drinks - Neighbourhood Retailer

Nexba chooses SHS Sales And Marketing Ireland as new distributor

Linda Stewart — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 09:14:11 +0000

Nexba has appointed SHS Sales and Marketing Ireland to sell and distribute its Kombucha portfolio in Ireland.

SHS Ireland has launched the all natural sugar-free Australian drinks brand, Nexba, which provides healthy alternatives to sugar-filled soft drinks.

Matthew Connole, sales lead EU, Nexba Beverage Co. said that the recent launch marks an ‘exciting and important milestone’ as the company grows its international brand presence.

“We will be working closely with SHS Sales and Marketing to maximise current opportunities and identify areas for growth, boosting Ireland’s naturally sugar-free soft drinks category as we seek to realise the full potential of the Kombucha portfolio,” he said.

The new range of Kombucha is available in three flavours – Strawberry and Peach, Mango and Mixed Berry.

The soft drink is full of live culture probiotics and is made using the globally patented ‘Nexba Natural Sweetener Blend’, which allows each drink to be completely sugar-free and contains nothing artificial, yet retains its bold, and fruity flavours, the company noted.

According to the Australian soft drinks brand, the new range is part of the company’s ongoing agenda to ‘tackle diabetes and obesity and improve gut health in Ireland’.

Alan Neill, commercial director, SHS Sales and Marketing, said that the Nexba’s Kombucha range is “unique”.

“The naturally sugar-free soft drinks category is one of Ireland’s most dynamic FMCG markets,” he said.

“The desire to stay healthy during the pandemic has accelerated the demand for such products, as health and well-being become a priority for consumers.”

Nexba is currently available in SuperValu, Centra, Spar and independent stores nationwide.

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Ardagh Group gets go ahead for Newtownabbey drinks can factory

Linda Stewart — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 13:04:45 +0000

Planning permission has been granted for the construction of a major new factory in Newtownabbey.

The Ardagh Group will make drinks cans at the £150m facility to be built at the Global Point business park in County Antrim.

Permission was agreed by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s planning committee.

Ardagh first revealed its intention to build the factory in November 2021 and hope to have it operating next year.

Mayor Alderman Stephen Ross said it was an important milestone for the project.

“The economic importance of this development and the benefits it will bring not just to Antrim and Newtownabbey, but to the whole of Northern Ireland, cannot be overstated,” he added.

“The Ardagh facility is part of a high-quality portfolio of manufacturing projects planned for invest NI’s Global Point facility.”

Ardagh is based in Luxembourg but the company has Irish roots.

The initiative in Newtownabbey is part of a multi-billion dollar investment by the company, involving the construction of new, recyclable metal packaging capacity in Europe, North America and Brazil.

David Spratt, chief executive of Ardagh Metal Packaging Europe, said they appreciated the support they had from the council in progressing the development.

“We are delighted to be granted planning permission to deliver a new, innovative manufacturing facility in Newtownabbey and progress closer to the creation of nearly 200 new jobs for the local employment market whilst also supporting circular economy growth,” he said.

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Government warned that banning cheap alcohol will send shoppers north

Linda Stewart — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 10:44:38 +0000

The Irish government is being warned that new laws banning the sale of cheap alcohol could reduce tax returns because people are heading to Northern Ireland to buy beer, spirits and wine.

The government has been advised that the introduction earlier this year of minimum unit pricing on alcohol could ultimately lead to less tax due to people shopping across the border.

A Department of Finance Tax Strategy Group paper on excise duty said it was too early to gauge the impact of the introduction of minimum unit pricing.

But it warned: “It is clear, however, its introduction has resulted in price differentials on alcohol products across the border which might lead to an increase in cross-border trade, undermining the tax take from alcohol sales.”

The guidance came among a range of options on tax and welfare for ministers to consider as they prepare for next month’s Budget.

This includes proposals to increase all welfare rates by €15 and introduce tax cuts for two million taxpayers.

The government is not bound by the recommendations but Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said consideration will be given to all the proposals outlined by his officials.

The paper on excise notes that the Drinks Industry Group Ireland (DIGI) and the National Off-Licence Association have called in their pre-budget submissions for a 7.5% reduction in alcohol excise in Budget 2023 with a further 7.5% reduction in 2024.

“It considers that this will help the drinks and hospitality sector to rebuild commercial activity in all areas of the country and to recover employment,” it said.

The document also notes that the Republic has the highest level of excise duty on wine in the EU and the second highest on beer and spirits.

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Turnover up 17% at Ballymena bottling plant Norbev

Linda Stewart — Fri, 20 May 2022 10:10:22 +0000

Turnover rose at Ballymena drinks’ bottling firm Norbev by 17 per cent to £24.4 million according to its latest financial report.

The firm, which has been operating since 1919, said turnover was sustained during the period up to December 2021 due to ongoing contracts.

Norbev provides bottling and labelling services for some of the biggest drink brands in Northern Ireland including Robinsons, Monster and Britvic.

Pre-tax profits increased from a loss of £0.65m in 2020 to £301,396 in 2021. The company’s net assets also grew from £3.22m in 2020 to £3.66m.

The company received £121,178 in government grants, down from 2020’s heftier £346,037 which could be attributed to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Staff at the company decreased during the financial period, from 90 to 86.

This saw Norbev’s wages and salaries over the period also decrease from £2.99m to £2.78m.

Norbev was set up in 1919 when it washed, labelled and corked glass bottles by hand at an old laundry business.

It moved to its current site on Ballymena’s Railway Street in 1961 and welcomed its first bottling contract with Coca Cola in the early 70s.

Today it bottles drinks for many recognised brands as well being involved in the production of drinks.

The company is headed by directors James Harkness and Shona Jane Blythe.

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C&C performance ‘modestly ahead of expectations’

Linda Stewart — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 11:39:26 +0000

Drinks group C&C says it turned a small profit in December despite trading conditions being hit by Covid restrictions across the UK and Ireland.

In an update on its third quarter, C&C said its performance was modestly ahead of expectations, driven by a return of consumers to hospitality outlets, cost reductions and price rises to deal with input cost inflation.

The Dublin-based producer of Bulmers cider and Tennent’s beer also put the success down to “effective management” of UK supply chain disruption.

It said that during December, C&C traded directly with 81% of on-trade outlets compared to 90% the same time last year, delivering 64% of the volume against an expectation of 90%.

“While December’s performance was consequently behind expectation, the group generated a modest profit for the month,” the company said.

The company said its operating profit outcome for the second half of its financial year will be affected by the nature, extent and duration of government-imposed Covid restrictions.

“Consequently, C&C will provide an updated operating profit range in its FY2022 pre close trading statement in March,” it added.

“As the pre-eminent brand led drinks distributor in the UK and Ireland, we have demonstrated our ability to effectively service demand during this period,” the company said.

“We continue to drive efficiencies throughout our business in the form of permanent operating cost reduction,” it added.

The company had said in October that it expected annual operating profit of €50-55m for fiscal 2022.

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