Lidl Northern Ireland’s new £8m Strabane store opens 7 December
‘Wee man from Strabane’ Hugo Duncan steps up to the plate to celebrate Lidl Northern Ireland’s newest store opening and plans for further local investment
Lidl Northern Ireland will mark a key milestone in Strabane next week when it opens the new £8 million future-focused flagship store at Strabane Retail Park that will anchor its wider multimillion-pound investment plans for the site.
Backed by popular local broadcaster and singer Hugo Duncan, who will join Lidl Northern Ireland’s local teams to kick off the official opening celebrations on Thursday 7 December, the new store forms part of Lidl Northern Ireland’s longstanding commitment to drive a £26 million investment in the Northwest, create new jobs and support more local suppliers.
Its new store at Branch Road will also act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Strabane Retail Park – a key component in advancing its vision and plans for the site while bringing even more quality, value and choice for local shoppers in a bright, modern ‘Concept’ building that prioritises sustainability.
Construction of the new sustainable, solar-powered store got underway earlier this year and supported over 150 jobs during the development phase. The store sits within a site of around 2,100 sq. metres and boasts a giant-sized sales floor of 1,420 sq. metres.
Lidl Northern Ireland Regional Managing Director Ivan Ryan said:
“Our newest store in Strabane underscores our commitment to our customers, our employees and the whole community to deliver even greater choice and real value while continuing to strategically invest for the future, unlock growth and drive potential.
“We’re excited to be further expanding our ‘Big on Quality, Lidl on Price’ offering and we’d like to thank everyone for continuing to support us in our plans. We look forward to welcoming our customers to our new state-of-the-art store from 7th December to discover our award-winning range at best-value prices as the countdown to Christmas gets under way.”
The new Strabane store reflects Lidl Northern Ireland’s bright, modern and spacious design concept, incorporating wider aisles, long tills, restrooms and baby-changing facilities as well as an in-store bakery and redeveloped parking for 130 vehicles.
The launch event will include an appearance from Hugo Duncan and his band Country Harmony, which will officially open the store and welcome the first customers through the door. The new Lidl Northern Ireland store at Strabane Retail Park will open on Thursday 7 December at 8am.
Speaking ahead of the official opening, Hugo Duncan, one of Northern Ireland’s most popular broadcasters and entertainers, said:
“To be involved in the opening of the new Lidl Strabane store is an honour for me, Strabane is my hometown, where I was born and bred. The new store is a great addition to the local area, with a fantastic range of high-quality products at great value. I’m looking forward to getting in myself to grab some opening day deals for the weekly shop on Thursday 7 December.”
Earlier this year, Lidl Northern Ireland confirmed it had ploughed a record £4 million into the Derry City and Strabane District Council agri-food sector in the last financial year ending February 2023. It also employs more than 70 people across two stores in area.
The new store opening is part of Lidl Northern Ireland’s long-term plan to grow its store network to 50 by 2030 and bring its ‘Big on Quality, Lidl on Price’ proposition to more shoppers across the region.
Confirmed as Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing supermarket by Kantar, Lidl Northern Ireland now holds 9.2% market share in the region after seeing the strongest growth amongst all retailers, up 25.7% year-on-year.
The company employs more than 1,300 employees across its 41-strong store network and Regional Distribution Centre in Nutt’s Corner, Co. Antrim.
For more information visit www.lidl-ni.co.uk
Lookers reveals all-new Nissan dealership in Sunderland after £1.8m investment
Lookers locates newest Nissan franchise in Sunderland, the official home of Nissan in the UK
One of the UK’s leading automotive retail and service groups, Lookers, has officially opened a new Nissan dealership in Sunderland following an extensive £1.8 million transformation of its former Ford site on Newcastle Road.
Around 35 staff are now employed at Lookers’ newest franchise location.
Sunderland is the official home of Nissan in the UK, where more than 6,000 people are locally employed to accelerate the Japanese car giant’s plans to create a major electric vehicle manufacturing hub to support its UK and European growth ambitions.
Lookers’ new state-of-the-art Nissan franchised dealership has now been spectacularly transformed to exacting Nissan specifications, incorporating a spectacular 12-car showroom, customer lounge areas, extensive EV charging points, new workshops and a handover bay – all carefully designed to provide local customers with a premier retail and aftersales experience.
The new Lookers Nissan dealership at 8 Newcastle Road is instantly recognisable following the installation of the striking new Nissan logo signage – the brand’s first style change in more than two decades to reflect its rich heritage and digital future.
