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Newry man Pat McGarry has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 Connected Retail Conference in Rotterdam. It's the second accolade of its kind McGarry the Group Logistics Director at Henderson Group, has been presented with this year. In September he also received the Transport Personality of the Year award at the Export & Freight Transport & Logistics Awards.
Organisers of the conference said Mr McGarry was awarded for his long and distinguished service to the global SPAR organisation and retail industry, which has spanned over four decades.
Tobias Wasmuht, Managing Director, SPAR International added; “Pat McGarry is a founding member of SPAR International’s Warehouse Action Group and a member of the team supporting the design of the warehouse infrastructure for SPAR in China.
“His passion and proactive leadership extends well beyond his roots at Henderson’s warehouse facilities in Mallusk, where he has introduced and directed many innovative large scale projects and streamline processes, which not only boost productivity and improve working conditions, but also reduce overall environmental impact.
“This award from SPAR International reflects our thanks and appreciation to Pat McGarry for his contributions and achievements.”
Mr McGarry added; “I am humbled and grateful for this recognition for a career that allows me to work with such fantastic people and organisations around the world. To be part of the SPAR International family allows our team to affect change globally, to ensure we are all working to the highest level of efficiency with as minimal impact as possible on the environment, and we are very proud to be market leaders with our innovations.”
Martin Agnew, Joint Managing Director at Henderson Group commented; “We are thrilled for Pat to receive this recognition from SPAR International as it is truly deserved. In the 25 years that Pat has worked for our business, leading the logistics function for 22 of those 25 years, the business has grown exponentially both in scale and in profitability, and this has been in no small part due to Pat’s far-sighted vision and plans, brought to fruition day and daily, by the high-performing team he has built.”
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Joseph Doherty, Managing Director of Re-Gen Waste in Newry and member of Defra’s Advisory Committee on Packaging, has welcomed the results of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Consultation for the reduction of single-use plastic beverage cups and food containers.
Doherty said "We were very pleased to participate in the consultation on three policy options which will assist DAERA. The options available were a voluntary scheme, levy and a ban. The consultation will go far in providing direction to promote the reduction of single-use plastic cups and food containers to increase recycling, improve reuse and reduce litter.
"In my opinion, Plastic single-use cups, card single-use cups lined with plastic and takeaway food containers should be included in the scope of the proposed policy. We don’t believe it is practicable to include pre-filled, plastic-lined food containers in the future policy. An individual at the shop or takeaway makes an informed decision to use a single-use plastic container or cup, whereas a person using pre-filled containers does not have the choice.
"A ban on single-use plastics is not realistic given how embedded they are in many people’s lives. We’re not supportive of a levy due to economic impact on householders in particular, but also on the government and businesses."
Doherty doesn't support a ban on single-use plastics but thinks we can be pushing their reduction, reuse and recycling capability.
The UK Government’s recycling target is 65 per cent of all waste by 2035 and Doherty believes R&D needs time and investment especially if the ban is introduced soon with significant impact on producers, retailers and consumers. "Card, glass and metal are great materials, but they don’t offer the versatility and ‘long life’ that plastic offers. It is important that food remains in optimal condition so that it reaches the consumer without any decay or contamination." he said.
The Re-Gen Director believes the biggest issue is paper cups lined with plastic because the two materials can’t be separated in the recycling process. He also thinks that recycling should be made as easy as possible for householders.
39 per cent of the respondents to the Consultation said that a ban of single-use plastics was the preferred option to meet the goals of the legislation but Doherty wonders 'Is there another option?' as he believes there is a huge risk of unintended consequences.
"In my opinion, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency is best placed to monitor the impact of the measures. To be effective and successful, there needs to be a communications plan to provide clear guidance on the measures, their scope, obligations of all involved and actions to be taken. It is essential there is transparency in respect of penalties for non-compliance which may involve fines. Trading Standards would be best placed to provide impartial enforcement of the system.
"I also believe that the collection of levies should be distributed to encourage recycling, on litter campaigns, and for the regulation and enforcement of the measures."
