Retailers are ramping up investment in promotions to encourage shoppers through their doors as the march to Christmas is well underway, with sales expected to exceed £13.6 billion in December.

The latest data from Worldpanel by Numerator shows 31.2% of spending as on promoted items, up from 30% this time last year, with retailers pulling out all the stops to win shoppers over as they gear up for one of the most important trading periods of the year.

Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel said cost was still a major factor in the decisions behind spending for consumers.

“One in five households tell us that they’ve been struggling financially and that’s been largely consistent over the past two years,” said Fraser.

“With the cost of living still biting for many this Christmas, just under one third of all spending is on promotion as supermarkets find ways to shield shoppers from the impact of price rises.”

The emphasis on offers and lower pricing means that the cost of a Christmas dinner for four is a few pence cheaper than last year, at £32.46. However, retailers know that as well as keeping an eye on budgets, consumers also want to indulge during the festive season.

“Retailers are savvy to the fact that at Christmas especially – even when times are tough – consumers still find the space in their wallet to spend on small treats,” said Fraser.

“In fact, we’ve seen that right through the cost of living crisis as people have found new, more affordable ways to indulge in what we call the ‘pick-me-up pound’. The rise and rise of premium own label lines bears this out with one in every £20 now spent on these treat-type products.”

Chocolate prices are up 18.4% on this time last year, but that hasn’t stopped five million households putting a confectionery advent calendar in their basket in November. Similarly, just over one in 10 shoppers fancied a festive tipple and bought a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine over the last month.

Meanwhile, online remains the fastest growing part of the market, with sales up by 8% in November to hit the second highest ever sales in a month since the pandemic high of February 2021. However, bricks and mortar still dominate the grocery sector, and with Christmas falling on a Thursday this year, Monday 22^nd and Tuesday 23^rd are expected to be the busiest shopping days of the year.

Within the retailers, driven by its ninth consecutive month of double-digit sales growth at 10.2%, Lidl made the biggest market share gain, winning an additional 0.5 percentage points compared with last year to reach 8.1%.

Sales at Sainsbury’s rose by 5.1%, bringing its market share to 16.0%. Tesco grew sales by 4.7%, as it attracted 321,000 more shoppers over the 12 weeks versus last year. Britain’s largest grocer now holds 28.3% of the market.

Elsewhere, Iceland grew ahead of the market at 4.0%, maintain shares of 2.3%, while Asda now accounts for 11.5% of the market and Co-op’s share stands at 5.3%. Beyond the grocers, sales of take-home groceries at M&S were 8.9% higher over the 12 weeks compared with the same period in 2024.

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The incidents took place at various retail premises in areas including Newcastle, Magherafelt and south Belfast.

While the incidents are distressing and disappointing for all concerned, a number of arrests have since been made with police pointing to their proactive approach in dealing with business crime.

From Monday 10^th November to Sunday 16^th November Safer Business Action Week was held, which saw officers across Northern Ireland conduct mobile patrols, carry out searches, made arrests and meet with members of the business community.

Dedicated patrols of officers engaged with members of the business and retail community issuing advice around Safeshop, an initiative which provides business owners with specialised skills to keep themselves and their premises safe.

In Belfast, there were 20 dedicated patrols and seven arrests made, while in Mid Ulster four arrests were made across the campaign week.

In spite of this proactive work by police, retail crime continues, with several incidents occurring across the region over the last week.

PSNI officers arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of burglary following a series of burglaries in Newcastle. It was reported that a male intruder entered commercial premises on Carrigs Road on Wednesday 3^rd December and took a sum of cash before making off from the scene.

Police believe the suspect was also involved with a number of similar incidents in the Carrigs Road over recent weeks.

Meanwhile, police arrested three men in the Lisburn Road area of south Belfast in connection with a number of offences. A 33-year-old man, a 31-year-old and a 27-year-old were arrested on a host of charges, following a number of reports of thefts and drug-related offences from commercial and business premises on the Lisburn Road.

“We understand the distress this causes to the business owners, staff and local residents,” said Inspector Roisin Brown.

“We are aware of the negative impact the behaviour of these suspects has had in the local community. We hope these arrests will now put an end to the ongoing problem in the area, and allow people to go about their day-to-day business and operate their premises without concern.”

Detectives are also appealing for information following the report of a burglary in Magherafelt on Thursday 4^th December.

It was reported that the owners of a commercial/business premises on Rainey Street arrived to find a window had been smashed and money stolen from the till. It is believed entry was gained by using a hammer.

Following the completion of Safer Business Action Week, Business Crime Lead Superintendent Allister Hagan said they had worked closely with their key stakeholders to identify offenders and tackle issues like anti-social behaviour and theft.

“It is extremely encouraging to see the business community across Northern Ireland engage with police to deliver positive results during Safer Business Action Week,” he said.