The expansive 27,000 sq. ft purpose-built showroom now showcases a wide range of new Nissan models, including the new all-electric Nissan ARIYA, featuring cutting-edge design and powerful electric mobility, the Juke Hybrid and the British-built Qashqai – officially the UK’s most popular new car last year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Welcoming Lookers’ latest investment in Sunderland and in the Nissan brand, Lookers’ Franchise Director, Robert Dier, said:
“Sunderland is once again the beating heart of Nissan’s UK manufacturing operations and we’re absolutely delighted to be investing locally in a new state-of-the-art Nissan dealership in an incredible city where everyone can experience this outstanding car brand’s style, innovation and focus on sustainable driving in an exemplar retail environment that customers will love.
“A stunning showcase for Nissan’s newest models which incorporates a wide range of used models and on-site servicing and MOTs, and supported by a passionate, knowledgeable and experience team, Lookers Nissan Sunderland puts local customers first.”
Sunderland forms part of a major multimillion-pound investment programme by Lookers in the fast-growing, innovation-focused Nissan marque in the UK and Ireland.
Lookers is currently creating a new £3.25 million dealership at Portland Road in Newcastle which is on track to open in 2024. Earlier this year, Lookers also opened the doors on a new £1 million dealership in nearby Gateshead following similar transformations in Chester and Carlisle in 2022.
Lookers’ Chief Operating Officer, Duncan McPhee, said the new dealership in Sunderland builds on its solid, strengthening ties with the Nissan brand.“Nissan is consistently top of the charts among UK customers seeking value, style, reliability and the latest technology to improve their driving experience, their daily commute or juggling family life, so it’s no surprise that we’re continuing to invest in Nissan to ensure we can offer customers the best retail experience.
“Committed to being the UK’s number one choice for all-electric driving, Lookers is delighted to be strengthening our partnership and we look forward to welcoming customers to our newest franchise dealership at Lookers Nissan Sunderland in the weeks and months ahead.”
In June this year, Nissan Sunderland’s manufacturing hub become the fastest UK car manufacturer to reach 11 million vehicles, confirming its status as the UK’s largest car manufacturer by volume with around five million parts arriving at the plant per day. Currently, Nissan produces thousands of popular Qashqai, Juke and LEAF models every week.
Grant Richards, National Network Development Manager at Nissan, said:
‘‘This new showroom in Sunderland is truly spectacular and showcases our cars in exactly the right way. The workshop facilities are equally impressive. We’re delighted with Lookers’ investment in our brand, and we look forward to a bright future together.
‘‘We know that there will be a warm welcome at Lookers Nissan Sunderland for everyone and we send the team at the dealership every good wish for the future.’’
Last month, Nissan and its partners announced a £2 billion plan to build three electric car models at its Sunderland factory. The Japanese firm will build electric Qashqai and Juke models at the plant alongside the next generation of the electric Leaf, which is already produced there.
Lidl Northern Ireland confirms plans for new £8m Cookstown store
Lidl Northern Ireland submits full planning approval for new, relocated Cookstown store, replacing its first outlet to open on the island of Ireland
Lidl Northern Ireland today confirmed plans to build a new, state-of-the-art supermarket in Cookstown as part of a £8 million planned investment, creating 18 additional jobs in the town and expanding its existing retail team to 40 employees.
Around 200 jobs will be supported during the construction and development phases ahead of its opening next year.
A full planning application has been lodged with Mid Ulster District council following a successful and extensive community consultation in August, held within its existing store at Station Square, outlining its plans to completely replace and relocate to a new location at Orritor Road.
The current store at Station Square was Lidl Northern Ireland’s first in the region and the first store to be built on the island of Ireland in 1999. Confirmation of its plans for a new store in Cookstown comes as the retailer prepares to mark its 25th anniversary in Northern Ireland next year.
As the region’s fastest-growing supermarket retailer, Lidl Northern Ireland’s new investment in Cookstown marks the latest in a series of store developments and expansion of its local retail estate, where it operates a network of 41 stores.
The new Cookstown store will include an enlarged 1,670 sq. m sales floor within the new 2,475 sq. m building, incorporating wider aisles, an instore bakery, toilets, baby-changing facilities and employee areas built to exacting standards with sustainability at the fore.
