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IF YOU’VE WATCHED a match during this World Cup and had an inexplicable urge to eat a chicken kiev afterwards, this is probably why.
Ireland might not be represented on the pitch over in Brazil, but the presence of a well-known Irish brand on the surrounding advertising hoardings has aroused much befuddlement.
Moy Park has been has been gracing our screens along with Neymar, Van Persie, Messi and the rest, leaving many people wondering how a Northern Ireland chicken company has been given the same marketing opportunity as global brands like Adidas and Coca-Cola.
It’s all because of Moy Park’s parent company, Sao Paulo-headquartered food producer Mafrig. So explains Andrew Nethercott, director of brand marketing at Moy Park:
Mafrig struck up a deal with FIFA ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It was a two-tournament deal so we knew this opportunity was coming for a while.
Mafrig is in fact one the largest food companies in Brazil and the fourth largest beef producer in the world with revenues of around €1.5 billion in the first three months of 2014 alone.
The company bought Moy Park in 2008 to establish a firm foothold in the European market.
“The deal we have is that if a South American team is leading the game then the Mafrig logo appears and if a European team is leading that the Moy Park brand is show, ” says Nethercott
Mafrig got particularly lucky last night when its branding was displayed as Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the World Cup a clip that will undoubtedly will be repeated and shared for years to come.
Far from being a small Irish company however, Moy Park is itself a billion-euro outfit with a presence on both sides of the border 12,000 employees across Europe.
“We’ve have global ambitions,” says Nethercott. “The advertising gives us a great platform to grown the brand especially across Europe.”
Responding to questions about the company’s sponsorship of local sports, Nethorcott pointed to their partnership of Tyrone GAA as an example of their involvement closer to home.
And as for working with FIFA, Nethercott says his experience is that they are a “very professional organisation” and make things “very straightforward”.
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No one truly understands the heartbreak but the response of the community has been magnificent.
That special bond between this mother and daughter should be supported in every way possible.
It might help her if she decides to move away and make a new life with her baby, I can’t imagine how much it hurts to be in a place where they should be. Or help pay mortgage etc and not worry financially. No doubt she would give it back in a second to spend one more hour with them.
Ah she’s hardly going move anyway she still has lots family around , say that is very important
It’s heartwarming to see something positive coming from such an awful tragedy…..while nothing will take away their pain and grief hopefully it will at least give them one thing less to worry about for the moment
Money means nothing in a situation like this but fair play to all involved.
Of course not Shane but in the day’s and year’s ahead it will mean a lot. It would be nice for her to have no mortgage or rent to worry about, she’ll have enough to deal with. People want to help her and putting a few quid into an account for her is a way of doing it
It’s not about the money – it is a reflection on how many are/were willing to help you in your time of need. Collections were made by the local community for my own family tragedy and I often look back and cherish the memory that people were there to help. Fair play to all who donated. This story has affected people in all corners of the world- on the DM people from the UK and US were looking to donate also.
We cannot bring them back so this is just a way of sending support. Hard times ahead but hopefully this will help.
Love your surname Mary.
Ta Brian, it’s almost as good as your profile pic ;)
This is probably the worst tragedy I have ever heard of how is that women gonna cope with this when things settle down that’s the scary part
I know it’s too late for this poor family. I can’t stop thinking about them. Slipways at piers everywhere now should be gated off like in that photo so nothing like this can happen again. Very very sad and upsetting.
if ever a ‘go fund me’ was needed; this one is surely it
Glad to see people rallied around. The money won’t replace her family but it will cover their funerals and give her and her little girl some security for now. Such a terrible tragedy.
Woman
The headline says it could happen to anybody yet we don’t hear of people driving off slipways every day.
have your say