Retail food expert, Scott Annan speaks to NR and reveals why Northern Ireland independent retailers are world-class, and Dr Terry Maguire outlines how the current financial crisis in community pharmacy has developed.

Find out about the unique co-operative business spreading happiness in Lisburn and we have all the details of this year’s 155th Balmoral Show.

Elsewhere, we have an exclusive feature on renowned Magherafelt store, JC Stewarts with store manager Andrew Scott telling us all about their recent refurb; and we catch up with McKay Family Butchers, a north coast mainstay of almost 50 years.

There is also a chance to get your entry in for this year’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards , as well as all the latest news and information affecting the grocery industry.

READ THESE EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES AND MUCH MORE IN THE APRIL ISSUE BY CLICKING HERE

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Providing support of £170,000, the programme helps raise the profile of quality regional food and is run by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Applications are invited from not-for-profit groups and regional development agencies, as well as registered charities.

Welcoming the opening of the programme, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said it was an important funding programme for the food and drink sector.

“The programme encourages collaboration between all sectors and representative bodies within the local food industry through financial support to help showcase quality regional food,” said Mr Muir MLA.

“Last year, the programme provided funding to a range of projects including the Food Pavilion at Balmoral Show where over 100 food and drink producers from across NI were able to showcase and sell their produce.

“The food and drinks sector in Northern Ireland has so much to give and I will continue to support the delivery of high quality, high impact projects that will raise the profile of local quality produce.”

Applications are now open for projects taking place from 1^st May 2024 to 31^st March 2025 and must be submitted by 4pm on Monday 15^th April 2024. Awards will be subject to budget availability.

Application forms can be downloaded from the DAERA website: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/northern-ireland-regional-food-programme

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The Big Red Stetsons from SPAR were handed out in exchange for a donation towards both Marie Curie and Cancer Fund for Children, which resulted in an incredible £18,000 raised over the four days, to be shared between the organisations.

Paddy Doody, Sales and Marketing Director at Henderson Group commented; “SPAR’s Big Red Stetsons have become iconic at Balmoral Park, and we’re delighted because it means all those generous visitors have helped us raise some amazing funds for our very deserving charity partners.

“Balmoral Show was a huge success for SPAR this year. We welcomed thousands of visitors to the SPAR Marquee to sample some delicious Enjoy Local and The CHEF products, all made in collaboration with local food suppliers and farmers in Northern Ireland.

“We explored the science behind food tasting with W5 with experiments and quizzes for all the family and also sponsored the Children’s Farm and Healthy Horticultural Village, giving visitors a real hands-on experience with farm animals and a chance to learn more about their role in sustaining fields and farms where our favourite local produce is grown.

“We loved being back at Balmoral Show at full throttle this year and look forward to doing it all again next year!”

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We couldn’t be more delighted that the awards are coming back this October, giving us all a chance to meet up in person again and enjoy a bit of friendly rivalry.

All the big names in Northern Ireland’s independent retail sector will be gathering at the Crowne Plaza Belfast on October 28 for our star-studded awards, a major focal point for retailers, brand owners, service providers and top executives across the country.

Some of the key figures in retail are busy sprucing up their stores and giving them a spring clean all ready for the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards entry deadline of June 30, as they reveal in this month’s magazine.

We also have an in-depth feature on how Clearline Distribution – founded just six years ago by friends Richard Norris and David Lyttle – is fast gathering momentum with its innovative range of brands.

Neighbourhood Retailer also focuses on the human cost of the Post Office Horizon scandal with a feature on the harrowing stories revealed as the inquiry sat in Belfast earlier this month.

We have a special focus on the Musgrave Awards and the SPAR Fresh Foods supplier breakfast at the Balmoral Show, as well as a fascinating and inspiring Design and Fitout Special that reveals how a stunning design can drive footfall and basket spend in store.

And of course we have our fascinating store profiles, including Hamilton’s SPAR Castlederg – now the largest SPAR store in the UK following its refurbishment during the pandemic. Matt Montgomery talks Dungeons & Dragons and celebrity chefs as he celebrates his first year at the Secret Market in Holywood, while David McCrea reveals the challenges Dundela Pharmacy has faced over the past couple of years.

Read the May issue HERE.

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The winners were: Animal Welfare Award – Ian Loughrin; Low Carbon Farming Pioneer – Patrick Black; Farming with Nature Award – Maurice and William Kells; and Farming Innovation Award – Richard Murphy.

Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture and Fisheries at M&S, said: “Every day, our Select Farmers and suppliers go to extraordinary lengths to deliver great quality M&S food, whilst demonstrating best-in-class innovation, animal welfare, sustainability and biodiversity. These awards celebrate just some of our farmers who are leading in these fields.”

Ian Loughrin, a beef farmer from Cookstown, won the Animal Welfare Award for his commitment to building a system which puts animal welfare and husbandry at the forefront. Ian has set up two state-of-the art calf rearing units for rearing young calves sourced from Linden Foods Procurement.

Steve McLean said: “M&S Select Farmers are well known as leaders in promoting the highest standards of animal welfare. Ian expertly demonstrates this through both careful investment in purpose-built housing and a commitment to always delivering best practice when it comes to calf rearing.”

Patrick Black, a poultry farmer from Ballycastle, was awarded the Low Carbon Farming Pioneer Award for his commitment to reducing his carbon footprint using renewables and participating in higher-level environmental farming schemes.

Alongside his wife and son, Patrick runs an 11,000 bird rearing unit, as well as keeping cattle, sheep and pig on their extensive hill farm. Over the past ten years to farm has invested in a hydro powered generator, solar panels, and an air source heat pump.

Patrick supplies Skea Eggs, with Dale Shaw from Skea Eggs commenting: “Patrick has been a Rearing Farmer with Skea Eggs for several years now and over this time he has made significant steps to reduce the farm’s carbon footprint. The multiple renewable energy systems on farm and large areas of land dedicated to environmental work demonstrate Patrick’s success in this endeavour.”

William and Maurice Kells, beef and sheep farmers from Portadown, have been awarded the Farming with Nature Award for their commitment to improving biodiversity on their farm. The father and son team have been rearing high-quality beef and lamb for Linden Foods for the last 40 years and are now an M&S Indicator farm, trialing new environmental work and sharing their learnings. Over the last six years Maurice and William have planted a range of broadleaf native hedges to provide wildlife habitats and shelter for the cattle and also carefully manage an ancient species-rich site on the farm.

Richard Murphy, a poultry farmer from Whitecross, scooped the Farming Innovation Award for his commitment to investing in an innovative system centred on animal welfare. Just eight months ago Richard Murphy and his wife Nicola set up a state-of-the-art 24,000 bird free range laying unit, after extensive research and planning.

Richard supplies Skea Eggs, with Dale Shaw from Skea Eggs commenting: “When setting up his new unit, Richard went above and beyond to select a system which allows him to manage bird welfare and production in the most effective way. In short time-frame Richard has already achieved a substantial amount and has already shown real stockmanship when caring for his hens.”

As well as the M&S Select Farm Awards, M&S were also pleased to announce the winners of a supply chain project run by Linden Foods and M&S for Greenmount College students where teams of four are asked to design and present a suitable food related product to sit in M&S Food. This year’s winning team were Emma Ross, Ryan Pickering, Amber Rogers and Michelle Rea, who will now visit M&S HQ in London as part of their prize.

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