Welcoming the announcement, Ivan Ryan, Lidl Northern Ireland’s Regional Managing Director, said:
“We’re thrilled to progress plans to create a new state-of-the-art store for the residents of Cookstown, providing the local community and beyond with even more access to high quality products at best-value prices.
Our Cookstown store – the first to be built on the island of Ireland in 1999 – was one of the stores where I completed my initial training many years ago so I’m delighted that our exciting plans to invest £8 million in the development of a new retail facility in the town will become a reality in my tenure as Regional Managing Director.
In a prime and convenient new location on the bustling Orritor Road, with modern facilities, our new Cookstown store will provide our growing number of customers with a premier shopping experience.
It’s poignant and fitting that plans are progressing to prepare to break ground on this project in 2024, our 25th anniversary year. This is a special project for us, and we’re excited to deliver this new Concept store to a very deserving community whilst also creating new jobs for the local area.”
We are delighted to now lodge a full planning proposal, backed by local residents and stakeholders, to deliver this significant project.”
Lidl Northern Ireland is currently preparing to open a new store in Strabane in early December and last month secured planning consent from Causeway Coast and Glens council to replace its Coleraine store with a new outlet at Riverside Retail Park.
The Coleraine project will see a vacant unit demolished to make way for the new 2,475 sq. m Lidl store, supporting around 35 jobs.
Lidl Northern Ireland also starts work this month on creating a new, modern ‘Concept’ design store as part of a wider £10 million investment in Carryduff Shopping Centre which will open next year.
It currently has plans to extend its network to 50 by the end of the decade.
Earlier this year, Lidl Northern Ireland revealed that it spent a record £455 million in the local agri-food sector, sourcing its supplies from around 60 producers in the region – the lion’s share, or £390 million of which, was exported to stores across the UK, Ireland and Europe.
Recent new supplier additions include Holmes Bakery in Portadown, Enniskillen-based artisan condiment supplier Erne Larder and apple producers Natural Umber, based in nearby Dungannon.
Lookers adds £2.5m investment to new Volvo site in Colchester
Lookers, one of the UK’s leading automotive retail and service groups, confirmed today it is investing £2.5 million to create a new state-of-the-art dealership at a new site in Colchester which will open before the end of the year.
Lookers said it is relocating to Wyncolls Road in Severalls Business Park in Colchester from its existing Volvo site in Cowdray Avenue to develop a new standout dealership for the area. The new site was previously occupied by Underwoods Skoda until March this year and Lookers will remain open for business at Cowdray Avenue until the new dealership is completed.
It is currently investing £2.3 million refurbishing its established franchised Volvo dealership at Baynes Place in Chelmsford which is also due to open in less than two months’ time.
Earlier this year, Lookers announced that it had acquired Waterhouse Cars Volvo, reflecting its confidence in the brand and its growing suite of new and used models and focus on all-electric driving.
The new Volvo showroom in Colchester will feature Volvo’s signature lounge area, complete with luxurious Scandinavian furniture in a spacious environment where customers can relax with free Wi-Fi in an enhanced hospitality experience.
Designed for a sustainable future and incorporating a wide range of eco-friendly features, Lookers new Volvo dealership will also include a suite of eight EV charges, solar panels in a contemporary building housing the latest range of stunning Volvo cars, including the pure electric XC40 and plug-in hybrids, as well as a wide range of Volvo Selekt Approved Used models.
Lookers Volvo will also offer a streamlined service to car owners which halves waiting times.
Lookers franchise director, David Cooper, said:
“Committed to investing in delivering an exceptional experience for our customers, we’re looking forward to showcasing our new and exciting Volvo dealerships in Chelmsford and Colchester which will mark a new milestone for our growth across Essex, in our staff and in our local communities.”
Lookers’ Volvo portfolio now includes five UK sites, alongside Colchester, Stockport and Glasgow in addition to Polestar Spaces and aftersales businesses in Manchester and Glasgow.
Duncan McPhee, Lookers’ Chief Operating Officer, said:
“Already well established in Colchester, Lookers is delighted to be further investing in Volvo in an exciting new location in the city that will deliver an outstanding customer experience for visitors right across Essex and beyond. It underlines our commitment to our strengthening relationship with Volvo and our determination to be the UK’s number one choice for all-electric driving, advice and aftersales service.”
Terry Bradley shines spotlight on young talent with Bradley Art Prize competition
Radius Connect Solutions backs major Northern Ireland initiative designed to inspire young artistic careers
Renowned artist Terry Bradley has launched the 2024 Bradley Art Prize giving hundreds of budding young artists a new chance to showcase their work in Belfast and Brussels and win a share in a total prize pot worth £4,000 for themselves and their school or college.
