Reacting to the Prime Minister’s statement on the energy crisis, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said: “The six-month cap on energy costs for businesses is a positive first step in providing support for our members and it is welcome that the Prime Minister has given a commitment that this will equally apply to Northern Ireland.

“However, Government needs to go much further to provide additional support to small businesses struggling with this energy crisis. This should include Business Rates relief, VAT reductions and the reversal of the National Insurance hike.”

Unveiling the two-year Energy Price Guarantee for householders, Liz Truss said this would cap energy bills at £2,500 a year.

She also promised “equivalent support” for six months for businesses, although exact details have yet to be announced.  More support for businesses could be available for vulnerable businesses after that period.

The National President of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed), Jason Birks, said: “Although the devil is in the detail, today’s news of support for businesses should give struggling retailers some comfort and relief.

“Six months is a starting point, but the Fed and its members need longer term assurances that support will be ongoing.

“However, we look forward to hearing more about the financial support that will be available and assisting members in making sure they receive the help and support they need.”

Last week, Mr Birks warned that without financial assistance, the future for independent retailers looked bleak.

“When soaring energy bills are added to falling margins and rising payroll costs, it may only be a matter of time before communities lose access to the groceries and services that local stores provide – but more importantly they will also lose a heart,” he said.

“To survive this crisis, we need more financial support from the government and for the energy price cap to be applied to businesses too, even though this may be too little, too late.”

The Fed is also in regular dialogue with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on issues affecting members, with the most recent meeting taking place this week.

The post Retailers cautiously welcome PM’s energy plans first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The new deal, which saves shoppers up to £9.55 off the RRP, landed in Nisa stores earlier this week and will be available right up until the end of the month.

It comprises two pizzas, either Co-op Stonebaked Margherita 320g or Co-op Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza 327g – or one of each – and either Budweiser, 4x300ml, Bud Light, 4x300ml, or Budweiser 0%, 4x330ml, all for just £5. As a non-licensed alternative, a selection of Coca-Cola variants are also available.

Laura Gomersal, Head of Marketing at Nisa said: “Big Night In and other at home occasions continue to grow in popularity, as highlighted by the record breaking viewing figures from the recent Euro Women’s final, with shoppers cutting back on out of home spending due to economic uncertainty.

“Pizza and beer is one of those classic combinations that feels like a real treat and with research revealing that 65% of adults in the UK are eating out less in an attempt to reduce costs, we are confident the promotion will be a key sales driver for our retailers during August.”

Nisa retailers can emphasise the fantastic £9.55 saving to their budgeting customers with help from a summer-themed consumer leaflet, digital support, and a point of sale mini kit.

“The products included as part of the Big Deal are perfect for catering to the summer bank holiday weekend. However, as plans are often spontaneous due to the weather, retailers should expect an influx of shoppers as the long weekend draws closer,” Gomersal said.

Promotion ends on 30^th August.

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The Minister said the scheme injected at least £136.6m into the economy, leading to an improved level of consumer confidence and increased levels of public spending.

Today, the Department published a set of management information on the Scheme covering:

• number of residents issued with a card;
• number and percentage of cards activated;
• total spend;
• number of transactions and spend by Local Government District; and
• location and spend by postcode.

The Minister said: “The High Street Scheme has been a huge success and achieved exactly what it set out to do. It brought shoppers back on to the High Street and has helped and supported our local retail, hospitality and service sectors start their journey of recovery from the devastating impact of the pandemic.

“I am really pleased to announce that 1,399,051 people were issued with a Spend Local card, of which 1,393,043 – or 99.6% – were activated. This is a tremendous achievement. The scheme was designed to provide an economic boost to the local economy and to this end £136.6million has been injected into the economy.

“This can be clearly seen from the fact that nearly 1.4 million customers visited our local shops, restaurants, bars, cafés, cinemas, hairdressers across all parts of Northern Ireland during the lifetime of the Scheme and over 3.7 million new transactions were made using the Spend Local card.

“Of course, we know that many of these customers will have spent more than the £100 on their Spend Local card. So the figure – in real terms – will be greater.”

Regional breakdown

The Minister told the Assembly that the early analysis showed the benefits of the Scheme were enjoyed in all parts of Northern Ireland.

He said: “Over £27million was spent in Belfast, over £12million in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon while over £10million was spent in each of the following local council areas – Newry, Mourne and Down; Derry and Strabane; Antrim and Newtownabbey; Lisburn and Castlereagh; and Ards and North Down. In Mid and East Antrim, the figure was over £9million. In Causeway Coast and Glens and in Mid Ulster, more than £8million was spent, while the figure for Fermanagh and Omagh was just over £7.5million.”

MLAs heard how the scale of the task of delivering the High Street Scheme was unprecedented as, in a matter of weeks, his Department implemented a process which manufactured, dispatched and delivered cards to close to 1.4million people – each card unique to each applicant, including bespoke embossed cards for the visually impaired and blind.

The Minister told MLAs: “The effort was worth it. I am sure that Members will have heard the same positive messages that I have heard from businesses, but it has also been confirmed by independent analysis.”

According to an Ulster Bank Survey, retail sales in Northern Ireland rose in November 2021 for the first time in four months. The bank’s Chief Economist Richard Ramsey said the High Street Scheme undoubtedly contributed to the pick-up in demand.

Research in December 2021 also showed an increase in shoppers on Northern Ireland’s high streets. The figures published by the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) showed a boost to the number of people going into shops or businesses in October continuing in November following the introduction of the High Street Scheme. In November, the number of shoppers in Northern Ireland reached their highest point so far compared to the pre-pandemic level.

The Minister said: “The people from which I was most pleased to hear were the business owners who needed the scheme to help them cope with the impact of the pandemic. On a personal level, these individuals – shopkeepers, barbers, newsagents, publicans, café owners, the list goes on – brought it home to me why this scheme was so important.”

The post Lyons hails High Street boost as Spend Local cards are used 3.7m times first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

A product brochure dedicated to Fairtrade products, specially created point of sale and a Category Talk, focusing on Fairtrade and its importance in the market, has been recorded to share with partners to offer further insight and education.

Running from 21^st February to 6^th March, the annual two-week event presents an excellent opportunity for retailers to demonstrate to shoppers their support for Fairtrade.

Jonny Lambert, Co-op Brand Planning and Comms Manager (Wholesale), said: “Fairtrade is core to Co-op and for more than 26 years we have championed the Fairtrade movement, supporting a better way of doing business, paying producers a fair price, and doing the right thing by people and the planet.

“As demand for Fairtrade increases among consumers and the value of own-brand Fairtrade sales grows greater than branded alternatives, now is the time for Nisa partners to try Fairtrade.

“This year we’re helping partners to join in with Fairtrade Fortnight by offering a variety of support, from our huge range of Co-op Fairtrade own-brand products to showcase in store, to POS assets made available in our promotional kits.”

With Fairtrade products ranging from teabags, coffee and sugar to wines, chocolate and freshly cut flowers, Nisa partners can make the most of the event both during Fairtrade Fortnight itself and beyond.

Lambert added: “Fairtrade Fortnight is a great way for Nisa partners to demonstrate to increasingly ethically minded shoppers how important issues such as Fairtrade are to them and showing how as customers, they too can support it simply through buying the products highlighted to them.”

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