Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, the deputy First Minister, and Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA, the Minister for the Economy, were among leading speakers at Northern Ireland’s flagship business event – organised in association with strategic partners Queen’s University Belfast, and supported by corporate partners, Indaver, The Maxol Group, and Norbrook.

The importance of higher education and business working in partnership – and the impact of the sector’s funding crisis in Northern Ireland – were highlighted by Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Transnational Education and Professor of Innovation Management and Policy, Queen’s University Belfast, in her keynote speech at the event.

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, and Olivia O’Sullivan, Director of Chatham House’s UK in the World Programme, discussed the impacts of conflict in the Middle East on the global and local economy during a panel session chaired by Angela McGowan, CBI Northern Ireland Director.

Brian Donaldson, CBI Northern Ireland Chair and Chief Executive, The Maxol Group, in his speech, called for action to put the economy at the heart of policymaking, with a clear focus on unlocking investment and strengthening Northern Ireland’s resilience in an increasingly volatile global environment.

Other high-profile guests included Mike Nesbitt MLA, Minister for Health, Diana Armstrong MLA, Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader and economy spokesperson, Gavin Robinson MP, the Democratic Unionist Party leader, Claire Hanna MP, the Social Democratic and Labour Party leader, and V.V.S. Rama Krishna, Acting Consul General of India in Belfast.

Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Transnational Education and Professor of Innovation Management and Policy, Queen’s University Belfast, said: “We are delighted to host this year’s CBI conference at Queen’s. Bringing together leaders in business, politics and education reflects the integral role that we all hold in driving forward the economy.

“The message today is clear. We cannot talk about growth while restricting student numbers – businesses cannot grow and society cannot move forward while its skills pipeline is being reduced. The chronic underfunding of universities in Northern Ireland and continued lack of clarity on budgets will have lasting consequences. Every lost student place is one less engineer, nurse, teacher or entrepreneur. If we are serious about the future of Northern Ireland, we must be serious about investing in the institutions that build it.”

In her keynote speech, Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, the deputy First Minister, said: “The Northern Ireland economy will only ever succeed by working in collaboration with business.”

Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA, Economy Minister added: “In this very challenging international context, it’s important to remind ourselves that the fundamentals of our economy remain strong. We are outperforming Britain in terms of growth and exports, have improved productivity, and increased sales to Britain while all-island trade has reached an all-time high.

“We can’t and won’t be complacent. I am very aware of the challenges facing industry.  For my part, I will continue to work with partners and believe we can continue to navigate the challenges with resilience and confidence.”

Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Executive, CBI, said it was always a privilege to attend the annual lunch.

“Northern Ireland’s economy remains an important cornerstone of the UK’s growth story – combining resilience, exceptional talent and a proud tradition of innovation that sees it compete with the very best on the world stage.

“With world-class institutions like Queen’s University Belfast driving cutting-edge research and supporting business growth, the region is uniquely positioned to deliver long-term, sustainable economic growth, even against an increasingly uncertain global backdrop.”

Brian Donaldson, Chair, CBI Northern Ireland added: “This is our moment to create a Northern Ireland economy that can withstand global economic shocks and deliver lasting prosperity for everyone. But no single sector can achieve this alone.

“It requires deep, meaningful collaboration between business, government and our colleagues in education, aligned around a common purpose. If we put the economy at the heart of every policy decision, we unlock the conditions in which everything else becomes possible.”

Angela McGowan, Director, CBI Northern Ireland said the strong link between education and economic growth made Queen’s University Belfast an ideal host and sponsor for this year’s CBI Northern Ireland annual lunch.

“At a time of heightened uncertainty, business leaders truly value the opportunity to connect with peers and gain meaningful insights from political and economic experts. It was particularly great to have the deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, and the Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, join us on this occasion – their presence underlined the importance of strong collaboration between business and government.”

The post Global politics and economic growth centre-stage at CBI NI lunch first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The call from the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) comes after new figures confirm the consumer prices index has risen to 3.3% in the year to March, driven largely by sharp increases in fuel and energy costs linked to global instability.

Farmers are facing the impact of these increased costs directly during the spring peak period for fuel and fertiliser use, with farm input costs rising by significantly more than the headline inflation rate creating immediate cashflow pressures.

“Farmers across Northern Ireland are facing sustained and, in many cases, unsustainable increases in the cost of doing business,” said UFU President William Irvine.

“Fuel prices alone have risen sharply in recent months, and this is having a direct knock-on effect across the entire supply chain from field to fork.

