Tag: partnership

FoodCloud partners with Coca-Cola HBC to launch new ‘Food Sourcing Strategy’

Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity Pippa Hackett today joined FoodCloud and their partners Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland to announce a three-year initiative which will see the introduction of a new Food Sourcing Strategy.

With a strong working relationship of over 3 years, Coca-Cola HBC has supported both FoodCloud in the Republic of Ireland and their counterparts FareShare in Northern Ireland with financial and product donations as well as volunteer hours. This new partnership will take a strategic approach to reducing food waste across the island of Ireland and will focus on FoodCloud’s objectives of doubling the volume of food redistributed to 5,100 tonnes per year by 2025. This equates to approximately 12,000,000 meals redistributed in Ireland and 16,000 tonnes of CO2-eq avoided. Tackling food loss and waste delivers a threefold purpose directly benefiting – the climate, food security, and the long-term sustainability of our food systems.

Through this initiative Coca-Cola HBC will support FoodCloud in Ireland and FareShare in Northern Ireland to analyse and review the existing approach to food sourcing and identify challenges and opportunities for growth. The outcomes and indeed the development of the food sourcing strategy is designed to support the efforts of social enterprises to engage larger manufacturers, producers and suppliers across the food and drink supply chain in surplus redistribution. Through the implementation of this new strategy, food industry partners will have the knowledge and processes they need to identify ways to prevent food waste and reduce carbon emissions within the sector.

Speaking at today’s announcement, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett, said: “The new Food Sourcing Strategy is a very welcome initiative. Tackling food loss and food waste is a key step in combating climate change and in Ireland’s transition to a circular economy. With over 770,000 tonnes of food waste recorded in 2020, it is vital that producers, suppliers, consumers and Government work together to address this pressing challenge.”

Since 2013, FoodCloud has redistributed over 201.3 million meals in Ireland and internationally. It has also rescued more than 84,555 tonnes of food from going to waste, avoiding over 270,576 tonnes of CO2-equivalent. Food waste also has a huge environmental impact, accounting for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions*. To put that into perspective: Food waste generates over four times more greenhouse gas emissions than the global aviation industry.

The existing partnership between FoodCloud and Coca Cola HBC has already seen 586 tonnes of surplus food redistributed in the first quarter of 2023. That equates to approximately 1,875 tonnes of Co2 equivalent avoided and 1.4 million meals equivalent redistributed to Food Cloud’s network of over 600 charities.

Aoibheann O’Brien, Co-Founder and Partnerships Director, FoodCloud, said: “While FoodCloud has made great progress in rescuing and redistributing surplus food, this figure represents only a very small percentage of the 770,300 tonnes of food that is wasted every year in Ireland. We are still only scratching the surface of surplus potential in Ireland and more needs to be done to achieve the ambitious target of halving food waste by 2023. 

“The FoodCloud Food Sourcing Strategy supported by Coca-Cola HBC will be the foundation to significantly grow the volumes of food redistributed across the Irish supply chain by 2025 and support FoodCloud’s ambitious vision of a world where no good food goes to waste. In our efforts to cut emissions as a country, the Food Sourcing Strategy has an important role to play in reviewing the processes in place and providing tangible learnings to help us double the volume of food redistributed to 5,100 tonnes per year by 2025 and to cut the associated emissions of wasted food. The food sourcing strategy involves an analysis, not only of the surplus that is available and of the needs of our charity and voluntary organisation (CVO) partners, but also an analysis of ways to unlock pockets of fresh produce and a diverse range of foods that can contribute to a balanced diet for the communities that we serve. We look forward to working with Coca-Cola HBC over the coming three years to meet these challenges.”

The partnership being announced today builds on Coca-Cola HBC’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040. As part of this commitment, Coca-Cola HBC has sought to promote a life-cycle approach to reducing food waste and the sustainable sourcing of raw materials.

Tom Burke, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “The journey to NetZero requires partnership across all industries and sectors. As the largest beverage provider on the island of Ireland and the world’s most sustainable beverage company we recognise we have a role to play in leading the industry response and developing partnerships across the sector. In our own operations, we are looking both internally and externally to reduce carbon emissions and play our part in driving sustainability. Over the past three years we have seen the incredible work FoodCloud and FareShare do, and we are excited to work together to develop this vital Food Sourcing Strategy which will evolve how the food and drink industry approaches food redistribution and as a result reduce associated carbon emissions. 

“The Food Sourcing Strategy will see Coca-Cola HBC and FoodCloud work together with others across the food and drink sector to find innovative new ways to reduce food waste and double the volume of food redistributed to 5,100 tonnes per year by 2025. We look forward to seeing a vibrant community of industry and community partners emerge as we work collectively to prevent food loss and achieve a world without waste.”

For more information about FoodCloud, please visit their website https://food.cloud/

Envisage announces €1M investment and 12 new jobs alongside new partnership with Sage

Envisage, a leading Sage partner in Ireland and member of the Noledge Group, today announces that it will create 12 new jobs as part of a three year, €1M investment to support its appointment as the first Sage partner in the country that will resell Sage Intacct.

