Independent retailers reflect communities they are part of

As the former CEO of Sainsbury’s, Justin King CBE is one of the best-known names in retail. Now the current Chair of National Lottery operator, Allwyn, Mr King explains to NR why he thinks independent retail in Northern Ireland is so successful.

One of the biggest voices in grocery retail for a generation, Justin King was full of praise for retailers in Northern Ireland and was quick to single out the success of independent retailers.

Acknowledging that in his role as CEO of Sainsbury’s, he was often seen as the promoter of supermarket giants aiming to minimise the success of independent retail, Mr King was only too willing to hold his hands up to the unique playing field present in Northern Ireland.

“I have a long track record of investing in the high street, though I’m ill-equipped to compete in Northern Ireland – this is a very particular retail environment,” said Mr King.

“It’s not a hollow claim to say that independent retailers are core to their community. I genuinely believe that retail is pivotal to sustainable communities.

“In the end, the vast majority of adults you meet will have started their working lives within the world of retail, I have seen it transform people.”

Hosting a special Business Breakfast to thank independent retailers in Northern Ireland and their role in the success of The National Lottery, Mr King said Allwyn was of the firm belief that retailers are core to the success of the Lottery.

A number of retailers from across the region were in attendance at the event, with several of them taking the opportunity to speak to Mr King afterwards.

“Some 34,000 projects have been supported here in Northern Ireland – the vast majority of those supported by the Lottery are community projects,” Mr King told those present.

“You are talking about an average of £40,000 per grant, many of these are local community projects – alongside wider sport, arts and heritage grants – and that is why it is so important to have people selling tickets for their community.”

Mr King has visited Northern Ireland on several occasions across the last 30 years, leaving him well placed to speak on the noticeable differences between grocery retailing here and in the rest of the UK. He also believes that the strength of independent retailing here has added to the success of the National Lottery.

“The independent sector is a much bigger part of the retail scene here than in other parts of the UK. They have been the backbone of retail, even during the Troubles,” he told NR.

“The independent sector is approximately twice the size proportionately of the market here than it is in GB. It was always a bigger part of our customer base in those days, and most of the bigger retailers have found developing their convenience stores here very hard.

“The average convenience store here in Northern Ireland are small chains, often still family-owned, so it’s a very different retail scene and much bigger and an important part of the picture.

“It speaks for a much bigger portion of ticket sales, they are the biggest sellers of the tickets. You are as likely to pick up a ticket when you are preparing to come in for a top-up shop, than you are when you are doing your groceries in the bigger supermarket. You are much more likely to pick up a ticket at the independent retailer.”

Going back to the founding principle of the Lottery, part of the founding idea was a sense that corner shops were suffering, Mr King explained, with mainly independent retailers selling Lottery tickets in the beginning.

“Retail is organic, it grows up in the communities of which it is part. Also, Northern Ireland is a country that is more community focused in some ways. If you look at the way retail developed in the UK with commuter towns, that is the bedrock of the growth of the out-of-town supermarkets.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH JUSTIN KING IN THE APRIL ISSUE OF NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER HERE