O’Connor’s gold in the Heptathlon at the SPAR European Athletics Championships marked another major milestone in an outstanding run of form for the Louth athlete with her Irish teammates also delivering a series of standout performances to make it the country’s most successful European Championships in history.

This is the 30^th year of SPAR being the title sponsor of the championships and demonstrates the brand’s support of elite sport at a European level, along with its backing of local clubs and community programmes across Ireland.

Earlier this year, O’Connor was announced as one of SPAR and EUROSPAR’s official Team Ireland Ambassadors with the expansion of the retailers’ partnership with the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland, supporting the brands’ “Hungry for Success” campaign and Community Fund initiative. This was established to support sports clubs nationwide and help nurture future generations of Irish athletes.

This partnership also builds on SPAR and EUROSPAR’s extensive heritage of supporting local and elite sports along with sponsoring the European Athletics Championships since 1996. This includes support for more than 80 competitions and consistently promoting healthy living through sport and a balanced diet. Since the first store opened back in 1963, SPAR and EUROSPAR have a long track record of serving Irish communities across Ireland through its contributions to local clubs, community and charity programmes.

Suzanne Weldon, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at BWG Foods, owners and operators of the SPAR and EUROSPAR brands in Ireland said: “Congratulations to Kate and all the Irish sports stars who represented the country with such distinction over the last week.

“Kate’s gold medal is a fantastic achievement and reflects the commitment and determination that have made her one of Ireland’s most exciting sporting talents. Having seen up close how she interacts with the children and families at our various events, she is an outstanding role model for young people and it is very special to have her on the team as a SPAR and EUROSPAR Ambassador.

“I know the performances delivered by Team Ireland over the last few days have inspired clubs and communities right across the country and show the importance of supporting grassroots participation through to elite competition.

“We are also very proud for SPAR to have continued as the title sponsor of the European Athletics Championships for three decades now and the organisers and all the athletes who took part deserve tremendous credit.”

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Major redevelopment introduces Burger King, Dunnes Stores Simply Better range and enhanced customer facilities

Maxol has announced a €2.6 million investment in its Dooradoyle service station in Co. Limerick, as part of its ongoing nationwide investment and redevelopment programme.

The significant redevelopment, which commenced in June and is scheduled for completion in November, will transform the Dooradoyle location into a modern convenience destination with an expanded retail offering, a wide array of food options and enhanced customer facilities.

The investment includes a full refurbishment of the service station, alongside a 50% increase in the overall building size. As part of the redevelopment, customers will benefit from the introduction of a new Burger King restaurant, the addition of the Dunnes Stores Simply Better range, a 40% larger seating area and a significantly enhanced Maxol Market Deli, which has been greatly expanded to provide customers with even more choice and convenience.

The redevelopment reflects Maxol’s continued commitment to investing in its retail network and creating modern service stations that meet the evolving needs of customers, local communities, and motorists.

Kieran O’Shea, Licensee at Maxol Dooradoyle, said: “We’re delighted to see this major investment in Dooradoyle, which will further elevate the experience for our valued customers. The expanded shop, improved deli, larger seating area and exciting new food offering will create a more welcoming and convenient destination and give customers more choice. Siobhan, the team, and I are looking forward to the completion of work, and to welcoming locals and commuters to our new-look store.

The Dooradoyle redevelopment forms part of Maxol’s wider investment programme across its nationwide network, focused on delivering high-quality facilities that combine convenience, food, retail and fuel services under one roof.

Brian Donaldson, CEO of The Maxol Group, said: “We’re especially excited to bring both Burger King and the Dunnes Stores range to Dooradoyle. Burger King continues to be one of our most popular food service partners, and we’re delighted that customers in Limerick will now be able to enjoy it as part of their visit. The Dunnes Stores range, including Simply Better favourites, has also proven incredibly popular at selected stores in our network, and we’re pleased to include this premium offering in our first Munster location.

“At Maxol, we are continually investing in our network to ensure we deliver the highest standards of convenience, quality and customer service. The investment in Dooradoyle represents one of our most significant redevelopment projects and reflects our long-term commitment to providing modern, welcoming service stations that meet the needs of local communities and motorists alike. With Kieran, Siobhan and their team at the helm, I’m sure it’s going to be a successful revamp, which customers will love.”

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New research from The Knowledge Bank, the industry leading insight team from the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership, has highlighted the potential impact of GLP-1 weight-loss medications on food and drink purchasing habits, with users reporting changes in the types of products they buy and how they spend their money.

The findings come as awareness and use of GLP-1 medications including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro continue to grow. While 87% of Scots have heard of the drugs, 6% are currently using them, and 8% are thinking of using them. 5% of those surveyed have used them in the past.