Check out the consultation results at www.daera-ni.gov.uk
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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is encouraging you to make it local this Christmas with your continued support of businesses in the district
Cllr Michael Savage, Chairperson, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC), said “There has never been a more crucial time for stepping up and supporting local businesses.
"We are aware of the many challenges that businesses are encountering this Christmas. Rising energy prices and rising inflation coupled with lower disposable incomes means that every penny is being counted by businesses and consumers. That’s why I am encouraging everyone to shop locally during this festive period.
"At this, the most wonderful time of the year, we at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have once again demonstrated our firm support for local businesses in the district through our ‘Make It Local’ campaign
"This promotional initiative, which has been running for several years now, is designed to promote and shine a light on homegrown businesses across Newry, Mourne and Down, by encouraging people to shop and spend locally. "
The Chairperson continued "Preparing for Christmas is always an enjoyable experience and never a chore. By shopping locally at any of our independent retailers, artisan markets, cafés, bars or hotels, you are bringing festive cheer – and a much-needed financial boost – to the local economy.
"The Council’s Make It Local Christmas campaign spans a wide range of businesses throughout the district including: Montalto Estate in Ballynahinch, Rowallane Beauty Salon in Saintfield, Warrenpoint Artisan Market, Scopers in Dundrum, Mimi by the Sea in Newcastle and Hughes of Camlough.
"Make It Local continues to support businesses and we want to remind those businesses that they have the full support of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in their endeavours to make our area one of the best places to live, work and play.
"Thank you to all the businesses that have participated in the Christmas campaign and in Make It Local generally across the year. And remember, there’s still an opportunity for others to get involved in the Spring 2023 campaign.”
For more information or to get involved in Make It Local, please visit the Council’s website: www.newrymournedown.org
#NMDMakeItLocal
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Warrenpoint based food-to-go manufacturer DELI LITES, has become the first sandwich manufacturer in Ireland and the UK to earn the coveted B Corporation (B Corp) certification.
The company was certified following a rigorous assessment by B Lab, the non-profit organisation behind the B Corp movement, who validate that companies have met the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.
To receive the much sought-after certification DELI LITES was required to provide evidence of its socially and environmentally responsible practices which have included switching to 100% renewable energy, using a heat-recovery system, introducing an electric fleet as well as partnering with charity FareShare UK to redistribute any surplus products to those in need.
Jackie Reid Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at DELI LITES said: “We are incredibly proud to be the only sandwich-manufacturer in the UK and Ireland to receive B Corp. For DELI LITES, officially becoming a B Corp certified business provides confirmation that we are meeting the high standards of social and environmental performance that we constantly strive for and encourage throughout the business. It means being part of a wide community of like-minded organisations that prioritise people and positive change alongside profit.”
In the UK there are currently around 1000 B Corp certified companies including local Armagh-based bag company, social enterprise Madlug and clean energy partner UrbanVolt. Other well-known names are Patagonia, Innocent and The Guardian.
Jeremy Fitch, Invest NI Executive Director Business Growth added: “We would like to congratulate DELI-LITES on receiving this important recognition of their social and environmental efforts. The company continues to innovate, broaden its market reach and invest in its future, and we are pleased to have been able to support it along the way. We wish the company continued success and growth.”
Chief Executive Officer Brian Reid concluded: “While our journey towards B Corporation certification technically started in June 2021, we’ve been building up to this moment since 1998. From the very beginning we have embraced doing things differently, whilst on a mission to improve the lives of our people, community and the world we live in. In recent months we have a launched our new Planet Café heat-to-eat range – a product that we plan to export globally based on a concept that combines the inspiration we get from all over the world with the importance of being responsible corporate citizens who are transitioning to achieving zero waste to landfill and being 100% carbon neutral.”
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In January 2023 S&W Wholesale will become one of the largest known businesses in Northern Ireland to move to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) model of ownership. This structure will see control of the business move from its current private ownership to a Trust, which will manage and control the shares indirectly on behalf of employees. This will provide an innovative, forward thinking succession plan for the current owners.
