
SuperValu and Centra's new charity partnership with DRS
Customers returning cans and bottles at SuperValu and Centra stores will have the option to donate their deposit to the retailers' chosen charity partners.
Up to €47m will be returned to SuperValu and Centra customers through the Deposit Return Scheme this year.
SuperValu is supporting AsIAm, the country's autism charity, while Centra is partnering with the Irish Cancer Society.
Up to €47m will be returned to SuperValu and Centra customers through the Deposit Return Scheme this year and more than 700 DRS machines between the two networks will be used.
The campaign will be rolled out across 352 machines in the Centra network and 359 machines in the SuperValu network.
The new initiative is being rolled out on an initial three-month basis with the two charity partners, and with SuperValu and Centra working with different charities throughout the year.
Luke Hanlon, Managing Director SuperValu and Centra, said that the Deposit Return Scheme has been a success across SuperValu and Centra stores since the rollout last year.
"This initiative gives our customers a simple and effective opportunity to support great causes while increasing awareness of the Deposit Return Scheme as a whole. We look forward to working with both charities to ensure the partnership reaches its fullest potential," he said.
Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm, said that customers donating their DRS vouchers to AsIAm at SuperValu stores nationwide is a powerful way for people to show their support to make Ireland a more inclusive place for the at least one in 20 people in Ireland who are autistic, and their families.
Averil Power, CEO, Irish Cancer Society, said the initiative is a really important and valuable partnership for the Irish Cancer Society.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Lough on the doorstep of fine fettle Evora
A LOCATION within a waddle of Cork's wildfowl sanctuary The Lough, as well as having a significantly revamped and upgraded SuperValu across the road as the 'corner shop' are some of the additional attractions at this detached southside home called Evora. The lovely Lough. Pic: Larry Cummins Brick-faced, with large dormer windows with lattice finish, there's a surprising 167 sq m, or 1,785 sq ft, within this owner-occupied four-bed home which is fresh to the market via agent Timothy Sullivan and appreciated by several generations of the family who are now selling up. Mr Sullivan guides the very well-kept home — decorated with bit of Gallic flair — within a walk of UCC and of the city centre at €595,000, and while it's got a very attractive open plan layout at ground level with linked rooms (and with one of its four bedrooms downstairs) he says it's adaptable internally to allow for a granny flat as well as main private home. Right now it has a substantial sitting room, with fireplace, with bay window in front and slender french doors to an external courtyard, a lounge with period style cast iron fireplace with tiled inserts and timber surround, linking to a breakfast room with tiled floor which continues to a kitchen with pine units and tile-topped island. An open tread stairs leads to three first floor bedrooms, one of which is en suite and a main bathroom with shower. Neat grounds Externally, Evora has off street parking, well-planted front garden with shrubs and hedging, and screened door access to a courtyard style easy-keep rear outdoor area. Pictured are Ryan's SuperValu, Togher by Evora, student accommodation on Bandon Road and rooftops on houses on the south and northside of Cork city's suburbs. Pic: Larry Cummins Viewings are only just starting and trade-up interest is expected, as well as relocators coming back to Cork to work in nearby hospitals such as the Bon Secours: investor interest might also surface given its got four bedrooms. VERDICT: Great accessible location by The Lough, and a SuperValu to duck into


Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
How corporate power purchase agreements are helping Ireland's large energy users to power success
SSE Airtricity is synonymous with cleaner, greener energy. The company, which was bought by SSE in 2008, has been actively harnessing Ireland's greatest natural resource – wind – ever since, helping to support Ireland's decarbonisation plans. That trusted heritage in renewable energy is why a growing number of the country's leading energy users, from across commercial and industrial sectors, have chosen to enter into corporate power purchase agreements (CPPAs) with the company. These agreements allow them to purchase renewable electricity under contract, with a guarantee of origin, so they know the electricity provided was generated by a wind farm owned by SSE. Businesses can be confident in their efforts to meet their environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements and their contribution to carbon reduction. And it's not just good news for the environment. It makes good commercial sense too. Signing up to an SSE Airtricity CPPA can help large energy users achieve greater price certainty. By locking in electricity prices for the duration of the contract, such customers are shielded from the volatility of energy markets, allowing for better budgeting and financial planning. It also means they are directly supporting Ireland's energy transition. Because CPPAs provide an additional route to market for generators, independent of the Government-backed Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, they enable new wind farms to be built and existing ones to stay in