Victoria was the former Head of Retail at Nisa, stepping down from the role earlier this year and leaving Nisa after 12 years at the business.

In her new role as Retail Director at Unitas, Victoria brings many years of experience in the independent convenience sector, including 12 years leading the Nisa Retail field team supporting stores in the UK and Ireland. She is also an ambassador for Diversity in Wholesale, Women in Wholesale, GroceryAid, and WiHTL ‘Women to Watch 2024. For many years she has heavily supported the Association of Convenience Stores including the more recent Shopkind campaign.

Unitas MD John Kinney welcomed Victoria to the company, and said she would be instrumental in the continued development of the Plan for Profit category management scheme, their retail and wholesale promotional programmes, and the roll out of the Local Living own-brand range.

“We are delighted to have Victoria leading the next phase of the implementation of our retail strategy. She is the perfect choice to continue our growth in retail, supporting our members in building an attractive symbol group offering and expanding the reach of their retail clubs,” added John Kinney.

“I am really excited to be joining Unitas. The group provides such a vital service to both independent wholesalers and retailers,” said Victoria.

“It’s a tough time for independent retailers at the moment, and the promotions, category advice and value own brand range we have to offer are all vital to help our independent retailer compete in the today’s marketplace.

“Unitas host some of the biggest, best, and importantly entrepreneurial wholesalers and I am looking forward to working with these members in partnership with our suppliers, to drive our retail agenda forward.”

The post Former Head of Retail at Nisa, Victoria Lockie joins Unitas Wholesale first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Nigel took over at the start of January 2022, supporting Nisa partners across Northern Ireland and leading Nisa’s Irish team.

He brings with him more than 30 years’ experience in grocery retailing, largely in Northern Ireland, as well as the Republic of Ireland and England, and 20 years of his career has been spent working with independent retailers.

Most recently Nigel held the position of Sales Director for Supervalu and Centra in Northern Ireland, part of the Musgrave retail and wholesale group.

Victoria Lockie, Head of Retail at Nisa, said: “I’m excited to welcome Nigel to the team. He is a well-respected figure in the industry with a wealth of knowledge, particularly about the independent sector in Northern Ireland and a track record of working with independent retailers and helping them to grow their sales and profits.

“Nigel is a valuable addition to the Nisa team and I’m very much looking forward to working with him as he supports our Irish partners and helps to drive forward their businesses.”

Speaking about his new role, Nigel said: “I’m really looking forward to working with the team at Nisa and our retail partners to continue to grow and develop the business. I can’t wait to get out to meet the retailers and build on the successful relationships that are the core of the Nisa business model.”

The post Nigel Maxwell to head up Nisa Retail’s NI team first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

In the run-up to UK Independents’ Day on Sunday 4^th July, and on the day itself, Nisa is celebrating its partners and independent retailers everywhere with a series of activity across its digital and social channels.

The social media campaign will target both B2B and B2C audiences with messages that support and celebrate independent retailers as well as educate consumers about the relevance of independent retailers and the role they play in communities across the UK.

A range of digital assets will also be available to Nisa partners for them to use on their own channels and help promote their independence with their own customers.

Furthermore, Nisa has teamed up with the event organisers and created videos featuring Nisa partner Jack Matthews who runs Bradley’s of Quorn with his father and brother who explains the relevance and value of independent retail.

Head of retail at Nisa, Victoria Lockie has also supported the event and features in a separate video sharing her view of independent retail, an industry she has worked in for more than 30 years.

Victoria said: “It’s important we support campaigns like this because it links with our purpose and is why we’re here today. Nisa was founded to support and help independent retailers to thrive and that is still true to this day.

“We’ve seen how incredibly versatile and agile Nisa partners and indeed all independent retailers are in the ways they’ve responded to the Covid crisis and found solutions to any number of problems that have come their way.

“UK Independents’ Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness, celebrate and express our gratitude to independent retailers for the fantastic contribution they make to communities everywhere.”

To support the activity follow #UKIndieDay on social media platforms this weekend or see how else you can get involved here www.independentsdayuk.org/get-involved

The post Sunday 4th July is Independent’s Day – campaign for independent retailers first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.