GLP-1s are appetite suppressants but don’t necessarily mean users shift towards healthier, more balanced diets. But among those with experience of the medications, snacking products are the biggest casualties for shoppers’ baskets. More than three quarters (77%) report spending less on cakes and biscuits, while four out of five (82%) say they are spending less on sweets and chocolate.

Prepared foods and ready meals, ice cream and snacks also saw reduced reported spending, at 68%, 71% and 74% respectively.

Alcohol sales are also declining while sales of no- and low-alcohol products are on the rise, reflecting a wider market trend towards moderation.

Meanwhile, vegetables (63%), soft fruit (50%), chicken and other poultry (41%), eggs (45%) and yoghurt (41%) are among the products seeing the biggest increases in reported spending. Many of these categories are already important contributors to Scotland’s food and drink economy, with strong reputations for quality, provenance and premium positioning in domestic and international markets.

The research also found that 59% of those with experience of GLP-1 medications are eating out less, while almost half report spending more on clothing. This shift in spending is particularly significant at a time when many households are making difficult choices about disposable income, and may also reflect the physical changes associated with sustained weight loss.

The findings offer the first early indications of how GLP-1 medications may be influencing food and drink purchasing habits in Scotland. They also reinforce broader purchasing trends in favour of healthier products and more nutrient dense food choices already visible among Scottish consumers.

Rather than creating entirely new behaviours, GLP-1 medications may therefore be accelerating or intensifying some existing shifts in how consumers shop and eat which could have important implications for product demand, retail strategies and the wider Scottish food and drink sector.

Carol Saunders, Head of Insights at The Knowledge Bank, said: “The impact of GLP-1 medications is still emerging, but the early signs suggest that this is more than a conversation about weight loss. For food and drink businesses, the important question is how these medications may influence what people want to buy, how much they consume and where they choose to spend their money.

“The clearest shifts in Scotland are towards products such as vegetables, soft fruit, chicken, eggs and yoghurt, alongside reduced spending on products including cakes, biscuits, confectionery and snacks. Many of these categories are important to Scotland’s food and drink economy, where quality, provenance and premium produce are central to the sector’s reputation both at home and internationally.

“While the findings do not mean every consumer taking a GLP-1 medication will behave in the same way, for a Scottish sector worth £19 billion and supporting more than 120,000 jobs, understanding how consumer behaviour is evolving will be increasingly important for producers and retailers. The early evidence suggests that new health trends may be changing demand for Scottish consumers.”

With 42% of people with experience of GLP-1 medications reporting that they have been using them for more than 18 months, the broader move towards a more weight-focused Scottish consumer may not be a short-term phenomenon.

Across the UK, an estimated 1.6 million people have used GLP-1 drugs in the past year and a further 3.3 million people said they would be interested in using them in the next 12 months.

As the number of people using or considering GLP-1 medications grows, public discussion continues around their long-term safety, sustainability without lifestyle changes, and overuse for non-medical reasons.

The implications for the food and drink industry are likely to extend across the supply chain, from retailers and manufacturers to hospitality businesses and producers. While Scotland’s food and drink heritage and iconic products will continue to have a place in consumers’ diets, the findings highlight the importance of businesses responding to changing behaviours around food choices, consumption and moderation.

With a diverse sector spanning seafood, meat, dairy, fresh produce and more, Scotland’s food and drink industry is well placed to respond to evolving consumer expectations and identify new opportunities for growth.

*The findings are taken from The Knowledge Bank’s Scottish Consumer Research Tracking research over the course of the last 7 months.

Fieldwork was carried out in early December 2025 was followed up with additional surveys in June 2026 among a representative sample of Scottish residents. A total of 753 interviews were completed in Wave 1 and 754 in Wave 2.

Among those with experience of GLP-1 medications, Wave 2 stats indicate:

• 63% report spending more on vegetables and 50% report spending more on soft fruit.
• Chicken and other poultry, eggs and yoghurt also saw some of the biggest increases in reported spending, at 41%, 45% and 41% respectively.
• 77% report spending less on cakes and biscuits, while 82% report spending less on sweets and chocolate.
• Prepared foods and ready meals, ice cream and snacks also saw reduced reported spending, at 68%, 71% and 74% respectively.
• 59% report eating out less, while 47% report spending more on clothing.
• 42% have been using GLP-1 medications for more than 18 months.
• 87% of those with experience of GLP-1 medications are using them primarily for weight loss.
• 63% having a little or an excellent understanding of what GLP-1s are and how they work compared to 54% in wave 1.

Across the wider Scottish Consumer Research Tracking research, the most up-to-date stats include:

• 87% of Scots have heard of GLP-1 weight-loss medications.
• 6% are currently using GLP-1 medications, 5% have used them in the past and 8% are considering using them.
• White meat is purchased more frequently than red meat.
• Vegetable and soft fruit is purchased more frequently than sweets and chocolate or cakes and biscuits among those surveyed.