operation longer. Musgrave – Ireland's leading food retail, wholesale and food service company – has just signed up to an SSE Airtricity CPPA. Together with its retail partners, Musgrave supports more than 41,000 jobs in more than 1,000 stores, offices and distribution centres. These support market leading food and beverage brands such as SuperValu and Centra as well as its wholesale and food service wing, Musgrave Marketplace. In April Musgrave announced a landmark CPPA which will see it purchase 100 per cent of the wind-powered energy from Richfield Wind Farm in Co Wexford and the Bessy Bell 2 Wind Farm in Co Tyrone, both of which are owned and operated by SSE Renewables, a sister company to SSE Airtricity. The energy generated from Richfield Wind Farm and Bessy Bell 2 Wind Farm will help meet the Musgrave Group's electricity needs, including Musgrave offices, 11 distribution centres and 105 SuperValu and Centra retail stores across Ireland. The move is designed to help support Musgrave to decarbonise its operations, manage its energy costs and minimise the financial risk associated with market volatility. 'At Musgrave, we are proud to partner with SSE Airtricity in signing this Corporate Power Purchase Agreement,' says Noel Keeley, chief executive of Musgrave Group. 'This landmark agreement marks a significant milestone in our journey toward net zero, and empowers our SuperValu and Centra stores to meaningfully reduce their environmental impact. Noel Keeley, chief executive of Musgraves and SSE Airtricity's managing director, Stephen Gallagher. 'Our network of stores is deeply committed to driving sustainability and making a positive difference in their local communities. Together with our retail partners we have ambitious plans for our journey to net zero, while supporting the renewable energy sector in Ireland through partnerships like this CPPA.' The first all-island retail CPPA, it was a landmark agreement for the retail sector. 'The partnership reflects our continued commitment to supporting businesses in their sustainability journey,' says SSE Airtricity's managing director, Stephen Gallagher. 'As energy partner, our role is to ensure Musgrave has access to reliable renewable energy solutions and that SuperValu and Centra stores can continue to be leaders in sustainability. We look forward to continued collaborations to drive positive environmental impact, supporting a net-zero future for Ireland.' CPPAs are one of a suite of energy solutions that SSE Airtricity offers. These include energy audits, a free survey supported by SEAI to help commercial customers to better understand their energy usage, identifying cost savings, reducing risk and lowering carbon footprint. SSE Airtricity provides solar PV solutions too, including survey and installation for immediate ESG benefits, the potential for cost savings and long-term price stability, as well as the potential to generate revenue through microgeneration. Through funded solar solutions large users can install commercial solar panels via a solar PPA with no upfront cost. SSE Airtricity also offers practical assistance such as the installation of electric vehicle charging points and can tailor energy solutions to meet the specific needs of businesses, supporting sustainability and operational efficiency goals. Its distributed energy solutions meanwhile provide large users with modular energy generation and storage technologies, another fully financed energy solution designed around your needs. The tailored aspect of SSE Airtricity CPPAs, and their ease of use, are important parts of the value proposition. 'A lot of people think this is the realm of Big Tech or data centres because they are very active in this space. But effectively the product we have developed is both personalised and simplified for diverse industry sectors. Each CPPA is completely bespoke and we have worked very hard to simplify the process so that customers have one contract and one single point of contact,' explains David O'Byrne, the company's head of industrial and commercial contracts. 'Each agreement is between one partner and one clean energy solution, which is why each and every one of these agreements is different,' he says. 'We come in, get to know your business, look at demand and usage throughout your organisation on an annualised basis, and then tailor an agreement to suit.' In having an SSE Airtiricty CPPA, organisations are not only securing a reliable source of renewable energy – they're also playing a meaningful role in Ireland's energy transition. In Musgrave's case for example, its agreement directly continues the demand for energy from Richfield Wind Farm, contributing to the extension of life of a key renewable asset. 'A CPPA provides clear, verifiable proof that your business is serious about climate action,' says O'Byrne. 'A CPPA can offer greater price stability, enabling businesses to secure a competitive fixed energy rate for the energy generated over the agreement's term. That support in managing exposure to market fluctuations can make longer-term budgeting more predictable,' he says. 'We only have to remember the impact Russia's invasion of Ukraine had on energy prices to appreciate the value of that. CPPAs also helps protect energy security, another concern for businesses. 'Having a dedicated source of renewable energy, as Musgrave does, provides CPPA customers with greater visibility and assurance over their energy supply. It also reinforces their commitment to sustainability and supports the broader development of renewable infrastructure in Ireland.' Visit for more information.


Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Rising food prices are not overinflating supermarket profits, says bank
There are growing calls for a probe into supermarket profits, fuelled by concerns over the rising cost of groceries. Grocery prices have increased by more than a third in the last four years, forcing many families to spend an additional €3,000 a year on household essentials. Many question where the extra money being paid for their food is going. Owen Clifford, head of retail sector at Bank of Ireland, said food prices had increased significantly following the Covid pandemic, but added the rate of increase over the period remained below the European average. He noted the Irish market was unique, with a significant portion held by family-owned retailers under the SuperValu, Centra, Eurospar and Londis brands. While there were exceptions, Mr Clifford said the percentage of revenues these food retailers typically retain as profit was around 2pc and 3pc in the Irish market. There wasn't any evidence of excessive pricing or inflated profit margins The figure demonstrated 'the fine margins in which these businesses operate'. 'Bank of Ireland data confirms that the profit margin generated by these family owned retailers over the past year has remained consistent with historical performance while maintaining significant employment and investment in local communities nationwide,' he said. 'This data aligns with a report by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) issued as recently as June 2023, which stated there wasn't any evidence of excessive pricing or inflated profit margins across the Irish grocery sector.' Musgrave, one of the country's largest food wholesalers and owner of the SuperValu and Centra brands, recorded a profit of €103.9m in 2023, with an operating profit margin of around 2.4pc. ADVERTISEMENT The figures do not account for the much smaller, independent, family-owned retailers that own and operate most SuperValu and Centra stores. Tesco Ireland results for the year ending February 2024 show its after-tax profit rose by 10pc to €94.7m. Its operating profit margin was 3.7pc, down from 4pc the previous year. Mr Clifford said it was essential for family owned retailers to maintain their margins to meet consumer expectations regarding standards and product ranges in stores. 'Rising food prices are understandably a very real concern for families 'Having met over 150 retailers across the country in recent months, I can confirm that balancing value for customers while delivering margin that sustains their business in a competitive market remains a key focus,' he added. 'Rising food prices are understandably a very real concern for families nationwide. 'However, as always, a nuanced/balanced, evidence-based approach is required when evaluating the root cause of same.' Mr Clifford cited several reasons for rising food costs. They include higher global commodity prices for wheat, sugar and cocoa, depressed harvests, increased overheads for retailers, global trade uncertainty, and rising farm-gate prices across beef, dairy, and poultry. Recent figures from the CSO show the Agricultural Output Price Index rose 20.8pc in the 12 months to March this year. The most significant increases were in cattle (+40.4pc), milk (+17.6pc) and sheep (+4.3pc), while decreases were recorded in potatoes (-9.3pc) and vegetables (-1.6pc). Junior enterprise minister Alan Dillon asked the CCPC last week to look at supermarket mark-ups, which would give an insight into the profitability of firms and the level of pricing power they hold. Currently, supermarkets are not obligated to publish their profits. Denis Drennan, president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMS), claimed retailer margins were 'as opaque as the farmer margins are transparent'. We now pay less than half of what our parents paid for their food As reported in the Farming Independent, Teagasc's National Farm Survey revealed that average farmer incomes rebounded last year, but were still generally low. Average family farm income rose by 87pc to just under €36,000 in 2024. Worryingly, the figures showed nearly 60pc of the country's farms are not economically viable. Mr Drennan said anxiety over rising food costs was not due to any recent 'inexplicable inflationary surge', but the fact that people had become used to underpaying for their food. 'As a matter of record and as a percentage of disposable income, we now pay less than half of what our parents paid for their food,' he said. 'It's not as if people are now over-paying for their food, it's that for decades now they have been under-paying for food, so being asked to pay the real costs — environmental and economic — is coming as a bit of a shock.'