The group – organised by the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium and Belfast Chamber of Commerce – has developed a report entitled “Fighting Back: The Way Back for Retail in Northern Ireland”

Outlining the challenges and support needed to get high streets and shopping destinations across Northern Ireland up, and running, the groups calls on the government to provide a full-time frame to let retailers prepare to open.

The consequences of not reopening the industry imminently will be “significant”.

“This is make or break time for retailers across Northern Ireland as the longer that this lockdown goes on the harder it will be for them to reopen,” said Aodhán Connolly, Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium. “This will have a significant detrimental impact to towns and cities as well as for shopper choice.”

Uniting together, the NI Retail Consortium, Belfast Chamber, and the chambers of Derry, Newry, Bangor, Newtownards, Holywood, Lisburn, Ballymena, Causeway, Banbridge, Portadown and Retail NI, have asked for a multiagency approach including government departments, local councils and the PSNI to deliver support.

In addition to a timeline, the group has also called for a tapering off of financial support, rather than a quick stop, as well as the support to safely get shoppers to return to Northern Ireland’s towns and cities.

“Retail can be a springboard for the economy to bounce back but they must be able to open,” Connolly continued.

Allowing non-food retailers to begin opening their doors from June, 8 is a step in the right direction, believes Simon Hamilton, chief executive of Belfast Chamber.

“It is important that the rest of retail is also given a date when it can start trading again,” he said. “Retailers want to get going again and make a positive contribution to the recovery of our economy.  For us, what should guide the Executive in their decision making should be the ability of shops to reopen in a way that is safe for staff and customers and not what they sell, where they sell it and how big their store is.”

However, more effort needs to be made to encourage shoppers back to the high street during this uncertain period.

“We need all levels of government to work with us. This is not just about agencies and destinations taking responsibility, this has to be  shoppers’ responsibility too. We hope that the Public Health Agency will work with us to provide guidance and strong messaging that lets shoppers know it is safe to come back shopping. The public need to be aware of how to keep themselves and other around them safe. Everyone has their part to play in making the reopening of Northern Ireland a success,” added Connolly.

The post “We need to be open to survive” says retail industry first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Fundraising activity will be led by Community Champions and will take place in Asda stores, and in the local community, in Northern Ireland throughout November.

BBC Children in Need is currently supporting over 3,000 local charities and projects in communities across the UK – helping children and young people facing a range of disadvantages such as living in poverty, being disabled or ill, or experiencing distress, neglect or trauma.

For the past three years, Asda has focused on encouraging its customers to support the charity’s Power of Play campaign, which raises money to support children and young people across the UK through play.

Playing is an essential part of childhood development but research has shown there are not enough accessible, safe, play opportunities across the UK and that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are the most likely to miss out. The Power of Play campaign aims to help children in every community access play and increase their skills.

Barbara Logan, Asda Antrim Community Champion, said: “This year, colleagues across Northern Ireland will be positively Pudsey with enthusiasm throughout the month of November to raise both funds and awareness of the impact the money has, as well as the fundraising activities taking place in-store and in the wider community.”

Barbara added: “From community Pudsey parties to cake sales and fun games, colleagues will be busy raising funds for BBC Children in Need to ensure that as many children as possible will see their lives improved by this money.”

 As part of the campaign, Asda customers will be able to pick up free play passes instore which children will be able to ‘trade in’ with a grown-up for 30 minutes of play. Each of the play passes offers a different play activity and will help children to learn a variety of life skills, such as teamwork, patience and resilience, that will aid their development.

Asda NI Community Champions are holding a host of fundraising activities instore and in the community during November. For more information on how to get involved, please contact your local Asda store.

The post Asda colleagues in NI raise funds for BBC Children in Need first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Formerly known as Genesis Crafty, the company has dropped the ‘crafty’ and changed its strapline to Genesis – Baking it better since ’68.

Belfast design agency, Thought Collective, was commissioned to manage the rebrand, which follows the announcement that Genesis is investing over £750,000 in the business and recruiting an additional 35 staff.

The new identity is also being supported with an improved, expanded product offering, as Paul Allen*, executive chairman, Genesis explains:

“We have been listening to customer feedback and have introduced a fresh, bold contemporary new look for the Genesis brand range. Our customers love our products’ traditional credentials and with new eye-catching packaging, they will be able to see exactly what they are getting.

“Our extensive customer research also led us to develop new recipes, with an increased shelf life and even better taste.  The range, which includes delicious wheaten bread, pancakes, scones, soda bread, hot cross buns, coconut and iced fingers, brioche rolls and baps, has been rolling into stores over the last few weeks.  A revamped cake range is also planned for the new year which will see new lines sitting alongside the company’s established favourites.”

