Northern Ireland
This coverage focuses on retail developments in Northern Ireland, including store openings and closures, local consumer trends, investment initiatives, and regional market performance. Reporting examines how retailers adapt strategy, site selection, and operations to the region’s economic, cultural, and demographic context — providing insights for executives, managers, and professionals overseeing retail activity across Northern Ireland.
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Apr- 2021 -9 AprilHigh Street
Total UK footfall decreases by 69%, BRC tracker finds
Total UK footfall decreased by 68.7% in March (Yo2Y), marking only a 4.9% improvement from February, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) Sensormatic tracker. The data, which covered the five weeks from 28 February to 3 April 2021, showed that the footfall drop in March was above the…
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Mar- 2021 -23 MarchEconomy
Gov to create hubs to boost international trade
The Department for International Trade (DIT) has announced the creation of four new trade and investment hubs which will channel the economic benefits of international trade directly into Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the North of England. The trade hubs in Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast and a new site in Darlington,…
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22 MarchSupermarkets
Spar International expands anti-food waste collaboration
Spar International has announced it will be enhancing its collaboration with digital platform Gander to further tackle food waste. The partnership was initially launched in Northern Ireland and has grown to become a global agreement. The partnership will facilitate a wider roll-out across Spar markets, strengthening the collaborative, global approach…
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17 MarchCoronavirus
Northern Ireland to allow click-and-collect from 12 April
The Stormont Executive has revealed parts of Northern Ireland’s map out of lockdown which will see non-essential retail click and collect services return in April. While the majority of the current restrictions will remain in place until after Easter, the Executive agreed to gradual changes which will come into effect…
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3 MarchGovernment
NI Executive reveals phased lockdown exit plan
Ministers for Northern Ireland’s devolved government have announced phased plans to take the country out of its current lockdown restrictions. Yesterday (2 March), the Executive agreed on a final version of the ‘Pathway to Recovery’ strategy, which will focus on reopening key areas of the economy, such as retail and…
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Feb- 2021 -19 FebruaryCoronavirus
NI extends lockdown until 1 April but click and collect widened
The Stormont Executive has announced it will extend the current lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland until 1 April. However, first minister Arlene Foster did reveal that more non-essential retail businesses will be able to resume click and collect services from 8 March. The scope of those allowed to operate click…
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2 FebruaryHigh Street
Footfall remains above first lockdown levels despite poor weather
Footfall across UK retail destinations rose by just +0.4% last week from the week before as poor weather deterred high street shoppers, according to the latest data from retail experts Springboard. It found that there was a “noticeable increase” in visits to retail parks as footfall rose by +4.7% and…
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Jan- 2021 -14 JanuaryCoronavirus
£95m Northern Ireland retail voucher scheme put on hold
A £95m high street voucher scheme, first announced by the Northern Ireland economy minister in November, has been referred to the next financial year, according to the BBC. The scheme is intended to support retailers that have been hardest hit by the pandemic, possibly through a pre-paid card system. Similar…
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Dec- 2020 -7 DecemberAdvice
Re-energising retail in 2021: Three challenges and one solution
The story of retail in 2020 is one of extreme contrasts. On the one hand, the Amazons, Asos and supermarket operators of the world have all enjoyed tremendous success; on the other, almost every other segment of the industry has been decimated. More than 11,000 chain outlets shut in the…
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4 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Primark posts £430m sales hit amid second lockdown
Primark was hit with a £430m sales loss following international lockdowns this autumn, according to Associated British Foods (ABF). Primark stores in the group’s major markets, including England, the Republic of Ireland, France and Belgium reopened in the last week, however, with ABF noting that sales have been “very strong”…
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