AN POST has decided the time is right to seek outside help in its public relations battles with staff and customers. No other company needs external PR help more than An Post right now. Staff have threatened to strike while Noel Dempsey, the communications minister, is warning that such industrial action might see him abolish An Post’s monopoly on letter post earlier than the 2009 deadline set by the European Union.

As if that wasn’t enough, businesses big and small have berated the company for sharp rises in postal charges and its less-than-stellar delivery performance. That’s to say nothing of the disagreement with government over the introduction of postcodes, which An Post opposes. Thirty PR agencies were asked to pitch for the account earlier this month.

One group that might fancy a crack at the contract is Grayling, an agency whose executive chairman, David Curtin, worked for An Post as head of internal communications in the 1990s.

King crisps bag a new brand

King, one of Ireland’s oldest and best-known crisp brands, has broken new ground with the launch of its first brand extension. Called Indulgence, the new range comes in two flavours, Thai sweet chilli and farmhouse cheese & spring onion. Both are available in 150g bags designed for sharing. The move is recognition of changing consumer tastes and a desire for flavours with a bit of a kick. A full-blooded advertising and marketing campaign is expected to launch early next year.

This is the latest move by C&C, the quoted drinks and snack food group, to boost the fortunes of its Tayto and King crisps. While they have a combined 39% share of their market, the brands have been under pressure from new players, including Walkers and Perri crisps. C&C reported a 3.8% decline in volume sales of its snacks division in the six months to the end of August.

The Brindley family fortunes

Basil Brindley and family paid themselves a €392,000 dividend last year from Brindley Advertising, according to latest accounts lodged with the Companies Office. Brindley was sold to Aegis Media recently, with the family earning €4m up front rising to €12m if certain performance targets are met over the next three years.

After a sluggish 2003 when revenues declined, Brindley enjoyed an improved performance last year. Turnover rose by 9% to €14.6m while pre-tax profits were up 15% to €2.3m. The company had accumulated profits of €13.2m at the end of last December. Brindley handles the government’s lucrative print advertising contract. Other clients include the Combined Universities of Ireland and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.

Basil Brindley, meanwhile, made a rare media appearance in the October edition of Campaign magazine, a UK publication. Commenting on the deal with Aegis, the 78-year-old said: “I’ve been 50 years in the business and I feel it’s time to smell the roses. My wife has been wanting me to retire.” Basil will remain as Brindley’s chairman for three years, suggesting that his wife did not have her wish fully granted.

The Dubliner dines out on new guide

The Dubliner magazine will this week launch the third edition of its 100 Best Restaurants guide, regarded by many as the bible for dining out in the capital. About 18,000 copies will hit the shelves, its largest print run, with publisher Trevor White expecting to outsell last year’s 14,500.

White has delayed the publication to take full advantage of the pre-Christmas splurge on books.

Santa Rita wines is once again the sponsor, having earlier this year signed a two-year deal worth about €60,000 to the magazine. The cover price has increased by €1 to €7.99, although it is free to subscribers.

Good thinking from Hibernian

It’s out with the old and in with the new at Hibernian insurance group. The country’s biggest general insurer has ditched its “Safe in the Hands of Hibernian” slogan as part of a €2m rebranding exercise. This involves a new television advert, which aired for the first time on RTE last week, using the tagline “Good Thinking”.

It was the first campaign devised by Rothco, the agency that took over the account earlier this year. Vizeum, a part of Aegis Media, is the media buyer.