“We know that it can take several months for cost increases to filter through to retail, but the reality is that primary producers are carrying these costs now. They cannot continue to absorb this level of pressure indefinitely.”

He added that there is a growing disconnect between what is happening on farm and what is being reflected in the marketplace.

“While retailers understandably want to protect consumers, this must not come at the expense of primary producers who are already operating on extremely tight margins,” he said.

The UFU also warned that external shocks, including rising fuel and fertiliser costs linked to global events, are already influencing production decisions on farms and could impact future supply.

“Food security must not be taken for granted. A sustainable and resilient food system depends on viable farm businesses. If farmers are not receiving a fair return, it will ultimately affect production levels and increase reliance on imports further undermining food security and leaving citizens increasingly exposed to global economic disruption.”

The Union confirmed that it has written to the main retailers seeking urgent meetings to discuss the current situation and explore how the supply chain can respond collectively.

“We are asking retailers to engage constructively with us. Transparency and fairness across the supply chain are essential to ensure that cost pressures are shared appropriately,” he said.

“With Balmoral Show fast approaching, this presents an ideal opportunity for direct engagement. We would welcome the chance to meet retailers face-to-face and have a practical discussion on how we can move forward together.”

The UFU emphasised that farmers are committed to continuing to produce high-quality, safe and sustainable food, but this must be supported by a supply chain that recognises the realities of production.

“This is about fairness. Farmers cannot continue to shoulder rising costs alone. If we want to protect local food production and maintain consumer choice, then the entire supply chain must play its part.”

The post Retailers urged to recognise unprecedented cost pressures on farmers first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

There is no time like the present to start your entry process and we can reveal that we have already received some fantastic entries, highlighting the importance of this annual event each year.

A recognition of the continued ambition, innovation and dedication of independent retailers throughout Northern Ireland, the NR Awards celebrate what is a very special industry.

An exciting development for the 2026 gala awards dinner is the return to the iconic Europa Hotel – seeing the event return to the venue where it all began three decades ago.

Renowned for welcoming famous faces and hosting a plethora of prestigious events, we are delighted that the NR Awards will once again be held at this stunning venue.

A core part of the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards is the independent judging process and we are delighted to once again be associated with Spotcheck NI, a relationship that has been going for as long as the awards themselves. With mystery shoppers and independent judges, the process is committed to finding the best retailers across the region, guaranteeing integrity and quality.

With a host of unique categories, the NR Awards draw entries from more than 500 retailers here, all vying to be the best at what they do. Since the awards were launched, they have become an absolute must-attend on the annual calendar, the perfect place to meet and greet as well as network and celebrate with your colleagues in the industry.

The 2025 gala awards dinner was a night of glitz and glamour as the best in the business from across the region gathered together, while host Donna Traynor ensured the special occasion went smoothly.

The top award – the 2025 Retailer of the Year went to Tom McAvoy, owner and director of Milestone Rathfriland, who made history claiming the title for a record fifth time.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have been named Northern Ireland Retailer of the Year 2025. It is a real honour to be recognised among the very best in the industry once again,” said Tom.

“This award is testament to our incredible team at Milestone Rathfriland, their passion, creativity, and commitment to excellence drive everything we do.”

Meanwhile, sponsor of the Forecourt of the Year Category 1 award, Monster Energy spoke of their delight at being involved with the awards.

“Monster Energy was delighted to attend and support the NR Awards. It was our first year partnering with the event and it proved to be a fantastic night enjoyed by all,” said Brian Connolly, Business Director Island of Ireland at Monster Energy.

“The awards provided a brilliant opportunity to connect with the very best in Northern Irish retail and celebrate their success.”

We are thrilled to have Allwyn back on board as our platinum sponsor for the 2026 NR Awards, we look forward to working with them in the months ahead as we count down to this year’s event.

Now is your chance to be part of the biggest night in Northern Irish retail – start entering today!

The post ARE YOU AN AWARD WINNER? first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Business owners across the region are working hard to stay open while they battle against these costs, trying to keep prices down, taking care of their staff and is some cases have pivoted their business in some manner to keep drawing consumers in.

Back in October 2024, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves put forward the first Labour Budget in 14 years, announcing a raft of measures which impacted the retail sector and SMEs generally. Since then, these businesses have had to address these financial implications and assess the viability of their businesses.

