NIIRTA elects new president

NIIRTA elects new president

Rowan Black, director of Greens Food Fare in Lisburn, has been elected president of Northern Ireland’s leading association of independent retailers.

The influential retailer took the top job at the Northern Ireland Independent Retailers Association (NIIRTA) on Tuesday morning after a vote by members.

Mr Black’s appointment comes after the surprise departure of Paul Stewart, owner of popular Magherafelt store JC Stewarts, who served in the post for some 15 years.

Speaking after the vote, Mr Black praised the dedication of the outgoing president, remarking that association had almost doubled its membership in recent years.

“As president of NIIRTA over the past 15 years, Paul has made a huge contribution to our growth as a business organisation and indeed the entire independent retail sector in Northern Ireland,” he said.

Handing over the presidency, former post-holder Paul Stewart said: “As I move on to new challenges, I wish NIIRTA every success for the future.

“It has come a very long way in the last 15 years and has advanced the policy agenda for independent retailers, with the establishment of the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme and the publication of the Town Centre First Retail Planning Policy among its many achievements.”

Mr Black’s first order of business will be to publish NIIRTA’s alternative Programme for Government, which will set out its agenda for the new nine NI Executive departments and newly elected MLAs.