland and generate approx. €195 million in annual sales. BWG believes that Londis will complement its existing retail operations of 1,175 Spar, Eurospar, Mace and XL symbol stores in Ireland and Britain.

BWG chief executive Leo Crawford said of the announcement “Londis is a great food retail brand with a rich heritage in Ireland spanning over 60 years. BWG will focus on growing and developing Londis in Ireland as part of our portfolio of market leading convenience brands, and we look forward to working with our newest retail partners around the exciting plans we have for Londis retailers and the brand.”

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/bwg-s-23m-acquisition-of-londis-cleared-by-watchdog-1.2250341

Elvery Sports to create 40 new Retail jobs in €1.5 million expansion

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Irish owned Retail Sports chain Elverys are to create 40 new jobs under a €1.5 million investment in its Retail Stores and online platforms. Elverys currently has over 50 outlets nationwide and employ over 700 staff in Ireland. It has recently avoided examinership after being bought out by management last April will the help off CapNua and AIB.

Elverys Chief Executive is Patrick Rowland. He commented ‘’The 40 new jobs will be created right across our network in our e-commerce, marketing, retail management and retail operations’ departments. We are deploying €1.5 million across the development of our retail network and our online platform. This includes a complete refit of our Blanchardstown, Sligo and Arklow stores, the opening of a new store in St Stephen’s Green, the shop fronts of all stores

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/elverys-smarter-surfaces-to-create-69-new-jobs-in-ireland-1.2249835

Lloyds Pharmacy to create 500 new Retail Jobs

Posted on | by pointblank_admin

Lloyds Pharmacy have plan for major Irish expansion as they look set to open 60 new Retail Stores and create 500 new jobs. It is believed the new plans will be rolled out over a 3 year period and will increase their entire Irish workforce to 1,500. It will mean a growth of 91 stores to 150.

The pharmacy chain is currently the largest in Ireland, will also invest €2 million in a new patient services throughout existing outlets. Last year, Lloyds added 14 new outlets in what they described as ‘very positive’ sales. Management at the pharmacy has signalled its intent to expand into new communities, consolidating its dominant market position. Lloyds has already set about identifying new sites.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/lloyds-pharmacy-to-create-500-new-jobs-1.2245076

Bloom Fringe Festival Events.

Posted on | by pointblank_admin

Here in Excel Recruitment, we love nothing more than enjoying our city. With a plethora of eateries to choose from, the standard across Dublin and Nationwide continues to evolve when it comes to dining, drinking and event curation. This June bank holiday weekend sees the Bloom festival take place in The Phoenix Park. However, we’ve concentrated on the Bloom Fringe, for pure innovation and also how they are organising free events across the weekend.

Now in its second year the BloomFringe Festival sets to take the magic of Bloom in the Phoneix Park to various locations across the City between May 30th and June 1st. Bloom Fringe is motivated by themes of creativity, community and healthy living and is not-for-profit. Here are our picks across the day that you can enjoy for free in the City Centre.

Saturday May 30th

South Great Georges Street Pop Up : Guerilla Garden Pop Up

About: Bloom will transform the famous “WhyGo Bald” square into a popup garden in the heart of Dublin city for #BloomFringe Fest weekend only – showing it is possible to turn gritty concrete corners into an oasis of green.

Pop-up Performances, Food, Demonstrations & Art installations – all FREE across from the Pop-up Garden at the ‘Why Go Bald” Square!…

See the event here.

Saturday May 30th

A Very Peachy Temple Lane Takeover : Temple Lane South (Beside KC Peaches, Temple Bar)

Temple Lane South will be getting a very Peachy takeover into the spirit of BloomFringe on May 30th .

This very cool corner of Temple bar will be occupied by guerrilla action as it turns into a pop up green space for the day. Lookout for Pop-up munchies by KC peaches and Peachy street art installations to tag yourself with and for all to partake in. Considering the success of the debut Peachy exhibition this one is not to be missed and perfect for kids

Lookout for Tea tasting by Wall & Keogh, juice shots and those much needed healing-massage-ready hands from Melt , all waiting to entice you into this much loved alley for the day…

See the event here.

www.peachydublin.com

Saturday May 30th & Sunday May 31st

Mexican Garden Salsas Demo and Paper Garden : Picado Mexican 44a South Richmond Street, Dublin 2.

