Comment by James Woods, COO, GM Marketing (Ireland) Ltd

Is the movement of goods that remain in their entirety within the UK now seamless? Has the green lane gone to be replaced by the U.K. Internal Market System Lane which will have no checks? And most significantly, is there no requirement to complete Supplementary Declarations?

Is the ‘Irish sea border’ no more and if that is the case, from when does that change take effect and what traders can avail of it?

This is hugely important to us at GM Marketing as we’re transporting thousands of products for household names such as Tilda Rice, Nando’s Sauces, Filippo Berio Olive Oil and Yazoo Drinks every week– from GB and across Europe to NI and Ireland.

So, what does it all mean for us and our customers? How will it impact the legislation around the movement of goods? The devil is in the detail so, it’s time to look behind the headlines and understand the impact on businesses.

From reading over the 80-page document, my overarching takeaway is that very little has changed.

• We represent brands in Ireland – North and South – bringing these well-known names into Northern Ireland and distributing them nationwide. As a result, our imports are still deemed as ‘at risk’ and will therefore continue to use the ‘Red Lane’, meaning paperwork, checks and in some cases, tariffs still applying.
• My understanding of ‘frictionless’ applies to products that have either been manufactured or passed through GB which are imported to NI “purely” for sale and consumption in NI.
• It’s been reported that the above scenario represents most imports into NI – potentially as high as 80% – but this in itself is a depressing representation of the ambitions of NI businesses, and certainly does not represent the opportunity presented by our Dual Market Access which needs to now be exploited.

And questions remain:

• What exactly is the definition of ‘at risk’?
• If a product comes in via a ‘Red Lane’ to be sold in a NI retail outlet, does it still require a ‘Not for EU’ label on its packaging?
• And what way will a triggering of the ‘Stormont Break’ play out in reality?

To name just a few.

What we really need as a leading marketing and distribution business, representing brands on the island of Ireland and in GB, is the free movement of goods – from east to west and north to south. However, we must accept that following Brexit this is no longer a feasible outcome, and we will strive to do the best with what we have. Brexit has made trading and the logistics around the movement of goods much more complex – this is a fact. However, with the complexities, come opportunities.

As experts in our field, it’s our role to be on top of the detail and deliver solutions for our brands – our dual market access is unique within Europe. We firmly believe that it’s time to take advantage of the new trade opportunities which utilise this unique Dual Market position.

Northern Ireland is an obvious hub for European brands wishing to enter both the UK and Irish markets, and we’ve already made gains, with new brands joining the GM portfolio.

In conclusion, we welcome the return of Stormont and are hopeful that our politicians work with businesses to bring stability and introduce measures that will help our economy to flourish for the benefit of all.

Despite the many challenges now faced by trade here, GM will continue to lead the way in navigating the landscape and ensuring that the brands we represent flourish.

• You can view the comment piece online at: https://gmmarketing.co.uk/newsroom/gm-marketing-coo-shares-thoughts-on-changes-of-movement-of-goods-arrangement-for-businesses-now-northern-ireland-executive-has-returned

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Northern Ireland has the highest rate of mental health problems in the UK*, with a 25% higher overall prevalence of mental health problems than England for both children and adults².

“AWARE were chosen following a company-wide consultation process that was managed by our newly-formed Social and Well-being Committee named THRIVE”, said Kaitlyn Martin, Brand Manager at GM Marketing.

“One in five adults in Northern Ireland has a mental health condition at any one time so we are very proud of our aim to raise £20,000 over the next two years to help AWARE continue their life-saving work.

“As part of our relationship with AWARE we plan to create a pool of mental health first aiders who will be a confidential resource for team members who may be experiencing depression and mental health issues. We have also signed up to the Mental Health Charter to help create a workplace culture that promotes equality of opportunity and respect for those with mental ill health,” added Kaitlyn.

Natasha Mackay, Corporate Partnership Officer at AWARE, said: “We are thrilled to partner with GM Marketing in our mission to bring awareness and support to mental health here in Northern Ireland.

“This collaboration reflects GM Marketing’s commitment to making a positive impact in our community. With their dedicated support, we look forward to creating meaningful change and fostering greater understanding about mental well-being within their workplace and the wider society.”

1. Northern Ireland Assembly, 2017
2. NIAO, 2023

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Founded by Gerard McAdorey in 2000, the business which originally started in Northern Ireland wholesale, convenience, and retail channels, now spans the entire island of Ireland servicing all key customers, north and south, with a strong foothold in GB wholesale and convenience.

Focusing on core grocery and non-food categories, GM Marketing have a varied portfolio spanning food, beverage, baby, household, and foodservice brands – with the addition of several own-label products on behalf of their customers.  The brand portfolio includes well-known household names such as Fox’s Biscuits, Tilda, Nando’s, Filippo Berio, and the most recent addition to the portfolio, the Costa Coffee At Home range for the GB Wholesale & Convenience channel.

Commenting on the milestone, McAdorey said “It’s a fantastic achievement and one to certainly celebrate.  We had originally planned to toast our 20th birthday last year, but unfortunately Covid-19 put the brakes on that.  2020 was a tough year for everyone, and every single person in the business went beyond the call of duty to ensure core food items reached shelves all over the country; I am exceptionally proud of the team.

Stronger than ever

He went on to say, we’re now entering our 21^st year stronger than ever – we have the right mix of people, experience, and expertise, with an exceptionally strong commercial team from various FMCG and retail backgrounds which ensures we understand the markets, their customers and how to effectively build brands with purpose.”

Established distribution hubs

With a strong presence in Irish retail, and growing share of GB wholesale and convenience channels; the business has recently completed a recruitment drive to bolster the team across sales, marketing, operations, and finance; and with established distribution hubs in both Belfast and Leeds, GM now have the infrastructure in place to support accelerated growth for their brands, in all three regions of the UK and Ireland.

McAdorey continued, “we may be growing up and moving into a new phase of business maturity, but what remains constant for me, is the foundation that GM was built on; our core values – which are as prevalent today, as they were in 2000.  GM has always been about our people, who are the backbone of our culture.” 

Impressive portfolio

Launching their new website which showcases the refreshed business branding and impressive portfolio, GM is certainly not retiring into old age, as McAdorey says “now, more than ever, we are passionate about unleashing potential, building brands, and delivering results, and our fresh look and new website launching today, sets us up for the next chapter…”

For more information, please visit http://www.gmmarketing.co.uk.

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