Following unprecedented success last year and specifically designed to help inspire a new generation of artistic careers, the Bradley Art Prize is officially back with a bang, supported by leading local IT and telecoms solutions provider Radius Connect for its second year.
The competition, which will run across the current academic year is open for entries now, with the deadline for submissions closing on 31st March 2024.
Open to young people across two age categories, from 14 to 18 and from 19 to 23 years, the winners of each category will be chosen by Terry Bradley and an esteemed group of judges.
The winners will also have their work framed and proudly displayed within the prestigious Bradley Gallery in Victoria Square for a week-long exhibition, including a launch night for friends and family. The winners will also have their artwork showcased internationally at the Northern Ireland Executive Office in Brussels’ European Quarter.
Schools and colleges affiliated with each of the two winners will also receive art materials to help encourage more young people to consider turning their love of art into a long-term career.
This year, in the older 19-23 age group category, Holly-Mae Greer, a First-Class Honours graduate in Fine Art and part-time care worker in Newtownards, was confirmed the winner for her contemporary ‘Noodle Bar’ canvas. Holly-Mae was also confirmed as the overall Bradley Art Prize winner and was commissioned to create a bespoke piece of artwork for Titanic Belfast. In the younger 14-18 category, Sophie Hewitt, from Friends School in Lisburn, was confirmed as winner for her detailed painting ‘Jenny’.
Holly-Mae, who won in the older category straight after leaving university, said:
“Winning the prize has definitely been a real confidence boost and has given me the motivation to do more. One of the hardest things about being an artist is getting people to see your work and to get a platform like that is amazing. Being a local artist, Terry has inspired me to believe that if you work hard, it’s possible to do art full-time and reach a global audience.”
Holly-Mae’s work is influenced by the likes of Edward Hopper, Edouard Manet, Michael Borremans and Caravaggio.
Lookers’ BMW Crewe dealership opens after stunning £5.8 million transformation
New ‘reimagined’ Lookers BMW regional retail hub opens to customers and staff after major redesign and refurbishment.
A new state-of-the-art BMW dealership has officially opened in Crewe after Lookers revealed the stunning results of a major £5.8 million transformation of the site on Fourth Avenue off Weston Road.
The site, which closed for major construction works last year, now features the very latest showroom design associated with the German premium car brand, with each model proudly displayed in modern, state-of-the-art surroundings that includes loungelike seating, unique lighting and premium furnishings.
The spacious, light-filled and tech-laden new showroom adheres to BMW’s new ‘Retail Next’ concept which debuted in the United States last year, prioritising space, glass and natural light – and all housed in a strikingly-designed sustainable building that signals a fresh start for Lookers BMW in Crewe and the wider area. The dealership also features an all-new contemporary aftersales space.
Lookers' BMW Crewe redevelopment is its latest investment in the premium marque after first introducing BMW and MINI to its portfolio in 2016.
Head of Business at Lookers for BMW and MINI, Rob Gower, said:
“Our new BMW retail centre is part of the ‘BMW Retail Next’ concept which represents our commitment to continually investing in delivering an enhanced customer experience. Our £5.8 million investment also underscores our confidence in BMW as one of the world’s finest car brands, which continues to invest in innovation, distinction and luxury.
“As a team, we are passionate about our new all-electric charging points for the exciting range of new and emerging BMW i cars which are in the process of creating the ultimate driving machine for a more sustainable world.”
The new showroom is now home to the full suite of BMW’s range of electric and hybrid vehicles, including the fully-electric BMW Gran Couple, the BMW i4 M50 and i4 eDrive50 models as well as the 7 Series, X1 and 5 Series brands.
The German manufacturer has also promised to expand its suite of new all-electric models by 2030 as part of its new ‘Power of Choice’ sustainability plan, under which it has committed to selling more than seven million plug-in hybrid and pure-electric vehicles by the end of 2030.
BMW Group UK reported almost 29,000 new car registrations of battery-powered cars last year, representing an 11 percent share of the market, up from 7.2 percent the year before.
Lookers Group Chief Operating Officer, Duncan McPhee, said:
“Our new retail centre in Crewe proudly showcases BMW’s outstanding driving and sustainability credentials in a stunning, ambient environment where customers will really enjoy experiencing BMW’s world class range for themselves. Our partnership with BMW / MINI is important for Lookers and we are delighted that our new BMW destination in Crewe will act as a major retail hub for the northwest region.”
