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Shops want end to supermarket secrecy

Wednesday, March 06 11:34:25

RGDATA, the representative association for over 4,000 independent family grocers, has urged Government to lift the "veil of secrecy" regarding the profits made in Ireland by large global grocery retailers.

At a presentation to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley said Irish people have really no idea how much profit these multiples make in Ireland.

"Each of the large multiple retailers operating here go to inordinate lengths to conceal details of the turnover and profit generated by their activities in Ireland".

A delegation from RGDATA led by Co Cavan retailer John Foy and including independent retailers Joe Doyle of Donnybrook Fair and Richard Nolan of Nolan's in Clontarf outlined independent retailers' views on the proposed code of conduct for the grocery sector, food labeling, support for local producers and the impact of pricing policies on Irish farmers and suppliers.

RGDATA outlined how locally owned grocery shops provide 90,000 jobs and contribute E3.6 billion to the Irish economy and are the greatest supporters of Irish producers and suppliers.

"Money spent in Irish owned shops on Irish products is worth four times more to the local economy than that spent in the German of UK Multiples," Buckley told the Committee.

RGDATA President John Foy urged the Committee to address the misleading labeling that is confusing consumers about what products are genuinely Irish.

Independent retailer and food manufacturer Joe Doyle of Donnybrook Fair called for greater supports for indigenous Irish food producers.

Family grocer Richard Nolan urged that the red tape burden on independent shops be addressed as a matter of urgency.