richard walker - Neighbourhood Retailer https://neighbourhoodretailer.com The authoritative voice of the grocery industry in Northern Ireland Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:23:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://neighbourhoodretailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/cropped-NR-SIte-Icon-2-32x32.png richard walker - Neighbourhood Retailer https://neighbourhoodretailer.com 32 32 178129390 Iceland supermarket ‘walking away’ from planned Londonderry store https://neighbourhoodretailer.com/iceland-supermarket-walking-away-from-planned-londonderry-store/ Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:23:37 +0000 https://neighbourhoodretailer.com/?p=25095 Supermarket chain Iceland has scrapped plans to open a new Londonderry store over planning process delays. The retailer said it had hoped to open a

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]]> Supermarket chain Iceland has scrapped plans to open a new Londonderry store over planning process delays.

The retailer said it had hoped to open a third store in the Crescent Link area of the city.

Managing director of Iceland, Richard Walker, told BBC Radio Four’s Any Questions they were now “walking away”.

“In Derry-Londonderry we’ve actually given up because after two years of trying to apply for planning we’re still waiting for a decision,” he said.

Mr Walker told the programme on Friday evening that “less bureaucracy and getting government out of the way” in local planning would allow the private sector to get on with job creation.

The managing director said this was the case “for many stores” they wished to open across the United Kingdom.

Derry City and Strabane District Council confirmed that a planning application was submitted in February 2021 for a proposed development at the Crescent Link site.

The council said that while Iceland has no individual planning applications with the council, the company is understood to be involved in a full application, alongside another retailer.

A spokesperson for the council said the major retail application was “a complex proposal” and one with “a number of issues the council had to take into consideration as part of an application of this scale”.

The council said some issues it would need to address in the application would be the fact that Crescent Link is a “bulky goods” retail park, as well as the retail impact, traffic impact and congestion.

The supermarket chain has two stores in Derry – one at Foyleside Shopping Centre and another at Buncrana Road.

There is also another store located a short distance from Derry in Strabane, County Tyrone.

The Crescent Link site is one of the biggest retail developments in the north-west and includes retail giants like Homebase, Tesco and Marks & Spencer.

SDLP councillor Brian Tierney said that “there are clearly issues with the planning system”.

Mr Tierney said his party has raised concerns on numerous occasions in recent years and have been frustrated with the lack of progress.

A spokesperson said the council is “committed to continuing to work closely with the agent, the consultants and consultees to review the submission”.

Derry City and Strabane District Council confirmed that upon receipt of further feedback, a full report and recommendation will be brought before a future meeting of the planning committee.

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]]> 25095 Iceland to give away free food on last day of shelf life to online customers https://neighbourhoodretailer.com/iceland-to-give-away-free-food-on-last-day-of-shelf-life-to-online-customers/ Mon, 25 Oct 2021 11:53:35 +0000 https://neighbourhoodretailer.com/?p=18812 Iceland has announced it will give food products on the last day of their shelf life away for free to online customers in an effort

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The supermarket says its ‘Free on Last Day of Life’ initiative has the potential to give away more than 1.3 million items worth £500,000 a year to Iceland’s customers while cutting food waste.

All food items ordered and delivered by Iceland have previously had a shelf life of at least two days.

The launch across all 1,000 of the supermarket’s sites follows a successful trial in 40 stores with more than 17,000 items given away for free and customers receiving an average refund of £1.58 per order.

The process does not require any additional action by the customer. If an item ordered is the only one left and has the same day date it will be scanned, labelled and placed in the shopping cart as normal.

The customer will be made aware of the free item ahead of delivery and will not be charged the original price.

All chilled, fresh, cakes, bread and morning goods will be included in the scheme.

‘Huge priority’

Iceland Foods managing director Richard Walker said: “Reducing food waste is a huge priority for us as we continue to reduce our impact on the environment.

“We know that shelf life plays a big role in the creation of surplus food so we to have find an innovative way to combat this within our stores and via our online shopping.

“Our Free on Last Day of Life scheme not only helps reduce food waste but also supports our customers.

“We know cost is key to many of our shoppers and this new initiative allows us to offer them the opportunity to reduce their weekly shopping bills as well as helping to reduce food waste.”

Meanwhile the premises leased to Iceland in Omagh has gone on the market for £625,000.

The retailer’s lease on the standalone Kevlin Road building dates back to 1995. Its current £70,000 a year lease, last renewed in 2015, runs until August 2025.

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