KEEPING THE FACTS IN FOCUS

KEEPI NG TH E FACTS I N FOCUS
ABFI is a business sector within IBEC
www.ibec.ie
R EPR ESENTI NG OU R I N DUSTRY
Irish Brewers Association
Irish Cider Association
Irish Spirits Association
Irish Wine Association
The IBA is the
representative voice of
the brewing industry
in Ireland. It works
towards an equitable and
sustainable taxation
policy, a sustainable cost
effective production
environment and
engagement in a
comprehensive, inclusive
and evidence-based driven
public health debate.
The ICA aims to build on
the great success of its
predecessor, the Cider
Industry Council, which
transformed the profile of
cider in this country for
the better. Its mission is to
proudly promote the
interests of the Irish cider
industry and ensuring
that the value of the
industry is clearly
understood by all.
The ISA promotes the
interests of the Irish spirits
industry in a national
and international context.
The objective of the
Association is to ensure
that optimal international
trading conditions exist
for the Irish spirits
industry.
The IWA serves its
members by representing,
lobbying, promoting and
facilitating their issues.
IWA members benefit
from the ability to
influence at all levels of
Government, access
industry information and
share best practice.
O U R M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T
With a membership that includes all sectors of the drinks
industry in Ireland, ABFI is committed to promoting the many
positive contributions our industry makes to the Irish Exchequer,
balance of trade, employment and society as a whole.
Working with member companies, we aim to develop evidencebased policy proposals that address the numerous issues
affecting our industry. We communicate these proposals to
legislators, the media and the public in an effort to create a
more sustainable business environment for our members.
Coupled with our commercial concerns, we are conscious of our
social responsibility to encourage the moderate consumption
of our products amongst adults, working in partnership
with Government and other stakeholders.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRPERSON
At first glance, the Irish drinks industry would appear to occupy a most
enviable position. The Irish drinks industry has a critically important position
within the Irish economy directly and indirectly, it provides employment for
over 105,000 persons, equivalent to 61,000 full time jobs. Its 2006 turnover of
€2.9 billion represented 2.4% of Ireland’s total manufacturing output for that
year. It generates total exports in excess of ¤1.3 billion per anum. And last, but
by no means least, it contributes tax receipts of more than €2 billion every
year to the Irish Exchequer.
However, the industry faces many challenges. Taxation is a major issue:
wine and beer carry the highest levels of excise in the European Union,
while spirits and cider carry the second highest. Cost competitiveness; the
environmental impact of the industry; the implications of alcohol misuse:
all these threaten the long-term sustainability of our sector.
Rather than trying to address these considerable challenges on an ad hoc
basis, the industry decided in late 2007 to establish a federation that would
enable members to collectively tackle pan-industry issues.
And so the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI) was born. With the
whole being greater than the sum of its parts, ABFI is now fully prepared to
work as one to face our challenges and achieve our goals.
Brian Duffy
Chairperson, ABFI
Chairman, Diageo Ireland
and Guinness Global Brand Director
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www.abfi.ie
T H E I R I S H A L C O H O L A N D B E V E R A G E I N D U S T R Y AT A G L A N C E
*Figures from Tony Foley, DIGI Statistical Handbook 2008
1500
EXPORT STATISTICS FOR ALCOHOL BEVERAGES*
2004
2005
1134.9
920.9
600
870.2
900
1262.7
1177.8
1200
300
0
2006
2007
2008
(Estimated)
BREAKDOWN OF THE ALCOHOL MARKET
ALCOHOL AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL EXCISE
cider
spirits
18.9 %
8%
19 %
50 %
beer
23 %
wine
www.abfi.ie
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TO G E T H E R W E ’ R E ST R O N G E R
Representing the major manufacturing and supply companies in the Irish drinks industry, ABFI harnesses the energy of the
industry to focus on the many challenges and issues it faces.
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www.abfi.ie
A M E S SA G E F R O M O U R D I R E C TO R
The establishment of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland has created a
unique and invaluable platform which brings focus and dynamism to our efforts
as an industry. It provides us with a structure that addresses challenges by
harnessing the collective strength that each sector of the industry brings, while
enhancing the ability of each sector to manage its individual issues.
With the partnership and policy skills that IBEC brings to our new federation,
we can now approach policy-makers and any other stakeholders with pro-active,
evidence-based solutions to help us surmount the challenges we face as
an industry.