An Employee Ownership Trust (or EOT) enables employees to become the indirect shareholders of a business. It is a trust, set up by existing company owners, for the benefit of all employees.
The one hundred and six-year-old business, headquartered in Newry, has always prided itself on its commitment to its people. The new structure will see no visible change in the business. Day to day control will remain in the capable hands of the current Leadership Team.
The EOT legal structure, lauded by Government and widely used in other parts of the UK, has been relatively unexplored in Northern Ireland.
Norman Savage, S&W Director said, “S&W has played a valued role in the retail community for more than one hundred years. We have been working on a succession plan for some time to secure the future of the business, while allowing for growth. We didn’t want to become another name swallowed up by the bigger players or potentially bought and closed by an investor. We have a loyalty to our people, customers, and supply partners. We also have ambitious growth plans, with a new purpose-built site currently in the planning system. We want this ambition to carry through the next generation of the business.”
Michael Skelton, CEO S&W, continued, “We took considerable advice and guidance before making the decision, so we are satisfied that the EOT model gives us everything that we need for the future sustainability of the business. Our shareholding will effectively be bought over time by the Trust, with the majority of the business shares held in the Trust collectively on behalf of the employees. This means that when the company does well, the employees, as beneficiaries, will do well. The nature of the structure allows for incentives such as tax-free bonuses and other inducements as the business model continues to mature.
“This is a very bold and exciting move for us as pioneers of EOT at this scale in Northern Ireland. We know there will be learnings over time but the most important thing for us is that our team are going home this Christmas knowing that not only have they job security, and certainty for the long term; but they are working for an organisation that genuinely wants them to benefit from the business.
“Our suppliers are safe in the knowledge that S&W will be their partners for the long term with its ambitious growth plans and investment back into the business through the Trust. Our customers know that we will continue to deliver exceptional service, as every member of our team is now a beneficial stakeholder in the business. We will remain on the Board but as exiting shareholders we know that the hundred-year-old legacy of the S&W journey will live on for many years to come.”
S&W currently employs more than 320 people and operates as one of the largest independent wholesalers on the island of Ireland. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. S&W was supported by Danske Bank.
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Mitigating paperwork and administration work caused by the introduction of the NI Protocol, a consequence of the British and EU Brexit negotiations, has saved up to £324k for a Newry business.
A digital robot has minimised administrative time and costs for Re-Gen Waste when bringing goods here from Great Britain.
Re-Gen Waste moves between 100,000-150,000 of tonnes of recycling materials from England, Scotland and Wales each year.
The Northern Ireland Protocol requires additional administration time and resources for the company and had the potential to slow down operations, increase costs, and cause problems for its supply chain.
The IT team developed a digital solution which automated the process, reduced the processing time for each load by 90 per cent, eliminated the potential for mistakes and saved up to £324,000 on outsourcing costs per year.
Joseph Doherty, Managing Director, said: “Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, all goods arriving in Ireland from Great Britain must have an entry summary declaration with information on the cargo. This is provided by Re-Gen to UK Customs in advance of the goods’ arrival. We needed an innovative system to meet the requirement of an international trade agreement that was easy to use and integrated seamlessly with existing systems in Transport, Finance and IT.
“The project was a learning process as the Trader Support System website was brand new and they were updating the site every week which affected how our system interacted with and executed its task. Our robot had to be updated every time the website changed.
“I am tremendously proud of our team. They have shown a real entrepreneurial spirit to find a digital solution which meets the challenges of the Protocol. The new system has saved us time and money and ensured that we can continue to service our clients with no disruption. We hear of many other businesses who are struggling with the administrative burden of the Protocol. Thanks to our new digital process we are in a good place.”
The robot was introduced in January 2021. Part of its specification was that it would be a future-proofed solution with flexibility to meet the needs of the governments Trader Support System.
Conor McCooey, Re-Gen’s Chief Information Officer, said: “My team are excited about finding solutions to issues affecting our people, systems and operational processes. We relish the opportunity to reduce processing times and use technology innovatively to meet the new requirement of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
“Using robotic process automation software, we developed an automated workflow that created hundreds of draft customs declarations per week. To date, the robot has saved over 200 hours of manual form entry.
