Landscape represents a £3 million investment by The Wall Group and has created 30 new jobs, taking the total number of staff to 50 at the new store.

The new build store, which stands at 5,000 sq ft – more than five times the size of the previous site adjacent to the original store – also boasts an eight-pump GO Fuel forecourt, 22 car parking spaces and will open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Landscape will also bring SPAR NI’s signature fresh credentials to the area, with bays of fresh and everyday essentials, boasting an impressive range of locally sourced products by Henderson Wholesale.

With The Wall Group’s bespoke ‘foodvenience’ offering, shoppers can pick up the likes of the SPAR Enjoy Local own-brand fresh food range alongside various food-to-go counters, including the Nugelato brand, an exciting new addition to The Wall Group for 2022.

Helen Wall also hinted that there will be more surprises for shoppers to look out for in the coming weeks; “Our niche ‘foodvenience’ offering is why our stores are so popular – we are delivering unique experiences that are completely different to our competitors. We’re excited to announce what else is to come for our new Landscape store!

“We are starting the New Year off as we mean to go on, and providing even more value, choice and convenience to the people of North Belfast with our latest SPAR store. It is the fourth SPAR store to open within The Wall Group, and we are proud to bring 30 additional job opportunities to the area.

“We strongly believe in nurturing talent, and with the difficult times the world has seen in the past couple of years, it is great to be able to focus on enhanced local services, which we know our teams provide throughout all our stores and brands, whether in SPAR, Subway, Post Office, dailyDeli or Nugelato.

“Shoppers can expect the signature Wall Group welcome at Landscape Filling Station, where they can top up on fuel and all other utilities on their doorstep, as well as browse our range of fresh foods for tonight’s tea. Once again, we’re excelling at providing food-to-go in a safe, user-friendly way and have Barista Bar coffee machines, a Nugaleto Ice Cream concession serving all flavours and toppings, not forgetting their famous Nuggy Pots, and of course, the dailyDeli.”

Fresh options

Landscape will house the latest dailyDeli concept from SPAR which includes the grab and go chicken bar, alongside a range of fresh options for sandwiches, salads and wraps and hot food such as fresh, homemade chicken curry.

Paddy Doody, Sales and Marketing Director at Henderson Group which owns SPAR in Northern Ireland, congratulated The Wall Group in their latest venture: “Once again, The Wall Group has taken the SPAR concept and made it their own to work entirely for their target demographic in the wider North Belfast area. The striking Landscape Filling Station is a fantastic addition to Crumlin Road and the Lower Oldpark area, providing vital employment and growth opportunities, driven by a hugely dedicated team.

“We wish Gavan and Helen the best of luck as they continue to grow their SPAR portfolio in Northern Ireland.”

Landscape Filling Station will partner with Marie Curie as the official charity partner of SPAR across the UK, while also supporting local schools, groups and organisations including the Lower Oldpark Community Association whose support has been critical in delivering the new store, and additional housing on the site.

Helen said: “We are in the heart of the community here and believe in supporting those who support us. Providing funding and essentials for schools and community groups in the area is how we give back, and we look forward to connecting even more with the communities of Crumlin Road and Lower Oldpark, and wider North Belfast.”

Caption: Colin Cunningham, Helen and Gavan Wall and Emma Morrow from The Wall Group officially declare the £3M Landscape Filling Station SPAR NI store open on the Crumlin Road, Belfast. The store has created 30 additional jobs for the local area, bringing the number employed by the store to 50 in total.

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It was a final visit to Belfast for Brian Madderson as chair of the Petrol Retailers Association when he took part in his final session there before his retirement.

Brian teamed up with his successor, current executive director Gordon Balmer, to meet with industry reps as well as conducting a round of meetings with various Stormont departments.

Among the representatives who gathered at the Crown Plaza for an update on the state of the industry were Gary Nicholl and Margaret Gallagher of Nicholl Fuel Oils, David Agnew of Henderson Retail Ltd and Richard Stones, Sales Market Manager with Circle K.

The Business Breakout took place in the immediate aftermath of the petrol panic buying crisis in GB, but the PRA noted that Northern Ireland had escaped a similar crisis as a result of its more resilient market structure.

In London there are now only 548 filling stations  – one per 27,000 people, comparing with one per 3,300 in Northern Ireland.

Mr Balmer updated reps on the demographics of Northern Ireland’s market – of 571 sites, 61 are owned by the supplying oil company, 472 are dealer-owned and 38 are operated by multiples.

During the year, the PRA has been lobbying government over the Road to Zero strategy, ATMs and the future of cash and forecourt crime drive-offs.

It has also held a series of meetings with Stormont departments, discussing a variety of issues, including road fuels, organised crime, the introduction of E10, EV charging and the need to improve infrastructure, business rates and fuel laundering. The PRA also met with the PSNI to discuss forecourt crime.

Caption: Connor Fitzgerald of Musgrave NI; Margaret Gallagher, Nicholl Oils; Richard Stone and Andy Kavanagh of Circle K.

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