News & Events
Making 2017 the Year of Healthy Habits
Say yes to good healthy food and ethical living. How are you getting on with your New Years promises to yourself? I didn’t want to mention the “R” word, because we all know that these “R’s” inevitably end up unfulfilled and often leave us with a feeling of regret and disappointment. Let’s not go there this year. My best advice for 2017 is to embrace food – wholefood – locally produced preferably. Don’t be afraid. Fats are good for you, in correct format and measure. Calories are life saving measures of energy,...
Continue Reading...A different Shopping Experience
So, what are your plans for Christmas shopping? Are you lucky enough to be considering a trip to Macy’s or Harrods’s? – Me neither. Does the idea of a ”Black Friday” online deadline excite you? – Not for me, either. Even the traditional city shopping days like December 8th are being replaced by a much more conscious and measured readiness for the winter festival. Consumerism is being rightfully balanced with a much more social and family friendly approach. Rather than inflict, marketing induced, potentially emotional...
Continue Reading...Winter is magic
The winter is most people’s least favourite season. Chilly, wet, dark and dreary is how we often think of it, but the brighter side can be cheering – as can vitamin D! The dark evenings mean for many people that it’s time to share the table with friends. We can hunt out recipes for comfort food again, banished last Spring with our winter coats, and relish kitchen smells of spicy soup on the stove and fruit cake in the oven. Did you know that hot food smells much better than cold because aromatic molecules travel more effectively in heat...
Continue Reading...Artisan Producers
The IAHS has recently compiled a fascinating list of the artisan producers whom we support. Some of these producers are small local businesses – beekeepers spring to mind – and you should watch out specially for produce in your health store from your own area. We love our Irish chocolatiers, biscuit makers, suppliers of oats and wholemeal spelt flour, organic rapeseed, flax and olive oils, delicious sheep’s yogurt and many wonderful cheeses. There is a growing range of Irish-made soaps and pure skincare too which our customers love,...
Continue Reading...Back to School
Holidays a memory, schoolbags packed, shorter days ahead – Autumn may seem a dreary prospect, but there is such a good side too. Dreams about next year’s holidays, meeting up with good friends not seen over the summer, the gold and amber colours of beech trees and crunching crisp leaves underfoot, old familiar seasonal veggies and long slow delicious cooking. The perennial query arises: what to put into school lunchboxes. Members of the Irish Association of Health Stores (IAHS) can offer lots of help and ideas, apart from mere sandwich...
Continue Reading...Ethical Shopping
Ethical Shopping?- It comes naturally to IAHS Health Stores. The Health Food sector has always been a natural centre of gravity for like minded local food growers, small scale natural cosmetic producers and artisan food producers. The sector has worked, often literally, hand in hand with many of the local producers with a mutual appreciation of taste in every sense of the word. Irish Artisans Fledging Irish companies like Velvet Cloud Sheep’s Milk Yoghurt, Wilkes “Bean to Bar” Chocolate and The Good Little Cook Company who produce raw...
Continue Reading...Welcome to summer!
This winter and spring saw more coughs and chesty problems than many of us in the IAHS can ever remember in the past, but brighter days are reflected in people’s faces and moods as well as immune systems. Early flashes of sunshine remind us to stock up on safe, low chemical sun protection and Deet-free insect repellent in the hope of balmy days to come. As I write, the main pollen season caused by grasses is imminent. In recent years we have seen hayfever symptoms become increasingly common for children, and they can present a serious...
Continue Reading...New IAHS contact details
The old postal address in Roscommon will be operational until Monday December 14th, 2015. From then on please use the following contact details: Irish Association of Health Stores Ltd. Kilmore, Galway Road Tuam County Galway H54 FC85 Office hours: Mon-Fri, 9-5pm. (lunch 1-2pm) Tel: 087 1006721 email:...
Continue Reading...Andrew Cape Memorial Awards
The Irish Association of Health Stores Annual Training Awards The Andrew Cape Memorial Awards 2015 Since its formation in 1986, the Irish Association of Health Stores has recognised the need for a professional & ethical approach to health food retailing. In order to maintain high standards of training for members and their staff, the IAHS, in conjunction with the UK Health Food Institute, administers two key training programs each year, the Certificate & the Diploma Courses in Healthfood Retailing. We are, once again, very grateful to...
Continue Reading...Pat Curran Memorial Award
Nominate your Favourite Health Food Store – for a chance to WIN €60 of Eskimo-3 The Pat Curran Memorial Award in Excellence in Customer Service Pat Curran was a real hero of the Irish natural health world and many were truly saddened at his passing earlier this year. Pat set up PPC, who sell the well-known Irish brand of omega-3, Eskimo-3, for over 20 years and was well liked by customers and colleagues alike. Pat was incredibly passionate about customer service and treating people with respect. He was a man of integrity, kindness and...
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