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• RTE The Business: Food firms being hit with price rises of up to 30%

  November 18, 2021 Profiles and Interview
  

  Source: https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2021/1117/1261573-food-firms-being-hit-with-price-rises-of-up-to-30/

  By Brian FinnBusiness Journalist

  Cost increases being experienced by firms have yet to be passed onto consumers but they will likely make their way through in time

  Small and medium sized food companies in Ireland are being hit with input cost rises of almost 30%, according to research from the representative group Love Irish Food.

  Companies said costs were rising across the board, but the most significant hikes were being experienced in the areas of transportation, followed by raw materials and energy prices.

  The increases in transport prices related mainly to the cost of exporting goods, but the cost of transporting within Ireland also increased.

  Companies reported that their insurance costs have been rising, but to a lesser extent that the other categories.

  Three quarters of companies surveyed by Love Irish Food attributed the cost increases to supply chain issues arising from the pandemic.

  Other key contributing factors included Brexit, and increased worldwide demand.

  Those cost increases are likely to make their way through to the prices that consumers pay for their food.

  However, although consumer price inflation is running at in excess of 5% in Ireland, according to the latest CSO figures, food prices increased at a more muted rate of 0.6% year-on-year in October.

  The bulk of the inflation in the wider economy is accounted for by rising energy and fuel prices.

  Labour issues

  Food companies are also concerned about the impact of labour shortages across the wider economy.

  Four out of five SMEs surveyed by Love Irish Food said they anticipated challenges in recruiting qualified and trained staff next year.

  A similar proportion expect that retaining current staff will be a challenge.

  Many companies report that they are having to prioritise core ranges of goods in an effort to offset labour problems.

  “The twin challenges of rising input costs and significant labour shortages have the potential to cause serious disruption on the food and drink industry in 2022,” Kieran Rumley, Executive Director of Love Irish Food said.

  “The global pandemic and Brexit have made the issues facing the sector acute, with many now having to consider range rationalisation to offset labour challenges and decrease costs,” he added.

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• Press Relase: Love Irish Food “Heart in your basket” Radio Campaign Launch

  September 20, 2021 Press Releases
  
  The Irish economy has reopened with prospects of an upswing in spending, a reduction in unemployment and employees returning to their workplace. Love Irish Food is today announcing a major new advertising campaign to support its producer members and asking shoppers to put the “Heart in your basket…”. This heavyweight campaign will run on RTE Radio 1; RTE 2fm; Today fm; Newstalk; Cork Red fm; Cork 96fm; and FM104 from 20th September until 28th November. In tandem with this, Love Irish Food will also run a PR campaign through Drury PR in October identifying how shoppers can make a real choice in selecting Irish produced food brands. Please support your membership of Love Irish Food and the campaign on your social media.
  Listen here:

   

   
  In addition Love Irish Food would also like to welcome some new producer members to Love Irish Food, Cuisine de France; Divilly’s Meats; Farm Fresh Produce Co-Op; Gallaghers Bread and Promise Gluten Free; Glenhaven; Glenisk; Good4U; Killowen; Plant-It; Silver Pail; and Tayto Snacks. As Love Irish Food membership grows so too does its voice. 
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