Mexican Paper Garden installation in retail space from Paper Garden installation 29th May to 1st June in South Richmond Street, in Dublin 2.

Picado will be showing children how to make the flowers with paper. Paper flower demonstrations take place May 30th & 31st throughout the day – Free!

Enjoy FREE mini cooking demonstrations throughout the weekend showing people how to make a Mexican salsa from scratch with vegetables from the garden. Drop in to ‘Garden Salsa’ demos & tasting May Sat 30th & Sun 31st

Time: 12 noon, 2 pm, 4 pm, 6 pm

Picado
44a South Richmond Street
Dublin 2

Sunday May 31st

Airfield Farm Plant and City

Head to Airfield Farm Dundrum, where they will be doing some seed sowing with visitors, aimed at children. Learn new ways to make homemade flower pots, start sowing sunflower seeds and make your own funky cress heads.

Date: Sun May 31st 2015 | Time: 11:00-16:00

Address: Airfield, Overend Way, Dundrum, Dublin 14, Ireland

Ticket: Drop into Workshops for Free but there is an Admission Price into Airfield | Price of Admission into Airfield: €10 for Adults €5 for Kids.

Tel: 01-9696656
Email: info@airfield.ie
Website: www.airfielddundrum.ie
http://bit.ly/BFAirfieldFarm

See the event here.

http://bloomfringe.com/

Kerrygold to start making alcohol

Posted on | by pointblank_admin

Dairy producer Kerrygold has announced that it is branching out and will launch a cream liqueur. Kerrygold has been renowned for their dairy offerings and the new venture is a first venture out of their Food niche.

The Irish cream liqueur is a blend of cream, Irish whisky and chocolate. Kerrygold have stated that what differentiates their offering from competing cream liqueurs is the “distinctive cream from Irish grass-fed cows”. A 1 litre bottle of the liqueur retails for €20 and is available exclusively at Dublin Airport.

Source: http://www.thejournal.ie/kerrygold-irish-cream-liqueur-2182675-Jun2015/

Musgrave to sell its British Business for €57 million

Posted on | by pointblank_admin

Musgraves is to sell its British business which operate Budgens and Londis brands to Bookers for €57 million. The move will mean that Musgraves will concentrate on its operation’s in the Republic, Northern Ireland and Spain. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and on a debt free basis.

Chris Martin, Chief Executive of the Musgraves Group said the decision was taken after careful evaluation of options. The UK wing of Musgraves has been loss making, they furthered. Mr Martin said ‘Having received a proposal from Booker, we concluded that a sale to Booker is the right thing for the group and would be the most advantageous outcome for our retailers, colleagues and suppliers in Great Britain,”

Musgrave will develop a strategic partnership with Booker, which could see the companies collaborate on digital innovation and buying opportunities, sharing of best practice and to achieve cost savings and efficiencies for the business.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/musgrave-to-sell-british-business-to-booker-for-57m-1.2220873

Musgrave to sell its British Business for €57 million

Posted on | by pointblank_admin

Musgraves is to sell its British business which operate Budgens and Londis brands to Bookers for €57 million. The move will mean that Musgraves will concentrate on its operation’s in the Republic, Northern Ireland and Spain. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and on a debt free basis.

Chris Martin, Chief Executive of the Musgraves Group said the decision was taken after careful evaluation of options. The UK wing of Musgraves has been loss making, they furthered. Mr Martin said ‘Having received a proposal from Booker, we concluded that a sale to Booker is the right thing for the group and would be the most advantageous outcome for our retailers, colleagues and suppliers in Great Britain,”

Musgrave will develop a strategic partnership with Booker, which could see the companies collaborate on digital innovation and buying opportunities, sharing of best practice and to achieve cost savings and efficiencies for the business.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/musgrave-to-sell-british-business-to-booker-for-57m-1.2220873