The Gong is Back – find out all about the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards in our NEW May issue

The Gong is Back – find out all about the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards in our NEW May issue

The countdown is on! The May issue of Neighbourhood Retailer is out now and it’s a special awards edition as the clock ticks towards the entry deadline.

We couldn’t be more delighted that the awards are coming back this October, giving us all a chance to meet up in person again and enjoy a bit of friendly rivalry.

All the big names in Northern Ireland’s independent retail sector will be gathering at the Crowne Plaza Belfast on October 28 for our star-studded awards, a major focal point for retailers, brand owners, service providers and top executives across the country.

Some of the key figures in retail are busy sprucing up their stores and giving them a spring clean all ready for the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards entry deadline of June 30, as they reveal in this month’s magazine.

We also have an in-depth feature on how Clearline Distribution – founded just six years ago by friends Richard Norris and David Lyttle – is fast gathering momentum with its innovative range of brands.

Neighbourhood Retailer also focuses on the human cost of the Post Office Horizon scandal with a feature on the harrowing stories revealed as the inquiry sat in Belfast earlier this month.

We have a special focus on the Musgrave Awards and the SPAR Fresh Foods supplier breakfast at the Balmoral Show, as well as a fascinating and inspiring Design and Fitout Special that reveals how a stunning design can drive footfall and basket spend in store.

And of course we have our fascinating store profiles, including Hamilton’s SPAR Castlederg – now the largest SPAR store in the UK following its refurbishment during the pandemic. Matt Montgomery talks Dungeons & Dragons and celebrity chefs as he celebrates his first year at the Secret Market in Holywood, while David McCrea reveals the challenges Dundela Pharmacy has faced over the past couple of years.

Read the May issue HERE.