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New car registrations for July were up 8.63% (29,046) compared to July 2025 (26,738). Registrations year to date are up 5.2% (114,228) on the same period last year (108,487).

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) decreased by 6% (5,744) compared to July last year (6,116). Year to date, LCVs are up 9.3% (27,237). Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations experienced an increase of 14.2% (433) in comparison to July 2025 (379). Year to date, HGVs are down 2.2% (1,984).

Imported Used Cars have seen a 27% (8,616) increase in July 2026, when compared to July 2025 (6,803). Year to date imports are up 37% (55,724) on 2025 (40,698).

In July 9,682 new electric cars (battery electric cars) were registered, which was a 98% increase from the 4,898 registrations in July 2025. So far this year, 29,840 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 61% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when 18,527 electric cars were registered.

In the new car market share by engine type, Battery Electric cars achieved the lead market position for the first time this year with 26.12%, followed by Hybrid (Petrol Electric) 24.59%, Petrol 20.39%, Plug-In Hybrid 14.45%, and Diesel 12.45%.

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, said “July new car registrations saw a 9% increase when compared to the same month last year, with 29,046 units registered. Year-to-date new car sales are 5% ahead of last year, with a total of 114,228 new cars registered. The highlight of the market is clearly the performance of Battery Electric Vehicle sales, achieving record-breaking results, with 9,682 BEVs registered in July, a 98% increase when compared to July 2025. This is the highest monthly BEV sales ever achieved. Battery electric vehicles were not just the most popular engine type for July; they have now overtaken hybrid cars as the most popular for the year to date with 29,840 units registered, a 61% increase on last year, and now account for 26% of Ireland’s new car market.

This increase in BEV sales would not have been achieved without Government supports. In particular, the Government’s pilot scrappage scheme, introduced in July, along with the existing BEV grant supports, have helped build on market momentum. The record increase in EV sales is proof that incentives work, not just in urban areas, but also for rural motorists who received the majority of scrappage grants. The increase in BEV sales is evident in every county. The current incentives are fundamental to market growth, and SIMI are calling for their retention and extension in Budget 2027. EV adoption remains a critical part of our climate change goals, and any Government incentives today will result in both cost-savings and reductions in emissions in the future.”

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Gala Retail has announced a new partnership with NOW Group to become a JAM Card Friendly retail group, reinforcing its commitment to creating more inclusive and supportive shopping experiences for customers across Ireland.

The partnership will see JAM Card awareness and inclusivity training introduced across the Gala Retail network, supporting participating retailers to recognise when a shopper may need a little extra time or assistance during their visit.

The JAM Card, which stands for “Just A Minute”, is a free and discreet tool designed for people with invisible disabilities, neurodivergence or communication barriers. Available as a physical card or mobile app, it allows users to discreetly communicate that they may require additional time or support in everyday situations, which trained team members can then respond to with greater awareness and understanding.

The initiative reflects Gala Retail’s retailer-first and community-focused approach, supporting its retailers to make their stores more accessible while helping shoppers feel comfortable, respected and understood.

Tony Cluskey, Marketing and Ambient Trading Manager at Gala Retail, said: “Gala stores are at the heart of communities across Ireland, and this partnership is another important step in ensuring shoppers feel welcome and supported when they visit their local store.

“For someone with an invisible disability or communication barrier, a busy retail environment can sometimes feel overwhelming. The JAM Card provides a simple and discreet way for customers to let store teams know that they may need a little more time. By working with NOW Group and supporting JAM Card awareness across our network, Gala is helping retailers create more inclusive customer experiences and ensuring that shoppers can access the support they need.”

Claire McCleery, Director of JAM Card for Business at NOW Group added: “We are delighted to welcome Gala Retail as a JAM Card partner and to see the Group champion greater inclusion within convenience retail.

“Local convenience stores play an important role in everyday life, particularly in communities where retailers and shoppers know one another well. By introducing JAM Card training and awareness, Gala is helping to reduce communication barriers and create environments where people with invisible disabilities feel understood and supported.

“Small adjustments in how a customer interaction is handled can make a significant difference. Giving someone an extra minute, communicating clearly or simply showing patience can help make a shopping experience less stressful and more positive.”

Gala Retail has more than 230 Group stores nationwide and continues to invest in initiatives that support its retailers and improve the experience for shoppers in their local stores.

The JAM Card partnership builds on Gala Retail’s wider commitment to community inclusion. The Group is also a long-standing Platinum Sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland and has contributed more than €1 million to the organisation, supporting its work with athletes and families throughout the country.

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