Having come through the pandemic, praised for being key workers and being on the frontline of an unprecedented lockdown period, retailers have been bombarded with significant challenges from huge rises in energy bills, the cost-of-living crisis and continued rising business costs, leaving the last few years a hardened battleground for SMEs.

On top of this, legislation working through government will see new challenges within the tobacco and vaping sector, while the single-use vape ban has already made its mark, and illicit tobacco remains a thorn in the side of retailers here.

Post Offices across Northern Ireland are also calling out for an increase in their services, stating they have faced a decade of decline, and are asking MLAs for real help and tangible support to battle the challenges they are also facing.

NI President of the Fed, Julie Brown told NR that they had met with Jim Shannon MP to stress the difficulties independent retailers here are facing, and warned that if higher tazes and energy costs weren’t addressed, they would likely lead to shorter shop opening hours and cutting staff hours.

“These have been very trying and testing times, that is what we are all facing generally,” said Julie.

“So far, we have managed to negotiate our way through without many changes, but we are constantly looking for new suppliers, new lines to bring in and ways to keep our costs under control.”

Meanwhile, Stormont is considering whether to bring forward an Employment Rights Bill that proposes to reform 17 separate areas of employment law in one move. As Roger Pollen, Head of the FSB NI told NR, were it to proceed, the Bill could cause extraordinary turmoil within NI’s vital SME community.

“The Department brought forward a massive suite of proposals nearly two years ago, called the ‘Good Jobs Bill’, yet their consultation process has meant that few employers are aware of them in outline, let alone in detail,” said Roger.

“We now await the revised Bill which, once published, will let business owners start to get to grips with what it might mean for them as employers. This matters; not least as the recent actions of Westminster have repeatedly driven up the cost of employing people, with a worrying contraction in graduate jobs offers perhaps being the harbinger of worse things to come.”

SEE THE FULL FEATURE IN THE MARCH ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER HERE

The post What lies ahead for NI’s high streets? first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Applegreen will open Northern Ireland’s first Taco Bell at its Lisburn North location on the M1 next month.

“We are really excited to announce this partnership to launch the iconic Taco Bell brand in Northern Ireland,” said John Diviney, Managing Director of Applegreen UK.

“Taco Bell has been a huge success on the island of Ireland since we launched our first outlet in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath last September, and it has also been very popular with our customers in Britain.”

Bringing Taco Bell to Northern Ireland will provide consumers with additional choice, added Mr Diviney.

“Applegreen’s core goal is to offer our customers high quality roadside hospitality by partnering with leading brands such as Taco Bell. The enhancements that we constantly make to our business are designed to delight our customers and to provide them with an even better experience.”

Applegreen currently operates three Taco Bell outlets in the Republic of Ireland and 10 Taco Bells at its Welcome Break business in the UK. The Taco Bell at Lisburn North will be open seven days a week, from 11am to 10pm.

“Taco Bell’s opening in Northern Ireland marks another exciting step forward in our rapid expansion across the UK and Ireland,” said Keyur Patel, Market Leader, Taco Bell UK & Ireland.

“We’re proud to expand Taco Bell’s footprint and bring our bold flavours and iconic products to new consumers.”

Taco Bell, which is based in Irvine, California, operates more than 8,700 restaurants worldwide. Known for its craveable and bold Mexican-inspired flavours, Taco Bell’s menu offers a variety of delicious products and unique tastes. Consumer favourites include the famous Crunchy Taco as well as Burritos, Quesadillas, Nachos, and the iconic Crunchwrap Supreme.

Applegreen operates five locations in Northern Ireland. The two largest sites are just outside Lisburn, on the northern and southern sides of the M1 motorway, and it also has sites in Templepatrick, Ballymena, and Hillsborough.

Opening Taco Bell in Northern Ireland is part of a €1 billion upgrade and expansion plan by Applegreen that will see significant investment across the company’s operations in Ireland, the UK, and the United States.

Applegreen, which is one of Ireland’s leading hospitality brands, currently operates about 435 locations and has more than 700 branded food outlets across its international network. The company employs about 17,000 people and had annual sales of €3.8 billion in 2024.

Applegreen has almost 200 sites in the Republic of Ireland and also operates 61 service areas and 31 hotels in the UK through its Welcome Break business. Welcome Break employs more than 6,000 people in the UK and serves more than 85 million customers annually.

Welcome Break, which can trace its roots back to 1959 and the beginning of motorway services in Britain, is a leading operator of motorway and roadside service areas in the UK.

The post Applegreen to launch Taco Bell in Northern Ireland first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.