Markets and Market Position
DCC Food & Beverage’s Irish distribution business markets, sells and distributes a range of its own and third party agency brands and provides category management and merchandising services to a broad range of customers including grocery multiples, symbol and independent retailers including pharmacies, off-licenses, hotels, restaurants and cafes.
In Britain, the business markets and sells wines to multiple retailers, wholesale and cash and carry customers.
The majority of DCC Food & Beverage’s operations are focused on the Irish grocery market which has shown some contraction over the last number of years due to price deflation and the general economic downturn. As economic conditions remain challenging, consumers continue to search for value and to reduce their discretionary spending both in grocery and out of home. Recent market data has shown that while the average spend per household has remained broadly flat, consumers are engaging in more frequent shopping trips while spending slightly less on each trip they make.
While private label now accounts for approximately 35% of all sales by value, brands continue to be important to the Irish consumer. DCC Food & Beverage continues to develop its own branded offering and company owned brands now account for approximately 36% of total revenue.
DCC Food & Beverage’s businesses enjoy a number of leading market positions in the categories in which they operate.
In Ireland, the business is the leading and most comprehensive supplier of healthy foods and beverages, fine foods and vitamins, minerals and supplements (’VMS’), selling owned and agency brands directly to both the grocery and pharmacy sectors. DCC Food & Beverage’s healthfood brand, Kelkin, is recognised as the leading brand in the ambient health/’better for you’ food sector and offers a healthy choice in many food categories. The Kelkin brand is also a strong and developing brand in the VMS sector.
Also in Ireland, the business is a leading value added distributor of indulgence products in the grocery, impulse and food service sectors with a strong, complementary range of company owned and agency brands, specialising in wine, snacks, hot beverages, home cooking (herbs, spices and colourings), confectionery and soft drinks.
DCC Food & Beverage is a leading distributor of wine in Ireland to both the on and off-trade, providing an extensive portfolio of international wine brands, and is focused on further developing its spirits portfolio and offers its principals the largest on-trade reach in the Irish marketplace.
In Britain, the business is a leading supplier of branded (both company owned and agency) and exclusive retail solutions to the multiple off-trade sector of the UK wine market.
DCC Food & Beverage is also a leading temperature controlled distributor in Ireland. It offers a full range of temperature controlled supply chain solutions (procurement, brand management and selling, warehousing and distribution) to major retailers, manufacturers and food service customers.
Kylemore Services Group (50% owned by DCC) is a leading operator of retail restaurants and contract catering services in Ireland, serving approximately 8 million customer meals annually throughout Ireland.