IFCF is partnering with CALM to raise awareness of the suicide prevention charity and encourage life-saving conversations on CALM’s helpline, at tills and around the dinner tables, changing the landscape forever and helping to remove the stigma of suicide across the UK.

Their broader goal is to help create five million life-saving conversations, one for every customer that walks through store doors each week, by starting the biggest conversation ever about suicide. Money raised will help with CALM’s vital helpline service.

Currently in the UK, data shows 1 in 5 will have suicidal thoughts at some point in their lifetime, 125 people are lost every week to suicide and sadly, someone dies by suicide every 90 minutes on average in the UK.

During the partnership, Iceland and Food Warehouse colleagues, charity champions, and store managers nationwide will take on several fundraising challenges in a bid to raise £300,000 for CALM. When visiting your local Iceland store or Food Warehouse, look out for their Charity Weeks that will be taking place between Thursday 2^nd May and Saturday 1^st June. The money raised during store charity weeks will go towards CALM’s life-saving work/helpline to help ensure more people than ever are encouraged to stay.

In their first-of-its-kind partnership they want to help smash the stigma by educating and empowering people to start life-saving conversations about suicide and mental health through in-store messaging and prompts.

‘This incredible campaign will enable us to raise awareness to our customers and colleagues about mental health and help to end the stigma around it’

Simon Gunning, CALM CEO said: “We’re thrilled to be teaming up with Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation on a groundbreaking partnership to break the silence around suicide and bring hope and life-saving conversations to high streets and Iceland stores across the UK.

“It’s been a tough few years, and for many, it can feel like things aren’t going to get much better any time soon. This partnership with Iceland will raise awareness of CALM’s life-saving message and services with millions of people, providing support to anyone struggling and potentially saving lives.

“CALM is a lifeline for so many people right now, and with the support of Iceland, we can continue to reach more people than ever in our fight against suicide.’’

Tarsem Dhaliwal, Group Chief Executive of Iceland Foods and Trustee of Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation added: “Iceland is at the heart of hundreds of communities, with our stores welcoming five million customers every week.

“This incredible campaign will enable us to raise awareness to our customers and colleagues about mental health and help to end the stigma around it by empowering them to have lifesaving conversations.

“Mental health is one of the biggest growing concerns in the UK, with 125 people per week losing their lives to suicide and bringing attention to it is key in stopping these preventable deaths.”

More information about CALM and its life-saving work can be found via the CALM website.

The post IFCF partners with CALM to help unite against suicide first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The Tandragee-based producer has successfully traded in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region for over 10 years and will once again be at Gulfood, the world’s largest food expo in the Dubai World Trade Centre, one of five companies from Northern Ireland exhibiting at the Invest NI stand.

The new £500,000 deal with Qatar Quality Products will see White’s Oats further develop their export sales with their full range of porridge oats and granolas available in major retailers throughout Qatar including Carrefour, Lulu and Monoprix.

Stuart Best, White’s Business Development Manager, explained the importance of promoting Northern Ireland as an award-winning food region, as well as investing time to strengthen relationships as the brand continues to expand its growing export base.

“As a market leader locally with an increasing focus on export outside of GB and Ireland, we are delighted to be extending our brand reach in the Middle East which is showing massive potential with a five-year forecasted growth of 19% for hot cereals.

“Our new contract with Qatar Quality Products is an exciting opportunity as we continue to build relationships with our partners and develop our long-term sustainable export growth strategy in the GCC region.

“The Northern Ireland food and drink sector has developed an unrivalled reputation for quality, taste and traceability, attributes which are highly sought after in the GCC territories. Quality and taste remain the cornerstone of our 182-year heritage. This is supported by our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of food security right across our oat supply chain and we look forward to bringing high quality international products to the people of Qatar.”

The post White’s Oats announce new half a million pound deal in Qatar partnership first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

And it is predicted that Friday 22^nd December will be the busiest day for festive grocery shopping, while retailers will sell nearly 41 million brussels sprouts per day in the week leading up to Christmas. The popular festive veg is now 4.3% cheaper than 12 months ago.

According to marketing data and analytics company, Kantar, latest figures show that sales grew by 6.3% over the four weeks to 26^th November 2023 to reach £11.7 billion.

The cost of a traditional Christmas dinner for four this year is up by 1.3% versus a year ago and now stands at £31.71. This tracks well below the headline grocery price inflation rate, which fell to 9.1% for the four weeks to 26^th November 2023.

Head of retail and consumer insights at Kantar, Fraser McKevitt said the scene is set for a record-breaking spend this Christmas.

‘The amount of money spent on deals usually leaps in the run up to Christmas, but this year is already looking a bit different’

“The festive period is always a bumper one for the grocers with consumers buying on average 10% more items than in a typical month. Some of the increase, of course, will also be driven by the ongoing price inflation we’ve seen this year,” said Fraser McKevitt.

“While the rate at which grocery prices are rising is still well above the norm, the good news for shoppers is that inflation is continuing to come down – it dropped again in November to 9.1%. The retailers are also battling it out to offer value to consumers during this important month for trading and are doing what they can to keep prices low.”

