News & Events

Outrage over food supplement tax

National outrage over new proposed health supplement tax Independent health food stores are running a national day of action to highlight a planned 23% consumer tax hike on vitamins, minerals and food supplements. Health Stores Ireland shops from Bandon to Bundoran are using the theme of “Black Friday” to highlight the impact of the VAT increase on customers who purchase supportive nutritional products like fish oils, glucosamine, probiotics and vitamins like folic acid and vitamin D. Health Stores Ireland spokesperson, Matt Ronan said...

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Feb 7, 2019

Don’t Tax Health Choices

On December 27th 2018, the Revenue Commissioners introduced a new 23% Vat rate for all food supplements, including vitamins, minerals, probiotics and fish oils. The 23% rate will come into effect on 1st March 2019.This move will seriously undermine the health of people who rely on food supplements to maintain their health. This includes: People who rely on food supplements, such as iron, to address diet deficiencies. People who take food supplements to reduce the risk factors of diseases, such as heart disease. People who take food...

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Jan 25, 2019

No Health Tax – Act now!

First the Sugar Tax – now the Health Tax! :: PRESS RELEASE ::  Government wants it both ways on health. In news which has sent shockwaves throughout the entire health and vitality sector, the Minister for Finance is reported to be eyeing up placing a flat rate of VAT on the majority of health food supplements. Most food supplements (excluding sport nutrition and beauty supplements) have had a traditional VAT rating of 0% for over 40 years. Without legislation enshrining this, Revenue have committed to applying VAT at 23% on all food...

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Nov 12, 2018

Vitality Expo – Free Tickets

Vitality Expo 8th & 9th September 2018, RDS Dublin Opening Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 Tickets €10 – Kids go free Vitality Expo is Ireland’s largest natural health and wellbeing show taking place this weekend. Presented to you by Health Stores Ireland. Your destination for healthy living. ​Featuring some of Ireland’s best-known speakers from the world of natural health, wellbeing and fitness, Vitality Expo promises to be a weekend full of nutrition, fitness, learning and fun. Ask for your complimentary ticket at your local...

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Sep 4, 2018

Embrace your inner glow

It’s been a harsh winter and I’d like to think that, if there is any justice, a great summer complete with all the benefits of getting out of doors more, is on the way. Many of us will think of how to get that summer sun kissed look but because (a) there are no guarantees of sun and, (b) when it does show its face, we must be so careful about being safe in the sun, I think it’s wise to have a plan B in place. Many people turn to tanning products to get the sun kissed look without sun or sunbed. But even here care is needed as many of...

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Jun 27, 2018

Green Shoots. Healthy Eats.

I hope you are experiencing a much-needed increase in temperatures and you are finding the stretch in the evenings revitalising and invigorating. If you are already a committed gardener, you might be delighting in the first shoots of new growth. If you haven’t turned a sod or filled a container for some time and you are considering doing so, I highly recommend that you do. It’s never too late to start. You can pick up a bag of organic compost from your local independent garden centre. You may already have the contents of a compost bin in...

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May 9, 2018

Health Stores Ireland – New facing, same ethos

Collective and innovators – two very pertinent terms when it comes to defining what makes the key differences between independent health food shops and big branded retailers. There are few sectors where the majority of people involved at all levels carry out their business with a commonality of purpose and a closeness with its customer base. Long before hipster cafés and tribal homeware stores became fashionable, health stores were engaging in a unique relationship between producer, distributer, retailer and customer. Long before...

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Apr 23, 2018

Autumn Poem and more

There are wonderful poems about autumn moods and colours, but Jack Prelutsky’s lines from a classroom have a slant many youngsters will share: The leaves are yellow, red and brown, A shower sprinkles softly down The air is fragrant, crisp and cool, And once again, I’m stuck in school. So it’s back to lunchboxes, homework and timetables, and autumn can be a bittersweet time as the freedom of warmer days becomes a memory. But in many ways the change of season is a better time to take stock than the New Year, and a good opportunity...

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Aug 18, 2017

Organic Summer

The year gallops ahead, and as members of the Irish Association of Health Stores we measure out our time in seasonal window displays and products. For example, right now we are looking at remedies for the dreaded hayfever season, stocking up on safe and effective insect repellents, deodorants and sunscreens, loading Irish-made kombucha in the chiller cabinet, and displaying multi-coloured organic summer vegetables in many member shops. Is it really worth paying the extra for organic produce? We would say for sure! Whether the food is dried or...

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May 23, 2017

Fermented Foods

There can’t be many people left in the country who haven’t by now heard something about fermented foods on TV, on social media or in the press. Fermented foods are the very epitome of Hippocrates’ famous advice “let food be they medicine and medicine be thy food”, and every member of the Irish Association of Health Stores will offer you a variety of these foods. Apart from the old familiar probiotic yogurts, check in our chillers and freezers as well as ambient shelves for the products available, many of which are produced in...

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Feb 27, 2017

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