“Officers provided a visible policing presence, including pop-up clinics to educate and inform retailers and business owners around related criminal activity. We are extremely grateful for the unwavering support we received from the business community across NI.”

He added that while Safer Business Action Week had come to an end, it did not mean policing activity targeting business related crime would stop.

“We will continue to hold crime prevention initiatives and activities, as well as apprehend offenders and reduce the fear of crime across our towns and cities,” he said.

“We are aware there is underreporting of business related crime, so we would encourage retailers and business owners to contact police if they feel their staff are victims of criminal activity. If a member of staff has been either physically or verbally assaulted, please get in touch with police so these offences can be robustly investigated.

“We will be utilising the information obtained during Safer Business Action Week to best utilise our resources as we approach the busy festive period for retailers. We want to make our towns and cities a place to live, work, socialise and do business.

“We will continue to robustly tackle business crime and keep both retailers and consumers.”

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Earlier this morning, the Finance Minister launched a consultation on the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme having previously announced plans to bring forward changes aimed at providing greater support for small businesses, in November.

John O’Dowd said he intended to consult on changes to support for small businesses, outlining his view that the scheme currently provides vital support for operating costs for small businesses.

The consultation sets out options to enhance the scheme using two distinct methods;

Increasing percentage reductions – the current relief levels of 20%, 25% and 50% have remained unchanged since 2012. Where funding allows, the Minister wants to adjust the percentage reduction tiers to deliver great impacts.

Updating valuation thresholds – these have now been reviewed since 2012 and the Minister said there is a need for these to be adjusted to reflect modern rental values, particularly as Reval 2026 marks the fourth revaluation in 11 years.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy and I am committed to delivering positive, progressive changes to the rating system here creating a fair environment for all business sectors, fostering entrepreneurship, boosting occupancy of vacant properties and enabling smaller businesses to flourish,” said the Minister.

“This consultation offers businesses and interested parties the opportunity to share their final views before proposals are presented to my Ministerial colleagues. I would encourage everyone to have their say and help to shape this support and deliver local solutions to local challenges.”

However, the proposed amendments to the scheme have been declared “smoke and mirrors” and not real reform.

“What is proposed is a mere modest adjustment where what we need is an across-the-board reform and substantial reduction in rates for our high streets and other retail hubs,” said Neil Johnston, Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium.

“It looks like the Finance Minister is helping business but the reality is the rate burden continues inexorably upwards.

“The revenue from business rates has rocketed by over £100 million in the past five years to fast approaching £400 million a year,” added Mr Johnston.

“A disproportionate amount of that – well over £100 million – comes from the retail sector. That is a huge burden in an industry that has very small profit margins.

“The Finance Minister’s proposals would increase relief for small businesses – including some retailers – from roughly £20 million to £30 million, an increase of about £10 million. Which set against an increase of 41% or £112 million in the past years means he is going to give back a pound for every extra £10 he is collecting.

“It begs the questions; does the Minister want to revive the high streets of Lurgan and Portadown in his own constituency and the other cities, towns and villages across Northern Ireland? He needs to recognise that the world, especially the retail world, has moved on and he needs to radically reduce the rates burden, not tinker around the edges.

“many retailers have invested heavily in Northern Ireland in recent years but if this chasm in rates persists, there is a danger that Northern Ireland will not get the same retail investment as other areas which are a more viable proposition.”

This focused consultation will run for eight weeks, closing for responses on 29^th January 2026 in order to continue to facilitate any changes in time for the 2026-2027 rating year.

For more details, visit www.finance-ni.gov.uk/consultations/small-business-rate-relief-sbrr-options

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Footfall across NI increased by 2.7% in November, up from -0.2% in October, while footfall in Belfast increased by 1.1% in the same period, up from -0.7% the previous month.

Meanwhile, shopping centre footfall increased by 4.1% in November, up from +0.4% in October. The latest figures from the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium-Sensormatic data are encouraging for retailers, with the recent rebound in footfall figures a welcome reprieve.

“Shoppers were out and about in November visiting Northern Ireland’s retail destinations – looking to grab bargains and spreading out the cost ahead of Christmas,” said Director of the NIRC, Neil Johnston.

“The so-called Golden Quarter is crucial for retailers and these are positive figures. Retailers will be hoping that the recent investments in stores in Belfast city centre and in a number of other key retail hubs will continue to attract shoppers as we head towards Christmas Day.

“The figures for November and a number of other recent months have shown Northern Ireland often doing better than the rest of the UK. This reflects the fact that the NI economy has weathered the recent economic challenges better than the rest of the country – our unemployment figures and economic growth figures are better.”

Mr Johnston added that it remains a challenging environment and the UK Budget will do very little to help.

“Indeed, retailers face the prospect of a widening chasm with GB with regard to the business rates they pay,” he said.