Retailers are putting the emphasis on own-label lines and promotions to attract people through their doors, with Kantar data showing that spending on offers hit its highest level in over two years in the latest four-week period, at 28.4%.

“The amount of money spent on deals usually leaps in the run up to Christmas, but this year is already looking a bit different,” added Fraser McKevitt.

“We’re well above 2022 levels, with customers making an additional £180 million in savings this November versus 12 months ago. Brands have benefited from the boost in offers and have now edged ahead of their own-label counterparts, growing sales by 6.5% versus 6.4% for retailer lines.

“However, own-label is still doing incredibly well and premium lines especially so. These products are up by 15.4% year-on-year, with wine, chilled ready meals and fresh beef among the big winners last month. We’re likely to see a seasonal jump in the premium stuffing, sausage meat and Christmas puddings over the coming weeks.”

The post Bumper festive period anticipated for retailers with grocery sales set to hit £13bn first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Just Live a Little was created to offer a healthier option for those who want to enjoy a breakfast they can feel good about. The range is gluten free, as well as supporting good gut health, and is free from refined sugars.

Bronagh Clarke, Marketing Director said: “There are over 4m consumers in the UK who are actively choosing to reduce or avoid gluten in their diet for many reasons. Sometimes the choices are restrictive in terms of taste and variety. In addition, the average granola has over 20% refined white sugar and with low nutritional quality.

“We believe better food makes you feel better, so we only use wholegrain gluten-free oats, mixed with fruit, nuts and seeds and finished with a generous dollop of nut butter for a creamy taste. Everything is batch-baked at our own gluten-free facility in County Armagh.”

The range has four flavours, with an RRSP of £4 for 360g – Maple & Toasted Pecan Granola, Raspberry, Coconut & Cashew Granola, Cocoa & Hazelnut Granola and Peanut Butter & Apple Granola.

The range launched into Tesco, SPAR and online stores on 6^th November, with other retailers launching in the new year. The launch is being supported by instore media, consumer press, sampling and social media.

The post Kestrel Foods launches Just Live a Little gluten free granola first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

But the new term brings fresh fears for families, with struggling parents worrying about how they will feed their children and fuel their bodies and minds this school year.

For the children in these households, lack of food and nutrients will not only be leaving them hungry, but at risk of experiencing other developmental issues in areas such as physical health, mental health, education and social well-being.

With so many families struggling, Heinz Beanz and Barnardos have teamed up for a second time to bring back its limited-edition three-pack of ‘Heinz Meanz Meals’ cans, helping support their work with children living in disadvantaged areas across Ireland.

Giving its iconic Beanz packaging a special makeover, fans of the breakfast staple can pick up a pack from stores nationwide from today.

‘HEINZ MEANS MEALZ’

For every pack purchased, Heinz will be making a donation to Barnardos Breakfast Clubs. The children’s charity provides nutritious breakfast food, such as Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz which are naturally high in protein and fibre, to selected Barnardos centres across Ireland.

The donation comes as part of a partnership between Heinz and Barnardos, with the two companies working together since 2020.

Elaine McCague, Head of Heinz Ireland (Interim), said: “Our founder, Henry J. Heinz, believed that heart power is stronger than horsepower. Today, his beliefs and values live on, as we continue to help support families in time of need, just like he would want us to.

“We’re passionate about continuing to support the great work of Barnardos in Ireland. We’re delighted to release once again our limited-edition ‘Heinz Meanz Mealz’ three-packs so we can together help fill thousands of little tummies at a time when it is much needed. It’s partnerships like this that will help us achieve our mission to provide 1.5 billion meals to people in need globally by 2025.”

Mary Gamble, Director of Marketing, Fundraising and Communications at Barnardos, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Heinz once again and are grateful for their support for our work with vulnerable children. We share a joint ambition to drive long lasting change for some of the most disadvantaged families in Ireland.”

MISSION AMBASSADOR

Last year, Barnardos supported over 20,000 children and families, of which Heinz helped, by providing 5,000 meals to the children’s charity.

With the ambition to help even more families this year, TV presenter and podcaster, Vogue Williams, is joining the meals mission as an ambassador for this partnership, shining a spotlight on and raising further awareness of this all-important issue.

The mum of three who has a following of more than one million people on Instagram, many of whom are parents themselves, will see her new role not only inspire those in a position to help to take action, but let less-fortunate parents know support is there from services such as Barnardos.

Speaking about the ambassadorship, Vogue Williams said: “I can’t imagine the worry that many families must be going through. No-one should be unsure when or where their next meal is coming from, especially children.

“Working with Heinz and Barnardos, together, we hope to not only raise awareness of this growing issue taking place on our doorstep, but to also highlight that a small, tangible act – such as buying a pack of Heinz Beanz – can have a big impact and help support those most vulnerable in the community.”

The post Heinz and Barnardos team up again to support vulnerable children and families first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.