Complete with EV chargers and a range of digital innovations, the major renovation has been purposely built to showcase BMW brand and will incorporate and extensive used car offering and extensive aftersales provision.
Lidl Northern Ireland puts Carryduff in its sights as work starts on new £6.5m store
£10m regeneration plans for Carryduff Shopping Centre advance ahead of new store opening next year
The first phase of a multimillion-pound regeneration of the former Carryduff Shopping Centre gets under way this month as Lidl Northern Ireland moves to begin construction of a new £6.5 million anchor supermarket which will open early next summer.
The region’s fastest-growing supermarket confirmed today work will start within two weeks, injecting a new lease of life into the centre which has lain derelict for almost seven years.
The new Lidl Northern Ireland store will reflect its bright, modern and spacious ‘concept’ design, an expansive sales floor of 1,420 sq. metres with wide aisles, long tills, restrooms and baby-changing facilities as well as an in-store bakery and redeveloped parking for more than 200 vehicles.
Lidl Northern Ireland’s wider plans for the site include the creation of an additional large 9,000 sq ft retail unit, four smaller units and a drive-thru restaurant or coffee shop, with 35 new jobs directly created when the new store opens. Around 120 jobs will be created throughout the construction and development phase of the new store.
Lidl Northern Ireland, which will open another new store in Strabane later this year, anticipates a total investment in the Carryduff site of around £10 million.
Chris Speers, Regional Property Director, Lidl Northern Ireland said:
“The redevelopment of Carryduff Shopping Centre represents a major investment for Lidl Northern Ireland, both in the local community and in our wider retail estate portfolio so we’re delighted to be advancing our plans with construction work starting on our exciting plans to create a new, state-of-the-art store that will welcome shoppers right across the area from next year. We’d like to thank the local community for their support and look forward to bringing our successful ‘Big on Quality, Lidl on Price’ proposition to thousands of more visitors when we open early next summer.”
One of the region’s oldest shopping centres, built in 1985, Carryduff Shopping Centre closed in 2013.
Lidl Northern Ireland acquired the site in August 2020 and obtained planning permission for the new store and wider redevelopment in February last year.
Last month, Lidl Northern Ireland secured planning permission to build a new £4.5 million supermarket in Coleraine after Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council approved its plans to develop a largely vacant site at the northern end of the Riverside Retail Park.
The project will see a vacant unit demolished to make way for the new 26,640 sq ft Lidl store, supporting around 35 jobs.
Instonians Beds in home retailer Harry Corry to support rugby youth programme
Harry Corry cuts its cloth with major sponsorship deal that backs Instonians Rugby Football Club ‘Rugby for All’ Youth Programme --
Leading home retailer Harry Corry has joined forces with Instonians Rugby Club, providing top level support for its ‘Rugby for All’ Youth Programme to help support our future All Ireland League, Five Nations and World Cup champions.
Harry Corry has been supporting Instonians for over four decades but this latest commitment significantly upweights the retailer’s investment in the 104 year-old club, originally founded at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, and specifically in its increasingly important youth outreach activity.
One of Northern Ireland’s oldest and most respected clubs, Instonians is committed to providing opportunities for young people to develop and reach their potential while enhancing their enjoyment and passion for the game and Harry Corry’s backing as a sponsor will now deliver a major boost for its growing teams.
A sport for all communities, Instonians’ Youth Programme already works with 20 schools across the Belfast and Lisburn areas – and mostly those with no rugby-playing history – delivering coaching resources and equipment to make weekly and even more regular training sessions available at each location.
Now a full-time job for Instonians Youth Programme coordinators Michael Fairbanks and Ruairi O’Farrell, the programme welcomes a record 900 young people from all communities and backgrounds who are interacting, becoming friends and playing rugby together every week.
Instonians Club Community Rugby Officer Michael Fairbanks said:
“Our ‘Rugby for All’ Youth Programme represents our commitment and passion in encouraging more young people to have the opportunity to learn new skills and build on their talent and potential. It’s also an important vehicle for developing creativity, awareness, resilience and decision-making while promoting leadership skills, independence and collaboration among everyone from every community and background.
“We are absolutely delighted to have won the backing from the team at Harry Corry to increase our impact as our main sponsor.”