“Throughout 2022, the Trader Support System website changed significantly and Owen Quinn, our Higher-Level Apprentice, led the reprogramming of our robot. He worked closely with colleagues in Finance and Transport to ensure that the forms and declarations were completed to a high standard."
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A business that started with a sandwich bar in Newry now has plans to take on Europe. Founded by the dynamic husband and wife duo Brian and Jackie Reid, Deli Lites Ireland is an energetic Northern Irish food to go business. The business started from the family run gourmet sandwich bar in Newry, but quickly expanded. Deli Lites Chief Strategy Officer, Jackie Reid started her journey into business at the young age of 19. With the ambition of providing gourmet style sandwiches to every county in Ireland, this goal has morphed into the bigger aim of taking on the European market.
Jackie’s story is inspirational. As the youngest of six children, Jackie originally started her career studying Media Studies in Southern Regional College’s Newry campus before illness struck. After taking a year out, to work alongside her sisters in the sandwich bar, Jackie later returned to the College to study A Levels. This year out was invaluable for Jackie. It gave her an idea which would lead to the creation of Deli Lites Ireland.
Jackie and Brian did their market research and spotted a gap in the market. At the time, there was limited food to go options in Northern Ireland’s shops and Jackie and Brian saw this as their opportunity. Jackie spoke with petrol forecourt shops to get to know sandwich price points and quality issues. She was proactive, giving samples to shops. With these sandwiches quickly selling out, the orders started rolling in. Jackie commented:
“We had to get a distinguishing point and compelling reason to buy from us. In business you need to do your research and speak with others. You need to find your sweet spot and understand what your competitors don’t have.”
Jackie and Brian did consider starting their own sandwich delis, but the capital costs were too much. They decided it was better to supply from one base and build up business.
Aided with start-up loans and finance, Jackie and Brian started work at midnight making gourmet sandwiches from her sisters’ deli shop, with sandwiches personally delivered thereafter. Business boomed with the pair outgrowing the deli shop within three months. As business expanded, the pair have taken on larger premises and more staff to meet demand.
Business has not been without challenges, there’s been covid, Brexit, the Ukraine war and soaring energy rises, and this has just been the recent challenges. Despite this, Jackie remains positive. Jackie maintains that you should trust in your own instincts, don’t panic, and meet challenges headfirst. Her favourite part of business is talking to customers and sharing stories. Jackie’s aim is to work in partnership with others and make their lives easier.
For those starting out or growing, Jackie’s advice is to get out there and speak with people. “In the beginning do your research and learn from others. Don’t be afraid to speak to the customer and ask for feedback. This is vital in forming your business plan, even if that plan is just in your head.”
For growing businesses, Jackie’s advice is to get new staff in and learn from them. “The food sector is continuously changing with new trends emerging frequently. There is a mass of careers available, not immediately obvious from the outside. There is new product development, sales orders, dispatch and logistics. It is a fast-paced sector and extremely worthwhile.”
By bringing skilled people into the business, Jackie has learnt so much. Jackie is a graduate from the university of life and surrounds herself with people she can learn from. Her advice is to get out of the kitchen and trust your staff. This will allow you to concentrate on other parts of the business that need your attention.
For young people coming out of education Jackie has these final words of advice;
“For young people today it’s hard coming out of education. You need to get out there and get a taste for the business you want. You need real life experience and a knowledge of working with people. Ask for advice from similar businesses. There are a lot of people out there willing to help. More importantly, go for it.”
At Southern Regional College there is a range of traineeships and courses with work-based projects aligned to curriculum to help young people and those returning to work progress with their careers. To find out more phone 0300 123 1223 or email info@src.ac.uk
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Re-Gen has won in the Team of the Year Award at the recent MRW National Recycling Awards in London. The business was praised by the expert judging panel, who are drawn from across the recycling sector.