ABFI is all about working together to help all category associations of the drinks
industry in Ireland remain competitive and sustainable. Although very new, it
has already demonstrated the value of pan-industry collaboration. And I have no
doubt that it can and will build on that success. Moving forward, ABFI plans to
build on that success and those achievements to sustain and grow this vital
industry for our members and our employees.
Rosemary Garth
Director, ABFI
www.abfi.ie
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INFORMING
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www.abfi.ie
PA N - I N D U S T R Y C H A L L E N G E S
01 Cost Competitiveness
The Challenge
The inexorable rise in the costs associated with doing business in Ireland could
cripple the competitiveness of the Irish drinks industry.
The Response
Either as an exporting company and/or a supplier to the Irish market, cost
competitiveness is key. ABFI is working to identify particular areas where
specific industry costs can be minimised in order to increase the long-term
viability of the industry.
02 Taxation
The Challenge
Faced with the highest levels of excise duty in the European Union, the overall
competitiveness and long-term sustainability of the Irish drinks industry is under
threat. What is needed is a more equitable level of excise that will allow the
industry to compete more fairly.
The Response
ABFI has established a taxation policy committee to make submissions to the
Commission on Taxation to highlight the many difficulties posed by the current
tax regime and to suggest possible solutions to these problems.
»
THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF EXCISE IN EUROPE, RISING COSTS, ENVIRONMENTAL
CONCERNS AND THE MISUSE OF ALCOHOL ARE JUST SOME OF THE ISSUES
THE IRISH DRINKS INDUSTRY IS CURRENTLY GRAPPLING WITH. BY WORKING
TOGETHER, WE HAVE A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF SOLVING ALL OF THESE ISSUES.
Gerrit van Loo Heineken – Chairperson, Irish Brewers Association
www.abfi.ie
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INFLUENCING
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www.abfi.ie
PA N - I N D U S T R Y C H A L L E N G E S
03 Responsible Consumption
The Challenge
The misuse of alcohol in society is a concern to all, particularly ABFI. The persistence
of this problem is not in either the commercial or social interests of the Irish drinks
industry in its efforts to create a more sustainable business environment.
The Response
ABFI fully recognises this issue and believes the best way forward is through
proactive and positive evidence-based engagement with Government and other
stakeholders. The many ABFI initiatives include an investment of €20 million in
the drinkaware.ie campaign and the introduction of strengthened codes of
practice for advertising placement, which ABFI has negotiated with Government.
04 Environment
The Challenge
CO2 emissions from the manufacturing process, the environmental impact of
bottles, packaging and litter are just some of the hurdles to be overcome if
the Irish drinks industry is to continue to reduce its carbon footprint.
The Response
In a determined effort to minimise its environmental impact in a cost-effective
way, ABFI has set up an environmental policy committee to develop and
implement environmental best practice throughout the industry.
»
THEY SAY THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. AND IT’S SAFE TO SAY ALL OUR
COMBINED STRENGTHS WILL BE CALLED UPON IF WE ARE TO SUCCESSFULLY TACKLE
THE NUMEROUS PAN-INDUSTRY CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE. I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC
THAT THROUGH ABFI WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE OUR BUSINESS GOALS.
Aidan Murphy C&C Group – Chairperson, Irish Cider Association
www.abfi.ie
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PA RT N E R I N G
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www.abfi.ie
WO R K I N G TO G E T H E R TO M A K E I T WO R K
Much of the success already achieved by a number of ABFI initiatives arises from
the federation’s belief that partnership, with Government and other stakeholders,
is the most effective way to reach long-term solutions to the many challenges
and other issues facing the drinks industry in Ireland today.
By working together, ABFI and the social partners have initiated a wide range of
positive and proactive programmes including community mobilisation projects,
agreement on unit and pregnancy advice labels on packaged products; the
development of a policy on alcohol misuse in the workplace.
In addition, the industry and government have agreed upon a set of stringent
codes of practice relating to the placement of advertising and sponsorship, and
the establishment of an independent body to monitor these codes.
The key to the success of these initiatives is the recognition by all partners that
the most effective way forward is to adopt an approach which is supported by
evidence, rather than rely on quick-fix solutions.
»
THE DRINKS INDUSTRY, AS A WHOLE, IS FACING A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES
AT THE PRESENT TIME. IF WE ARE TO SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVE THESE ISSUES,
I FIRMLY BELIEVE WE ARE MUCH BETTER OFF DOING SO COLLECTIVELY;
AS A CONSOLIDATED GROUP SUCH AS ABFI.
