Tayto crisps and Cadbury’s chocolate are enticing people from Northern Ireland to do their shopping across the border, according to a Monaghan supermarket owner.
Centra Emyvale owner Glynn Williams has observed a “massive increase” in customers from across the border coming to his store as of late.
He told Newstalk that people are travelling for certain variations of products they can’t get back home.
“There’s definitely been a massive increase in Northern reg plates, especially at the weekend,” said Mr Williams.
“They are especially looking for certain brands. Cadbury’s eight-block bar here is made in Ireland, but in the North, it’s made in Poland.”
The shop owner added, “Everyone comes here for our chocolate”.
In demand
Mr Williams said it wasn’t the only Irish product that has been in demand.
“There’s also two Tayto crisps; there’s one northern brand and one southern brand, but they all come here for the southern brand because it's far nicer,” he said.
Mr Williams shop is only 4km from the Tyrone border in Northern Ireland.
He said Brexit has been a factor in his shop's popularity with those living across the border.
“Because of Brexit, they are struggling to get some of the products they’ve always had so they’re coming south to pick up the products,” said Mr Williams.
“The likes of Jacob’s biscuits, which are made here in the south; they’re coming across for them.
“They also find that the pricing is far better now since Brexit, that the pricing here is now on par or better if we’re doing special offers.”
Bargain hunting
Mr Williams said customers are going to go where the bargain is.
“We’re in a time now where the price is critical because of inflation, because mortgages are increasing, and fuel prices are increasing,” he said.
“There’s been a significant increase in clothes prices in the north in comparison to the south. I pop over and do a price comparison but I do all my shopping in the south.”
He added that “people are bargain hunters” and it's only natural to shop around.
Reporting from Sheila Naughton.