“England and Wales will be bringing in rate cuts next year – the Northern Ireland Executive and our local councils need to follow suit.”

Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions said the November rise in NI footfall bucked the UK trend of decline.

“November may have been dominated by caution across the UK, but Northern Ireland offers glimmers of hope,” he said.

“The golden quarter isn’t over yet, and with four of our predicted Top Five shopping days still to come, the festive season could deliver an even stronger finish.

“A last-minute rush may top off the year, turning resilience into celebration. With the right balance of value, convenience and experience, there’s still time to make December count.”

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With a business spanning generations and one that has witnessed several significant changes over the decades, County Armagh store JD Hunter & Co has long established itself as a reliable retail business across the whole county.

A destination store, it prides itself on catering for not just Markethill, but the wider rural area, with customers travelling some miles to avail of its offers and services.

The current shop, situated on the Mowhan Road, was built in 1999 and had subsequent development works carried out to it in 2012 before an extensive refurbishment was carried out in 2020. A £500,000 investment was carried out at this stage with new fridges and fruit and veg units brought in and new shelving fixtures installed.

The recent work saw fridge capacity updated and efficiency works carried out throughout the store, whilst making use of the most up-to-date equipment in the chill world.

As store manager, Chris McClure told NR, the works to upgrade and improve the store have been very well received by their shoppers.

“The customer response has always been very good, as we are always keen to improve that shopping experience for them. Investment into the local community supermarket breeds positivity,” said Chris.

The store now proudly stands at approximately 30,000 sq ft and employs 129 staff across full-time, part-time and student roles. With a range of USPs, not least their award-winning butchery department, JD Hunter & Co offers some stand-out services in their store, including an extensive hardware and gardening section and an in-store Post Office offering another point of difference.

“I think firstly our level of service to our local community and beyond is second to none, whilst being heavily involved in both social and charitable events,” said Chris.

“Our butchery/deli counter would be a major footfall driver with the vast majority of products being local and produced in-store. A deli/butchery counter the size of ours is quite rare in supermarkets currently and forms one of our unique offerings, with over 75% of our fresh produce being local sourced.”

It was this commitment to local sourcing and using top-quality ingredients which impressed the judges of this year’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards, and they were quick to praise the butchery department for their efforts.

With an “exceptionally curated selection of premium meats and complementary items, all showcased in a sophisticated and organised setting” the judges were bowled over. “The staff were well trained and highly consultative, ensuring customers received great advice and information on the products,” they added.

“We source our meat from a number of suppliers with our biggest being our red meat supplier, Hewitt Meats Loughgall,” said Chris.

“We are also supplied by Pinkterons, Elliots, Rockvale, Carrs Elite Foods, Doherty & Gray, Grange Farm/Sprotts to name but a few. We have placed a massive emphasis on supporting and promoting locally sourced products which can be found throughout the shopping experience in-store.

“We were delighted to be there in person to accept such a prestigious award. We are humbled and honoured and would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards for this incredible recognition.

“Adrian and our dedicated butchery team, with their hard work and dedicated, have thoroughly earned the right to call themselves Butcher of the Year.”

In the days following their win, the team at JD Hunter ran a variety of competitions, thanking customers for their support and celebrating their win.

“Feedback from customers has been excellent, with us even hosting a visit from the Irish Butchers’ Guild on 5^th November” added Chris.

“This was another proud moment for Adrian and our butchery team and a great opportunity for them to network with some of the most experienced butchers in the profession.

“Our social media competitions have been, as always, well supported as our butchery department moves from strength to strength.”

Having been owned and managed by the Henderson Group from 2019, in the summer of 2022 it was announced that South Belfast retailer and family-run business, the Creighton Group had acquired JD Hunter, with the takeover happening during August that year.

A well-known and popular independent retailer, the group is headed by brother-and-sister team Niall Creighton and Gail Boyd and operates three award-winning stores – Creightons of Finaghy, Creightons of Blacks Road and Creightons of Balmoral.

At the time of the takeover, Niall said expanding the company name was part of their business plan.

“We are honoured to have the opportunity to take over a store that has been family-run since the early 1900s, which mirrors our own family business,” he said.

Chris said he and the staff at JD Hunter had been equally delighted to have another family business at the helm.

“We as a team felt that it was important that ‘Hunters’ would remain a family-run independent business and were delighted to learn that the Creighton family would be taking over the business in 2022,” he said.

“The Creighton family have themselves been in business from 1936 and therefore have many similarities to the Hunter family who started their journey in 1920.

“We have been blessed to have been acquired by such a reputable, long-standing business like the Creighton family with Niall and Gail embedding those unique family values throughout the way we do business and serve our customers.”

READ THE FULL FEATURE ON JD HUNTER & CO IN THE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER HERE

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