Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Kelly. I will make a quick statement rather than pose a question. I am a supplier to all of the retailers to which Mr. Kelly refers. I cannot really speak openly about my relationship with them. We do very good business and have extremely strong relationships with them. As is the case with all forms of business, times are tough. Most of the practices which obtain in Ireland, England and throughout Europe emanated, possibly, from Walmart in the United States, which bought Asda in the UK. Business is business. If I have a product listed with a supermarket chain in the USA, the UK or Ireland, I do not enter into the arrangement with my hands hanging. It is necessary for me to organise a spending budget in order that I can put in place a promotional calendar with the chain in question for the year. This is something we have come to accept and it is extremely tough to deal with. However, that is the way of life. I suppose that in order to educate the other members of the committee we might other suppliers to come before the committee. All suppliers have been obliged to come to terms with dealing with those in the retail trade. Buyers are under huge pressure and must meet their targets. We, in turn, must meet our targets. Consumers are also very demanding because economies are in shreds and they want value. It is a vicious circle.