Breakfast Business

Despite enormous headwinds throughout the European economy, Ireland remains an attractive place to buy property for international investors. That’s one of the conclusions in the outlook for 2023 from the commercial property agents CBRE. But is there a risk of a glut of commercial property on the markets as 200000 m2 is under construction and we move to a hybrid working model of working from home and the office? Colin Richardson – Director and Head of Research - at CBRE gave Joe the details.

Lidl has gone from a minor presence 15 years ago to one of the biggest retailers in Ireland. Now the German supermarket says it’s invested a landmark €1 billion into Irish farming and food production. But can it keep up the rapid pace of expansion amid fierce competition from local grocers? JP Scally Chief Executive of Lidl Ireland joined Joe in the studio this morning.

Business Editor Joe Lynam takes a run-through of some of the main business stories in the papers today.

It’s not easy for an unemployed single mother to start a business in any environment. Add in a global pandemic and not much money and you've got insurmountable obstacles for some. But not for Sinead Crowther who created a soother made of real honey which has taken off and even has two of the most famous investors in Ireland Niall Fitzgerald and Seán O’Driscoll as early backers. Speaking to Joe about the business was Sinead Crowther is the founder and boss of Tonstix.

Apart from our own Business 'Person Of The Month' competition, there are a few other big competitions for companies to enter. One of them is the Guaranteed Irish Business of the Year. And the finalists for this year have been announced. Brid O’Connell is the chief executive of Guaranteed Irish and Brid joined Joe this morning.

A run-through of some of the business stories today with Joe Lynam.

We discussed new year's resolutions last week. Many of us have vowed to give up booze or chocolate and work out more but an increasing number have promised themselves a facelift or to remove unwanted lines or belly fat. Increasingly it’s a case of New Year: New Me. But Ireland lags behind Harley Street and other larger European nations when it comes to its cosmetic enhancement industry. For more on this Joe spoke to Pat Phelan the boss of Sisu Clinic.

A look at today's business papers and websites with Joe Lynam.

Aviation has probably had the worst 3 years since world war II. First, a global pandemic grounded most planes in the Western World and then a year ago Russia invaded Ukraine and promptly seized ownership of almost all of the planes that its airlines had leased - mostly from Irish-registered companies. Now things are starting to return a bit to normal and a new report from the Irish leasing firm Avalon says that global air traffic will return to pre-pandemic levels this summer. But will they get their Russian planes back? All questions for Andy Cronin the Chief executive of AVOLON Aerospace

Today is the so-called ‘Quitters Day’. Jan 13th is supposedly the day that we give up our new year’s resolutions. It might have been booze or cigarettes or it might have been planning to quit your job. But many of us lack the willpower to persevere. Speaking to Joe this morning was Jim Steele the author of ‘Unashamedly Human'.

In the same poll of company bosses undertaken by the World Economic Forum, cyber security came out in the top 10 threats facing business. Fraudsters are using many sophisticated ways to steal your identity, your intellectual property or to exhort money. One US business that is a leading light in the space is Threat Locker and they are opening their European headquarters in Blanchardstown and ThreatLocker’s Chief Executive and Co-Founder, Danny Jenkins joined Joe this morning on the show.

The World Economic Forum starts in the Swiss ski village of Davos where the world’s political and corporate elite come together to thrash out deals and do a lot of talking, Ahead of the massive jamboree, the WEF has published its Global risks report. The Number one concern of chief executives over the coming 2 years is the Cost of living crisis. But climate change dominates the worries over the next 10 years. For more on this Joe spoke to Susannah Streeter from Hargreaves Lansdown.

Business Editor Joe Lynam takes a look at Friday's business papers and websites.

Are you saving enough to keep you comfortable in your retirement? 46% of Irish savers say they are not optimistic according to State Street bank’s Global Retirement reality report out today. Olivia Kennedy from State St Global Advisers joined us this morning with more on this.

Judging from the queues and delivery times, Christmas was a very busy one for retailers. And the latest data from the Bank of Ireland seems to bear that out. Overall spending was up 18% compared to the previous year. We also returned in droves to pubs. Speaking to Joe was Owen Clifford, Head of Retail Sector with Bank of Ireland.

A look at today's business papers and websites with Joe Lynam.

Tomorrow sees the start of the BT young scientist of the Year. Over 200 schools and 1100 young men and women will be showing off some clever inventions which will renew our faith in the up-and-coming generation. After 59 years, it’s become one of the leading STEM exhibitions in Europe and it will give Shay Walsh the Managing Director of BT Ireland an early look at the talent that he may need to hire in the future. Shay spoke to Joe this morning on the show ahead of the exhibition.

Bord Bia is the agency charged with promoting Irish food abroad. Its annual export performance review is out today and it shows that a record €16.7bn worth of food left our shores for overseas appetites. That’s 30% more than pre-pandemic levels. But much of that is down to soaring input costs as well as inflation. Jim O'Toole Chief executive of Bord Bia joined Joe this morning on the show.

A run-through of some of the business stories today with Joe Lynam.

If you are ‘participating’ in Dry January, you’ll probably be considering zero % alcohol drinks a bit more than you might otherwise do. According to Drinks Ireland, non-alcoholic beer sales in Ireland have more than tripled between 2017 and 2021, from 1.79 million to 5.55 million litres. But do they still taste rough? Also, there’s a brewing row with wine-making countries over plans in Ireland to label some wine bottles as potentially carcinogenic. All things for Cormac Healey from Drinks Ireland to discuss the morning.