Joseph Doherty, MD at Re-Gen Waste, said: “I’m extremely proud of the Health and Safety Team. It is a small team making a real difference. Representing the unsung heroes of the sector, the team has reduced our accident rate, supports the wider industry, and has set a benchmark from which others can learn and replicate. Health and safety are at the centre of our business and the team has driven many projects and is duly recognised for keeping our staff and visitors safe, reducing incidents and accidents, delivering training, and introducing new systems.”
With 20 categories, the awards cover every aspect of the industry, from Recycling Excellence to Local Authority Success.
The MRW National Recycling Awards bring together recycling and resource management professionals to recognise and celebrate best practise and innovation in recycling and resource management. The awards provide industry recognition and unrivalled networking opportunities.
Corin Williams, the editor of MRW, said: “How the UK deals with its resources is one of the most pressing issues of our age.
“The MRW National Recycling Award winners have all demonstrated their ingenuity and effectiveness in preventing waste and reusing or recycling materials.
“If we want to reach our net-zero targets, develop more secure supply chains and take care of our environment, we should take note of these winners. They are leading the way.”
The night of recognition and celebration of the sector’s achievements saw around 500 attendees come together from the recycling industry. It was hosted by stand-up comedian Angela Barnes, a TV and radio star who has appeared in Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo.
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Specsavers Newry, situated in Buttercrane Shopping Centre is celebrating caring for the local community’s eyes and ears for 25 years.
Since 1997, the business, which is locally owned and run, has grown from eight employees to a team of 54 today, with directors, Alison Dunne, Sharon Fegan, Michelle Linden and William Stevenson at the helm.
Over the years, the store has been renovated alongside the growth of services offered, which now include eye health services from both adult and children’s eye tests, contact lens services, to an Optical Coherence Tomography scanner in-store plus home eye tests for those who cannot get to the store.
Audiology care services were introduced in 2010, with clinics running on a Tuesday and Thursday with Audiologist Lynn Weatherill, plus a wax removal clinic every other Friday with Becky Wilson.
Around £1m has been invested by the directors over the years to bring these healthcare services to the local community, including four renovations of the store, enabling them to serve around 120,000 long term local customers.
Alison Dunne who opened the store in 1997 commented; “We are incredibly proud of the impact our store has had on the city and local communities. We have provided accessible care from local specialists who are known and trusted here in Newry, we have a unique one-hour service which suits so many people with their busy schedules and that convenience and quality of service keeps them loyal to us.
“Many of our patients have been with us since we opened 25 years ago - we have cared for the eye and ear health of some 25-year-olds who have been visiting us since they were babies! We’ve also been in the very fortunate position to be able to provide potentially lifesaving tests and scans and provide urgent referrals when we detect that something is not quite right. That’s why we are here, and we are very much looking forward to another 25 years of providing care for the people of Newry.”
The store is very much embedded in Newry and the surrounding areas, and over the years has supported several local sports clubs from Down Camogie to St. John Bosco Gaelic Football Club, plus the team has donated thousands of high visibility vests to local primary schools to ensure safety on darker afternoons while also giving their time for educational health talks.
The team has given talks to community groups from The WI to The Men’s Shed, Newry, while fundraising and donating over £20,000 to local charities including PIPS, Action Mental Health, Action Cancer and the Bardet Biedl Society, which supports parents of children and adults who live with this rare syndrome that affects their vision.
Most recently, the store fundraised for Eimear’s Wish, the charity who supported Newry’s Daniel Greer and his family towards successfully finding a stem cell donor for Daniel. A number of the team also joined the stem cell donor register, and presented the charity with a cheque for £1,000.
Sharon Fegan, Retail Director at Specsavers Newry added; “We have a really motivated team who truly care about their patients, our local customers and those charities and groups in the community that we continue to support.
“We recently celebrated our milestone with our customers and shoppers at Buttercrane Shopping Centre. We had cake, treats and buns for our customers to enjoy in-store, while the children were entertained by Olaf from Frozen, and Tinkerbell, who surprised them with selection boxes. It was a fantastic day, thanks to all who joined us for the celebrations.”
The team will also celebrate together where some team members will be honoured for their long-service to the business.
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