Harry Corry Interiors is a family run business that was established by Harry Corry in 1968 and over the last 55 years, the company has established itself as a leading retailer of home furnishings. Harry Corry Interiors has 56 retail outlets throughout Ireland and Scotland, and now employs more than 700 staff.
Gareth Corry from Harry Corry and part of the Instonians youth coaching team said:
“Our partnership with Instonians demonstrates our commitment to invest in our communities, to promote youth participation in sport, encouraging health and wellbeing while providing an important platform for our next generation to reach their potential in a fun, engaging and collaborative way.
“Instonians ‘Rugby for All’ Youth Programme has undoubtedly proved popular with upwards of 1,000 young people engaged from primary school through to secondary school and we’re thrilled to be playing a key role in its current and future success.”
One of Northern Ireland’s best-known brands, Harry Corry opened its 56th store at Cresent Link in Derry~Londonderry last month with an investment of £150,000 and creating 10 new jobs. The new store is the latest investment as part of the business’s ongoing growth strategy.
“Harry Corry is part of the fabric of Northern Ireland,” Gareth Corry said. “We’re local, we’re investing, and we look forward to putting our weight behind this important, inclusive initiative that is already making a real and positive impact on so many lives.”
New Private Client Team launched at Davidson McDonnell
Leading Northern Ireland law firm Davidson McDonnell has officially launched a new Private Client team appointing ex-London partner Victoria Sterritt to lead the department.
Victoria is joined in the Private Client team by senior solicitors Rachael McKee and Sara Ord who both have more than 20 years’ specialist experience.
The specialist solicitors in the Private Client team are trusted family advisors, respected for their uncompromising work protecting the interests and wealth of individuals and their families in Northern Ireland and in England. The team has extensive experience across a broad spectrum of specialist private client areas including family and matrimonial, trusts and estate planning, succession planning, wills and probate, and residential property.
Though Davidson McDonnell has been expertly servicing private clients for almost a decade, the team under Victoria Sterritt’s lead brings a new, dedicated focus in the area, combining innovative working practices, a personable approach and expert legal advice to create a progressive force in this area.
The Private Client team promotes a solution-based model across their range of services, including mediation, to meet the growing demand for cut-through legal advice that minimises cost, stress, and delay during life’s most difficult times.
Davidson McDonnell is already one of Northern Ireland’s most successful commercial law firms, meaning that private clients benefit from ready access to a strong multi-disciplinary team of solicitors specialising in niche areas like corporate, commercial property, finance and dispute resolution services.
The firm also regularly engages with wealth managers, accountants, tax specialists and other independent experts to ensure the provision of a premium, bespoke and holistic service.
Welcoming the launch of the new Private Client department, Ross Davidson, Director, Davidson McDonnell, said:
“We have worked hard at building a strong reputation for the quality of our advice and our personal approach to client needs in both the corporate and personal arenas. We are delighted to expand our private client expertise as part of a new, dedicated department in this area where demand is high.
Davidson McDonnell is committed to providing ‘no nonsense’ practical advice and exceptional service that combines the best technical capability with a warm, professional and friendly approach. I’m delighted to officially launch our Private Client team under Victoria’s lead and wish our growing team every success.”
Davidson McDonnell Private Client team Legal Director Victoria Sterritt said:
“From straightforward matters to those which are more complex, our team has a pool of expert knowledge and technical skill to help clients to confidently structure their affairs. I’m delighted to be joining Davidson McDonnell and to develop this opportunity to work with a wider team of experts, and with access to innovative resources, to assist individuals and families navigate a broad range of the traditional and modern family issues in a progressive manner.”
Davidson McDonnell is regarded as one of the leading independent commercial law firms in Northern Ireland, handling some of the highest value, most complex mandates in the local market and regularly acting on cross-border, national and international transactions as Northern Irish counsel for top tier UK and Irish law firms.
Its hallmark is its degree of specialism within its practice areas of real estate, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and insolvency, banking and finance, dispute resolution and litigation, licencing, betting and gaming and private client.
In its M&A Review for the first six months of 2023, Experian Market IQ also revealed Davidson McDonnell as one of Northern Ireland’s most active legal advisers by volume with a top three placing.
Committed to quality, the company is IS0 9001 and ISO 27001 accredited. Davidson McDonnell also has a bronze Diversity Mark accreditation, signifying its commitment to diversity and inclusion at every level.
