Fiacla toothpaste.

DMcL1971

Whatever happened to Fiacla toothpaste?

I alway try to buy Irish and had been buying Fiacla ever since the 'Young Irleand' campaign back in the eighties. But I haven't seen it around for a long time now. I assumed my local Dunnes was just out of stock the last couple of times but It has been too long now. Did they go out of business and if so are ther any other Irish toothpaste brands?

prionnsias

It can still be found but maybe not as common as it used to be though. I bought some about a month ago can't remember where I found it though.

DMcL1971

I'll have to look a bit harder to find it then. I heard rumours they had gone out of business but then heard they had been bought out by someone.

DMcL1971

I was just in Boots and they still sell Fiacla. It is labelled as being manafactured by 'Quantum Personal Care' in Bray. However when I google them I get an article from the Bray Pepople newspaper reporting that they closed down in 2008. I wonder if boots are selling off old stock and if that is the case I wonder what the shelf life on toothpasate is!!

ejmaztec

I'm sure I've seen it on the shelves in various places.

An ancient Indo article from way back in April 2008 gives the basics, but there doesn't seem to be a follow-up article.

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/fiacla-redundancy-talks-continue-after-outsource-decision-1356821.html

Fiacla redundancy talks continue after outsource decision


The maker of Fiacla toothpaste, Quantum Personal Care, is still in negotiations with its workforce on the terms of a redundancy deal following its decision to outsource production and close its Co Wicklow-based facility.
Quantum Personal Care is to close its manufacturing facility at Bray, Co Wicklow, in the coming months with the loss of all 28 jobs.
The company said: "It is with regret that the company has had to make the decision to outsource production."
Acquired outright a couple of years ago by distribution group Allegro, Quantum Personal Care plans to outsource production of the brand and is currently in talks with a number of potential manufacturers. Fiacla has an estimated 5pc share of the Irish toothpaste market.
It is hoped that manufacturing of the toothpaste will be retained in Ireland, with a spokesman saying there are a number of firms that would be capable of doing the job.
"The decision to cease production at its Bray plant follows a detailed review of the business, which confirmed that high costs made the plant uncompetitive despite the dedication and hard work of employees over the years," the company said.

maxer68

Beverly hills formula - one of the best selling toothpastes in the UK, is made in Ireland too.

wmpdd3

Still sold in Tesco. I think Fyfes bought it out, they also make toothpaste for Tesco but I dont think its made in ROI, possible NI.

DMcL1971

Next time I'm Tesco or Boots I'll have to check if either Fiacla or Beverly Hills has a 'Guaranteed Irish' logo on them.

maxer68

DMcL1971 wrote: »

Next time I'm Tesco or Boots I'll have to check if either Fiacla or Beverly Hills has a 'Guaranteed Irish' logo on them.

You have to pay to have a guaranteed Irish logo on your product. For berverly hills yrs irrelevant as their market is mainly UK. - but its made in swords.

wmpdd3

AFAIK, if the product employees a significant number of people in Ireland but is made elsewhere it can have the Guaranteed Irish logo.

maxer68

wmpdd3 wrote: »

AFAIK, if the product employees a significant number of people in Ireland but is made elsewhere it can have the Guaranteed Irish logo.

No - it must be significantly made in Ireland. Raw materials and parts of the product can be from elsewhere, but the primary work in making the end product must be within Ireland.

Its also a private organisation as government can't get involved in favouritism on local product over other european products.

mikedragon32

I worked at the Fiacla Factory in the early 90's for a while. It was owned by then by a guy called Richard Brierly and Fyffes had an interest in it.

They didn't just make Fiacla, they did contract production of own-brand toothpaste for several supermarket chains, a high-street cosmetic/heath chain, a couple of specialised toothpaste companies and also produced on contract a skin-whitening cream for the African Market. Mouthwash was also produced in the factory.

Fiacla also for a time had a healthy export market for its toothpaste with buyers in Asia, the Middle East and Russia.

It's still available in a lot of places and even if production has stopped, it should have a shelf-life of about 7 years, if memory serves.

dudara

Zombie thread - closed

dudara