The partnership with Sage – the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) – will support Envisage’s plans to grow its business and drive customer acquisition. The company, which currently has annual revenues of €3M and employs 22 people, expects to increase its annual revenues to €6M and grow to a team of 34 people.

As demand for cloud-based finance systems increases, this partnership will enhance Envisage’s ability to offer the highest level of service to its growing customer base across Ireland and the U.K. Envisage will be offering customers Sage’s award-winning accounting software, Sage Intacct. With this new partnership, Envisage customers will benefit from automation, cost savings, smooth integration, effortless data access across multiple systems, and real-time insights for informed decision-making.

Through Sage Intacct, Envisage can now deliver more automated solutions and controls for billing, accounting, and reporting, enabling finance teams to simplify complex processes and increase data accuracy. To support this growth, Envisage will hire 12 additional people over the next three years. The new roles will be in the areas of sales, marketing, implementation and support.

Sage Intacct provides comprehensive visibility into both operational and financial aspects of a business, leading to improved automation, increased profitability, and enhanced customer satisfaction. Sage Intacct is designed to serve a variety of industries, including, Business Services, Financial Services, Not for Profit, Software and Hospitality.

David Burke, Technical Director, Envisage, said: “We are delighted to make this significant investment in our expansion and grow our team in Ireland. By adding Sage Intacct to our product portfolio, we can bring additional value to our customers and also open up new opportunities in the services sector.

 “As a leading Sage partner in Ireland, we are dedicated to providing the best products, training, and resources to help businesses achieve their growth goals. With the addition of Sage Intacct to our portfolio, we are now able to offer an even wider range of solutions and services to meet the evolving needs of our customers. We look forward to this next chapter of growth and success.”

Paul O’Riordan, Vice President, Partners & Alliances, Sage UK & Ireland, said: “Envisage has a proven track record in delivering creative, flexible, and long-lasting ERP solutions for some of Ireland’s leading companies. With Sage Intacct, we’re confident that we can help our joint customers drive their businesses forward. We are pleased to partner with an ambitious company that has the resources and capabilities to design and integrate exceptional customer solutions.”

Envisage, which was recently recognised as ‘Sage Partner of the Year for Ireland’, now offers Sage Intacct to customers in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Bord Gáis Energy announces new partnership with Irish owned banking app Money Jar

As Ireland’s leading home energy management and services provider, Bord Gáis Energy, has announced a new partnership with Irish owned fintech company Money Jar. Launched in 2019, Money Jar is a safe, secure, and simple-to-use 100% Irish owned online banking platform. It provides users with a digital current account and Irish IBAN (International Bank Account Number) for all their day-to-day banking requirements.

This new partnership will provide Money Jar customers with the opportunity to avail of exclusive Green offers to support home energy management. These offers are available to both new and existing Bord Gáis Energy customers, via the Money Jar app.

The app is available to everyone but also helps to support people moving to Ireland from overseas by setting up banking services from their mobile phone. Money Jar enables users to send and receive money from other accounts, make mobile and online payments, and helps them to improve their money management skills.

Speaking on the partnership, Steven Mordue, Consumer Segment Manager at Bord Gáis Energy said: ‘’We’re delighted to partner with such a successful Irish fintech start-up as Money Jar to provide users with exclusive offers and to support home energy management. At Bord Gáis Energy, we’re on a journey to becoming a net zero business by 2045 and as part of this process we want to help our customers transition to a lower carbon future too. To avail of one of these exclusive offers, simply sign up through the Money Jar app.’’

Paul Kinch, Chief Commercial Officer of Money Jar, said, ‘’At Money Jar, our mission is to help our account holders manage their money better. Partnering with Bord Gáis Energy is another way we can help users manage their energy costs, by improving their energy efficiency and empowering them to move towards net zero. I would like to thank Bord Gáis Energy for their support and recognition that transitioning to a lower carbon future should be for everyone’’.

Money Jar is available to download on the App Store or on Google Play.

PSB Speakers, Sonical and MQA announce partnership to create next-generation headphones

PSB Speakers, together with hearables start-up Sonical and audio specialists MQA, announced a partnership that will define a new category of high-resolution audio headphones. The product combines high resolution wireless transmission, proven high-fidelity design, and Sonical’s CosmOS platform. Released under the PSB Speakers brand by Q1 2024, it will be the first headphone to feature Sonical’s ear computing platform, enabling a variety of apps and software upgrades. It also includes MQA’s latest technology, SCL6, the most advanced codec for adaptive, high-resolution audio streaming.

CosmOS is Sonical’s revolutionary operating system that runs on powerful low wattage processing cores, bringing unprecedented levels of connectivity and computational power to headphones. CosmOS offers mobile audio product manufacturers the versatility to keep pace with rapidly changing consumer demands for convenience and performance. The integration of Qorvo’s Ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology enables a superior audio experience thanks to UWB’s higher data rate and extremely low latency. Using Antennaware’s UWB antenna directly addresses any issues associated with Body Blocking which could occur with wireless wearable devices.