Frank Mitchell launches Lidl Northern Ireland’s annual Christmas Trolley Dash in aid of NSPCC
Legendary U105 broadcaster calls for shoppers to enter retailer’s annual Trolley Dash to win their entire Christmas shop for just £1 in aid of charity partner NSPCC Northern Ireland
Lidl Northern Ireland has teamed up with renowned U105 broadcaster and former UTV presenter, Frank Mitchell, to launch the return of the retailer’s biggest and most loved fundraiser of the year – Trolley Dash. Now in its 10th year, Trolley Dash is Lidl Northern Ireland’s flagship fundraising event for its charity partner, NSPCC, offering customers the chance to win their entire Christmas food shopping for just £1, in aid of NSPCC.
With the festive season just around the corner, one lucky customer from each of Lidl Northern Ireland’s 41 stores across the region will win a supermarket sweep-style dash around their local store to grab as much of their Christmas shopping as possible in two minutes. In previous years, dashers have grabbed hundreds of pounds worth of treats and managed to tick off all items on their Christmas food shopping list.
The tickets to enter cost just £1 and will go on sale in all Lidl Northern Ireland stores on Saturday 11th November 2023 for two weeks only and shoppers can purchase as many tickets as they wish in support of NSPCC. 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to NSPCC whose mission is to protect the children of NI to prevent abuse and transform society for every childhood.
Frank Mitchell, U105 Radio Presenter and former UTV Presenter, said;
“I am honoured to launch Lidl Northern Ireland’s Trolley Dash charity campaign this year in aid of NSPCC Northern Ireland.
“Christmas is a wonderful time of the year when many families come together to celebrate the festive season. Particularly in the world we live in today, with cost-of-living pressures for many families – the gift of giving has never been more important. Thousands of children
right across Northern Ireland rely on NSPCC’s services over the festive period. The charity relies heavily on public donations to ensure their services are available for vulnerable children in need over the Christmas period- and beyond.
“It’s an absolute privilege to be involved in this campaign; not only will 41 lucky shoppers get the chance to bag their Christmas shopping for free, but all proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to funding NSPCC Northern Ireland’s vital services. It’s a fantastic initiative. I’d like to say a massive thank you in advance to everyone who buys a ticket and supports this crucial service, and I wish you a very happy Christmas.”
Ivan Ryan, Regional Managing Director, Lidl Northern Ireland, said;
“Lidl Northern Ireland is delighted to announce the return of the annual Christmas fundraiser, in partnership with NSPCC. From Saturday 11th November for two weeks only, Lidl Northern Ireland customers will have the fantastic opportunity to buy a £1 ticket at the till to be in with the chance of winning the ‘golden ticket’ to take part in a supermarket-style sweep competition against the pressing time of just two-minutes.
“Northern Ireland will see 41 lucky winners- one for every store. Since 2017, we have successfully raised over £900,000 for our charity partner, NSPCC, and our annual Trolley Dash initiative plays a huge part in this. We hope that this year will be the biggest yet and encourage all customers to get involved as every store has a winner!”
Lidl Northern Ireland has donated over £900,000 to NSPCC Northern Ireland through a range of activities and initiatives driven by Lidl Northern Ireland staff members across its 41 stores. And since the partnership began in 2017, Lidl Northern Ireland has made a commitment to raise £1.1 million by 2024.
Stefani Mearns, NSPCC Supporter Fundraising Manager, said;
“On behalf of the team at NSPCC I would like thank Lidl Northern Ireland for its continued support and for the brilliant opportunity to be part of the Christmas Trolley Dash initiative again this year. The partnership which we have developed with Lidl Northern Ireland over the past six years has been groundbreaking for our charity and the generosity of its staff and customers never fails to impress us each year.
“We are beyond grateful for the support and opportunity as the significant funds raised from Trolley Dash will go a long way in making a huge difference to the children and families of Northern Ireland when support is greatly needed.
“NSPCC is here to support all children who need to make use of our specialist services- or simply, someone to talk to. With the help of Lidl Northern Ireland, all of this is possible.”
All winners will be contacted directly by their local Lidl Northern Ireland store and invited to take part in the Trolley Dash before stores open. This gives winners a clean run at the aisles to grab as many items on their Christmas shopping list as they can. Dashes will take place on Saturday 2nd December, Saturday 9th December and Saturday 16th December 2023.
For more information about how to get involved and for competition terms and conditions, please visit https://www.lidl-ni.co.uk/c/trolley-dash/s10032944