MACE Brand Ambassador

The Irish rugby legend and long-time MACE Brand Ambassador is helping to launch this new campaign as many people are increasingly setting new goals for the year ahead and assessing the choices they make when it comes to leading active and healthy lifestyles. This programme for 2024 also involves a comprehensive awareness campaign in stores and online to highlight the healthier food and drink options available to MACE customers in local communities across the country.

Speaking about the launch of the new campaign and his continuing partnership with MACE, Sexton said: “As a parent, I’m passionate about encouraging children and families to lead active and healthy lifestyles. Since I’m only recently finished playing professional sport, this is one way for me to help support the Irish public in making more positive choices for the benefit of their physical and mental health. I’m very proud to be working with MACE and promoting this campaign in communities across Ireland.”

Incredible leader

Keith Crawford, MACE Sales Director said: “Johnny Sexton has proved to be an incredible leader, a sporting legend, and a tremendous role-model for the Irish public and he’s a great ambassador for this campaign. MACE Right Options is answering the call from our customers in terms of supporting them to make healthier decisions underpinned by great value and convenience. Our customers will soon see the new Right Options guidance in their local MACE store highlighting the healthier food and drink options available, and I think they’ll really enjoy the series of video features with Johnny, including advice on choosing the right options for the benefit of our physical and mental health.”

MACE is the longest established convenience retail symbol brand in Ireland, serving local communities for over 60 years. Operated by independent retailers, the network includes local community stores as well as forecourt shopping, with more than 150 stores around the country.

Caption: Dublin youngster’s Eric Smith and Teagan Smith (no relation) Dublin were on hand to help “Coach Johnny” launch the MACE Right Options campaign for 2024 and kick-start Johnny’s new position as the MACE Right Options Coach.

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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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The retail group is asking the people of Ireland to nominate that special someone ‘who goes the extra mile to make a difference’, so they get the recognition they deserve.

“This is a great way for communities to recognise that special person who always puts others ahead of themselves and I’m really looking forward to seeing the wide range of thoughtful and generous acts by people in communities all around the country,” Sexton said.

The individual Award Categories are:

• Charity Award
• Child & Youth Award
• Environment Award
• Sports, Health & Well-being Award
• MACE Store Team Award

The special overall MACE Community Award will single out someone from around Ireland who really goes ‘over and above’ to give something back to their community.

Each category winner will receive €1,000 while the overall special MACE Community Unsung Hero will receive an overall prize of €5,000.

Peter Dwan, sales director, MACE added, “In communities all around Ireland, there is that one person who stands out above all others for consistently going out of their way to help, and this is your opportunity to acknowledge their kindness.”

This is the second time MACE have run this initiative.

Last year, Limerick native Leona O’Callaghan was selected as the overall outstanding hero for her tireless work in raising awareness of violence against women.

The retailer noted that O’Callaghan was an ‘outstanding’ recipient of the special overall MACE Community Award.

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