#083: The Bottom Line - The Week in Business, Retail through the Pandemic, Fraud, Student Enterprise Awards & First Release Whiskey.

To review the business stories from the past week, John was joined by Samantha McCaughren, Business Editor of the Sunday Independent. They discuss the positive news announced by Intel that it is to create 1,600 jobs once it has completed the construction of a new chip manufacturing factory at its Leixlip campus. Another big story in the headlines this week was that of the Ever Given container ship blocking the Suez Canal, and Samantha chats through the implications of this on supply chain and Logistics. As the debate about when locked down retail should be allowed to re-open continues,  John chatted with Tommy Hickson of Hickson’s Supervalu who, with the exception of Christmas and St. Stephens Day has been open every day since the Covid crisis kicked off. Tommy discusses what working through the pandemic has been like, what have been the biggest issues and what we can learn for re-opening businesses.With fraud an ever present threat and payment redirection fraud in particular continuing to cost local business, John spoke with Paul O' Brien from Bank of Ireland Group Security about their recent research as well as tips and advice on protecting your business from fraud.During the week KCLR’s Brian Redmond was the host for the online finals of the Kilkenny Local Enterprise Office Student Enterprise Awards. The programme encourages students to create, design and market their own business with the ultimate prize the title of Senior County Winner and a place in the National Final of the awards Scheme which takes place on May 14th 2021. The winner was Tara McGuire of Presentation Secondary School in Kilkenny and Tara spoke with John to tell him all about how she developed her business "Slates by Tara".It has been a momentous few weeks for Ballykeefe Distillery with the release of their first ever whiskey, the culmination of a dream that began over 25 years ago. John spoke with Morgan Ging, the entrepreneur behind the business.With thanks to O’Neill Foley, Produced by Deirdre Dromey.To contact the show, email: [email protected]