Canada-based PSB Speakers, a pioneer in psychoacoustics and an early brand to create audiophile grade wireless headphones, will innovate through deep relationships with Sonical and MQA to push the boundaries of mobile listening. The product will utilize MQA’s new technology, SCL6, an innovative, time domain-based codec for the highest quality audio streaming. Developed by industry veteran and MQA founder, Bob Stuart, SCL6 ensures high-resolution sound even at low data rates.

“Given PSB Speakers’ long-time commitment to the science of audio and music listening, it’s a pleasure to be in this partnership which shows the world what CosmOS can do,” says Gary Spittle, Founder and CEO of Sonical.

“Our use of the CosmOS platform to make the world’s first software defined wireless headset and the inclusion of MQA’s adaptive wireless codec helps set a new benchmark for a high resolution, mobile high-fidelity product. We believe this product underscores what Paul Barton and the PSB team have accomplished over the brand’s 50-year history in the pursuit of audio excellence for listeners at home and now on the move,” says Gordon Simmonds, President and CEO of Lenbrook Industries, PSB Speakers’ parent company.

“MQA was founded by one of the great innovators in audio. We design by thinking of the consumer experience first which means we are comfortable challenging the status quo. The vision shared by our partners at PSB Speakers and Sonical, bringing together superior audio quality and the next generation of consumer convenience, makes this a perfect fit for our latest technology SCL6,” says Mike Jbara, CEO of MQA.

Refurbed launches its first partnership in the Irish market to provide sustainable refurbished phones to 48’s customers

Refurbed, Ireland’s leading refurbished electronics marketplace, has launched a new partnership with 48, which is powered by Three – Ireland’s fastest mobile network. Refurbed and 48 will come together to provide new and existing 48 customers with the option of buying a cheaper, sustainable refurbished smartphone through the 48 dedicated app and website. The announcement marks refurbed’s first partnership within the Irish market as more consumers, particularly young people, are making the conscious decision to buy more sustainable products to reduce their carbon footprint.

48 is Ireland’s first totally digital mobile brand, popular among customers who enjoy commitment-free, data-controlled packages. As a result of this partnership, 48 customers will enjoy a holistic experience as phones and sim cards will be brought to one place, making life a little bit easier for those wanting to buy ‘green.’ Through the My48 App and website, 48 customers will enjoy refurbed’s full selection of refurbished smartphones.

Refurbed, who was recently awarded the LinkedIn Top Start-Up in Austria for 2022, and 48 are both passionate about sustainability and financial empowerment. Refurbed’s smartphones are up to 40% more affordable than new devices and are 100% sustainable. The refurbishment process that refurbed’s smartphones undergo is up to 40 steps and produces 70% less CO2 emissions compared to the creation of a new device. To offset the remaining 30%, refurbed plants a tree for every product sold. 48 sends its sim cards in compostable packaging and offers its customers the best value plan on the market as awarded at the 2022 Switcher.ie Mobile Awards. Both companies go hand-in-hand in offering their customers a sustainable and affordable mobile package. As part of this partnership, refurbed will plant a tree for every smartphone sold to 48 customers, with the option to plant a native tree in Ireland.

Speaking on the announcement, Pádraig Power, refurbed’s Marketing Manager for Ireland said, “We are delighted to partner with 48, Ireland Best Value Mobile Network. We are excited to broaden our reach through this partnership, bringing refurbed’s smartphones to 48 customers. It is essential that affordable and sustainable alternatives are available to Irish consumers, particularly those looking to make a saving as the cost of living crisis continues. As a society, we often try to improve our sustainability efforts, but find it challenging. This is why we are proud to present an offer that is actually both sustainable, and cheaper. Together with 48, we will help new and existing 48 customers stay up-to-date with the latest smartphones at more affordable rates while also positively impacting the environment.

This partnership is a milestone in refurbed’s journey in Ireland. We are thrilled to partner with a prominent Irish brand such as 48. The demand for sustainable alternatives in all industries is becoming more apparent among Irish consumers. With this partnership, we are demonstrating that sustainable practices can be incorporated into everyday life such as your mobile sim plan. We are excited to see what the future holds for this partnership.”

David Ward, Head of New Products and Propositions, 48 added, “We are proud to announce that 48 is partnering with refurbed, who recently launched their proposition in Ireland of selling refurbished devices at a very reasonable cost and who are offering products up to 40% cheaper and 100% sustainable. This collaboration allows us to place our customers at the core of the partnership, as any existing 48 customer now has the option to buy a refurbished device from refurbed through the My48 app and website once logged into their account. 

We also know our customers are very passionate about sustainability, which is another key element of the partnership, and to demonstrate this commitment, for every device bought from refurbed, they will plant a tree on behalf of our customers. We invite all customers, current and new, to check out the range of options and more information on their My48 account.”