The event discussed the ideas and opportunities facing the grocery retailing industry, along with revealing a number of technologies and other solutions to support retailers’ businesses that are due to roll out over the next 12 months.

Held at the Kilsahee Resort & Spa in Naas, Co. Kildare, this was the first in-person MACE retailer event in more than three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and was very well attended.

Among the new solutions showcased on the day was BWG Foods’ new predictive AI stock management system, ShopLink PRO, which leverages hundreds of complex data points to predict consumer demand for in-store products, allowing for smarter forecasting of stock requirements, while also considering business promotions and category management to deliver the next five-day sales forecasts.

The BWG team also revealed an innovative new HR Support service for retailers to manage this very important part of their business.

BWG Foods, owners and operators of the MACE brand in Ireland, also showcased a number of their latest food and beverage concepts including Háo Chi Bar, The Local Tea Company, Popsicle, Pazza @ Home and I-Scream, the exclusive ice cream offering.

Peter Dwan, sales director at MACE, said: “It was wonderful that so many Mace retailers were able to get together for this very important and informative meeting.  It’s been over three years since the Mace family got together which made today’s event even more enjoyable. Retailing evolved over this period, so it was more important than ever that we got together as we all know, retailers learn from each other.

“Businesses are facing huge challenges with the extraordinary rate of increase in energy costs as well as rising inflation, collectively we need to help each other over the coming weeks and months as we navigate this latest challenge. Today’s event showcased how technology ‘ innovation and a joined up approach will support retailers into the future.”

Caption: Padraig Delaney and Ger Kelly, (MACE Moneen, Castlebar) with Ireland rugby captain and MACE Ambassador Johnny Sexton.

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As parents and children across the country prepare for the return to school, SPAR is making lunch box options more exciting and appetising for children and parents alike through recipes and an extensive range of fresh and healthy produce.

As part of the SPAR Better Choices campaign, SPAR has created recipe ideas for lunch boxes, after-school snacks and weekend treats that are packed full of nutritious fruit and vegetables and help encourage healthy habits into weekly routines.

The leading Irish convenience retailer is leaning into using language as a way to engage children, with recipes like Veggie Dib Dabs, Love Heart Toasties, Star Faced Sambos and many more to make sure that packing lunches for school is both fun and nutritious.

SPAR and Seamus have produced a ‘Seamus Says’ video series which sees the Ireland and Everton captain provide top tips for keeping children active after school and at the weekends.

SPAR is also giving families the chance to win a kitchen kit of essential kitchen utensils and a €50 SPAR voucher to stock up on healthy choices ingredients. To be in with a chance of winning and to also access all of Seamus’ top tips, simply visit SPAR’s social media accounts.

Throughout the campaign Clare-based lifestyle content creator Emma O’Leary, who runs the Instagram account @lifewithtinyhumans, will take to her own kitchen and show followers just how easy the recipes are to follow as she gets her own kids back to school.

As a father of three, Seamus, appreciates the importance of a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise. Speaking at the campaign launch, he commented: “I am thrilled to be involved again with SPAR Better Choices this year. I know how hectic the return to school can be for some parents and with three growing daughters at home, who are preparing to go back to school, it’s really important that they have healthy and tasty meals as they settle back into their school routine.

“I am delighted to be working with SPAR to promote the importance of healthy eating and the importance of exercise and we are really looking forward to trying some of the SPAR Better Choices recipes at home!”

SPAR Sales Director Colin Donnelly added: “At SPAR we are committed to providing our customers with the best product offerings across our stores. Our aim is to offer parents affordable solutions for their families and to give piece of mind in knowing that they can always rely on us to have a great choice of healthy options when it comes to preparing for the return to school this year.”

Caption: Republic of Ireland and Everton captain Seamus Coleman helps launch SPAR’s Better Choices campaign 

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