Mr Lyttle continues: “Genesis is also driving innovation in terms of our packaging. The company is currently trialling recyclable film across the range with a view to having 100% recyclable packaging by early 2020.”

Sam Bell, creative director with Thought Collective, the Belfast design agency which managed the rebrand, adds:

“Genesis is well established for creating quality products; a clear leader in the sector. Thought Collective’s job was to turn that position into a tangible brand. ‘Baking it better since ’68’ was conceived to encapsulate the company’s heritage as well as its vision for the future – it’s the rally cry for a team of innovative master bakers. Strategic copywriting, along with succinct naming and powerful typography have delivered strong foundations for the brand as we move towards phase two.”

The company currently employs more than 350 staff in its Magherafelt, Northern Ireland, premises with further recruitment scheduled in the next 12 months to keep pace with the level of ongoing expansion that the business is experiencing.

The post Genesis bakery gets a new look first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Adrian’s career includes 15 years of commercial experience working for FMCG brands across Marketing and Sales (UK and International) divisions. He joins from Tangerine Confectionery, owned by Valeo Foods, where he held leadership positions that include Head of Marketing and most recently International Sales Director.

Working alongside Simon Gray, who founded Boost in 2001, Adrian will be responsible for enhancing brand engagement, driving insight into the heart of the planning and decision making process and fuelling the innovation pipeline to build a sustainable long-term growth strategy. Northern Ireland will continue to be a key focus for the business.

Simon Gray, Managing Director and Founder of Boost said: “We are delighted to welcome Adrian to the team.  His appointment as Marketing Director marks an important milestone in our evolution and by working as part of the leadership team he will help shape the future growth strategy and steward the brand positioning. I look forward to working together to build upon our strong foundations and ensure we have a robust brand strategy and infrastructure to deliver Boost’s growth ambitions in Northern Ireland, the UK and overseas.”

Adrian Hipkiss said: “I am thrilled to join Boost Drinks as Marketing Director. It’s an incredibly exciting time for the business and we have a great opportunity to build on our strong position in the independent retail market and cement brand affinity with shoppers.”

Boost was established in 2001 after founder and MD Simon Gray saw the opportunity to offer consumers a great quality energy drink at a fraction of the price of other brands at that time.  Two years later in 2003, Boost was launched in Northern Ireland and now the company owns the number one selling soft drink* within the independent convenience sector which covers more than 1,100 independent retail stores, excluding the large multinational supermarket chains.

Boost is available in various pack formats across seven core Energy flavours, as well as limited editions and Sports and Protein drinks.  To find out more about Boost go to https://www.boostdrinks.com/

The post Boost Drinks appoints new marketing director first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Expand your business horizons at Northern Ireland’s biggest Summit for the grocery and retail Industry taking place 14th November, Belfast.

The trade exhibition is an integral part of the Neighbourhood retailer summit. Around 40 exhibitors focused on the future of retailing will be showcasing the latest and the best in technology, innovation, services and trends.

To keep the opportunities for business networking neat and intimate, the trade exhibition is capped to ensure that both exhibitors and delegates have enough time and opportunities to make the best of their experience.

The conference programme has been carefully designed to optimise business and trade exhibition networking opportunities.  There are five key times scheduled throughout the day – including registration, half hour tea/coffee breaks in the morning and afternoon, extended lunch break and over drinks at conference close.

Designed to build vital business connections and make special one-off deals on the day, the trade exhibition also provides a specific, stand alone space to view some of the best new products and services, in some cases before they are even launched.

“The trade exhibition is always a vital part of this prestigious event” said Bill Penton, Publisher and Managing Director of the Penton Group. “It’s an ideal opportunity for suppliers and clients to talk business in an informal setting. The trade exhibition is an ideal networking platform, and attracts a range of exhibitors representing the entire retail sector.”

Join brand leaders and Northern Ireland’s top businesses at the Neighbourhood Retailer Summit

• Network & connect with top retailers and head office buyers
• Drive your sales and showcase NPD
• Top class conference with a line up of key speakers
• Exhibitors breakfast & lunch

The trade exhibition is an ideal networking platform and attracts a range of exhibitiors representing the entire retail sector.

BOOK TODAY

Call Julie Ozturk on 028 90 457 457 or email: julie.ozturk@pentonpublications.co.uk

The post Last few trading spaces left for leading Belfast trade exhibition first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.