Jim Breen C&C International – Chairperson, Irish Spirits Association
www.abfi.ie
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UNITING
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www.abfi.ie
T H E W AY F O R W A R D
The Irish drinks industry is a huge contributor to the Irish economy. Directly and
indirectly, it provides employment for over 105,000 persons, equivalent to 61,000
full time jobs. It has total exports in excess of €1.3 billion per anum. And it
generates tax receipts of more than €2 billion annually to the Irish Exchequer.
But it also faces a number of significant challenges and issues. It has some of the
highest levels of excise in the European Union. Cost competitiveness within the
industry is a constant concern. There is an immediate need to reduce the industry’s
overall environmental impact. And more work must to be done to reduce the
misuse of alcohol.
However, by working together, engaging with Government and other
stakeholders and promoting evidence-based proactive policies that address
the issues affecting our industry, we will create a more sustainable business
environment for our members.
»
THE FACT THAT ALL SECTORS OF THE DRINKS INDUSTRY IN IRELAND HAVE COME
TOGETHER TO FORM ABFI MEANS THAT WE CAN NOW HARNESS THE COMBINED
ENERGIES OF OUR RESPECTIVE SECTORS TO HELP CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF US.
Philip Robinson Woodford Bourne – Chairperson, Irish Wine Association
www.abfi.ie
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THE ABFI TEAM
Rosemary Garth
Director
Rosemary has been heavily
involved in the food and drink
sector within IBEC for almost
ten years. Over the course of
the last three years, she acted
as director of the Drinks
Manufacturers of Ireland, the
precursor to ABFI. She holds a
BA in Economics and an MA
in European Politics and Law.
She is highly regarded for her
lobbying and advocacy skills.
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Aoife Clarke
Senior Executive –
responsible for the Irish
Spirits Association and the
Irish Wine Association
Stephen Lynam
Senior Executive –
responsible for the Irish
Brewers Association and the
Irish Cider Association.
Aoife began her career in
IBEC with PharmaChemical
Ireland. She is responsible
for the spirits and wine
associations within ABFI.
With an MSc in Environmental Health and Safety
Management, she also
advises on environmental
issues for all four business
sectors within ABFI.
Stephen joined ABFI in
January 2008 following
six years as a policy advisor
to Fine Gael leader, Enda
Kenny TD. He holds an MA
in Journalism. He works
with the brewers and cider
associations within ABFI in
addition to the areas of selfregulation and taxation.
Grainne Jordan
Administration &
Executive Support
Grainne moved to ABFI in
January 2008 after working
with ICT Ireland, another
business sector within IBEC.
Grainne brings over ten years
experience in administrative
roles to the position and
is responsible for the
administration of ABFI.
www.abfi.ie
C O N TA C T U S
ABFI membership provides your company with comprehensive
information resources to ensure that you are up to date on critical
business issues. Membership of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of
Ireland will ensure that your company is better represented, better
informed and better prepared to meet the challenges of Ireland’s
changing economy. As a business sector within IBEC, members of
ABFI also benefit from membership of IBEC which includes a range
of human resources and business development services.
Should you wish to find out more about ABFI, apply for membership
or discuss any of the matters raised in this brochure, please contact
us at +353 (0)1 605 1581, e-mail us at info@abfi.ie or visit our website
www.abfi.ie.
www.abfi.ie
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ABFI is a business sector within IBEC
IBEC is the umbrella body for business and employers. It represents more than
7,500 member organisations, of all sizes, in all regions and across all industry sectors.
With acknowledged expertise in all aspects of business representation, policy development, employee relations, human
resources, employment law, environment and health and safety IBEC is uniquely positioned to provide indispensable,
tailored advice to members. As a business sector within IBEC, ABFI draws upon specialist lobbying and policy expertise
relevant to our industry including international trade and EU affairs. To learn more, contact IBEC on www.ibec.ie
IBEC MISSION
IBEC promotes the interests of business and employers in Ireland by working to foster the
continuing development of a competitive environment that encourages sustainable
growth, and within which both enterprise and people can flourish.
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www.abfi.ie
ALCOHOL BEVERAGE FEDERATION OF IRELAND
Confederation House 84/86 Lower Baggot Street Dublin 2
telephone + 353 (0)1 605 16581 fax + 353 (0)1 638 1581
e-mail abfi@ibec.ie www.abfi.ie
ABFI is a business sector within IBEC
www.ibec.ie
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