A photograph taken on May 17, 2024 shows bottles of McConnell's Irish Whiskey at the Crumlin road jail, in central Belfast. (Photo by PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty Images)
Once home to paramilitary prisoners during Northern Ireland's ‘Troubles’, a notorious Belfast jail is now home to a whiskey still that is drawing tourists to a formerly strife-torn area.
For Graeme Millar, master distiller at McConnell's Whisky, the repurposed Crumlin Road Gaol, whose four forbidding Victorian granite wings are still surrounded by high fences, is an "iconic part of Belfast's history".
"We want to do it justice, by bringing distilling back to Belfast and into a building of such significance," the 53-year-old told AFP.
"It feels very calm and peaceful for me when I come to work in the morning. I'm sure it's very different from what it used to be like when it was a prison," he said.
The Troubles claimed over 3,500 lives during three decades of sectarian violence over British rule of Northern Ireland, which largely ended in a 1998 peace deal.
A photograph taken on May 17, 2024 shows the entrance of the Crumlin road jail, in central Belfast, which imprisoned IRA and Loyalist prisoners, that has been transformed into an Irish Whiskey distillery and tourist attraction. Once home to paramilitary prisoners during Northern Ireland's 'Troubles' conflict, a 178-year-old repurposed Belfast jail now hosts an Irish whiskey still that is drawing tourists to a formerly strife-torn area. (Photo by PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty Images)
For many Northern Irish people, Crumlin Road Gaol - located in the northwest of the city which was an epicentre of the conflict - was associated with riots, bombings and breakouts.
"I would have driven here with my mum and dad as a child and would have seen the barriers up at the front and the big tall fences, I remember those sights," said Millar, who grew up near the city.
Since closing in 1996 the prison's A-wing lay derelict but reopened in April after a £30 million joint investment by the US-backed Belfast Distillery Company and the UK government.
The prison's thick stone walls and rows of cramped cells along gangways presented "a challenge" when fitting the distillery into the space, according to Millar.
"Small rooms to put things like air compressors into work well, but something like grain handling equipment which should be outside needed to be fitted into a few cells over the course of three floors," he said.
The firm now provides jobs for over 30 people, including distillers and tourism staff at a brand new visitors centre.
It has also resurrected both a long dormant brand - McConnell's Irish Whisky that dates back to 1776 - and is helping revive whiskey-making in Belfast, which died in the 1930s after Prohibition in the US.
"We are bringing employment and distillation skills that haven't been used in Belfast for years," said Millar.
'Building on history'
"We're not the first whiskey distillers in this prison though," Ross Wade, a tour guide, told a group of English tourists from Nottingham.
"The prisoners used to make their own home brew with fermented fruit, crackers and yeast, but their speciality wouldn't be as nice as our whiskey," laughed Wade, 27.
Opened in 1846, more than 25,000 people were incarcerated there including "suffragette" women's rights activists, pro-Irish unity republican and pro-UK loyalist paramilitary prisoners, as well as murderers and petty crooks.
Famous inmates included former Irish president Eamon de Valera and ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness, who became Northern Ireland's deputy premier after the Troubles ended.
Visitors taste whisky on May 17, 2024 at the former Crumlin road jail, in central Belfast. (Photo by PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty Images)
The jail - colloquially known as the Crum - opened its doors as a tourist attraction in 2012 and the firm hopes the distillery will draw even more visitors.
Wade said it complements other major sights in the city such as the museum commemorating the doomed Titanic liner which was built in Belfast.
"We are expecting to get roughly 100,000 people annually here, especially in the high season when the cruise ships and coaches come into Belfast," he told AFP.
One tourist, Simon Simmons, said the prison distillery was "definitely a great experience".
"Being from the mainland UK we had definitely heard of the Troubles in Northern Ireland," said the 54-year-old IT manager.
"We hadn't necessarily heard of this prison itself but we were aware of what was going on as we grew up. It's good that that history is being built upon," he said.
Kitwave Group, the delivered wholesale business, has reported strong revenue and profit growth for its 2024 fiscal.
In the 12 months ended 31 October 2024, the group revenues increased by 10.2 per cent to £663.7 million, and adjusted operating profit rose by 6.3 per cent to £34m. Like-for-like revenue growth stood at 5 per cent.
“Kitwave has delivered another strong full-year performance. We have met full-year market expectations, achieved organic growth and expanded our operations, particularly in our foodservice division,” Ben Maxted, chief executive of Kitwave, commented.
"The group had a clear plan for FY24 to invest for growth in three key areas: IT, delivery infrastructure and strategic M&A opportunities. The successful execution of this plan saw new warehouse technology enhancing operational efficiencies, a new state-of-the-art storage and delivery facility in the South West and three acquisitions completed, which have significantly increased the scale of the group's UK network.”
The group completed three acquisitions – WLG (Holdings) Limited in Oldham, Total Foodservice Solutions Limited in the North of England and Creed Catering Supplies Limited in the South of England – in the reporting period, significantly expanding its foodservice division.
The company said WLG and Total Foodservice have been fully integrated into the group, with expected operational and financial synergies starting to be realised.
It also completed the new 80,000 square-foot distribution centre in September 2024, adding further capacity for growth of foodservice operations in the South West.
“Looking ahead, the Group has started the new financial year well, and the board is already working towards its goals for FY25. We believe this will generate value for our stakeholders, and we would like to thank all our people for another successful year,” Maxted added.
Leading food manufacturer The Compleat Food Group has acquired The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co for an undisclosed figure.
A leading supplier of own label and branded chilled Yorkshire puddings in the UK, The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co has driven consistent double-digit growth in the category to become a £33 million turnover company.
This is the latest strategic acquisition by The Compleat Food Group as it continues its journey to become the UK’s leading chilled prepared food company. It follows the group’s acquisition of SK Foods and Zorba Foods, the category leaders in private label chilled party foods and dips and deli fillings, and Harvey & Brockless, a producer and distributor of speciality foods, in 2024.
Backed by European private equity firm PAI Partners, The Compleat Food Group was formed in 2021 and currently employs more than 5,000 people across 15 sites. Alongside an extensive footprint across own label, it is also home to leading brands Pork Farms, Wall’s Pastry, unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Wrights and Palace Culture.
“We are excited to welcome the Real Yorkshire Pudding Co to The Compleat Food Group. The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co has a longstanding reputation for creating high-quality, delicious food that people love to eat, which perfectly aligns to our mission to create food to feel good,” Nick Field, chief executive at The Compleat Food Group, said.
“This partnership is about more than just great products, it’s about bringing together talented teams, shared values, and a culture of excellence to create something truly special. We are looking forward to the future and working with the Real Yorkshire Pudding Co as we continue to grow.”
Bill Howson, managing director at the Yorkshire Pudding Co, said: “Joining The Compleat Food Group marks an exciting new chapter for The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co. We’ve built our business on quality, innovation, and a passion for great Yorkshire puddings, and Compleat is the perfect partner to help us in the next stage of our growth journey. We’re excited to work together and the group’s expertise, market reach, and shared commitment to exceptional products make them a great fit for our ambitions.”
The Compleat Food Group has a leading market position within chilled categories, including savoury pastry, Mediterranean-deli, olives and antipasti, continental meats, dips and sauces and plant-based food. The latest acquisition is expected to further extend its manufacturing capabilities, enabling the group to bring more category leadership and innovation, while allowing the Real Yorkshire Pudding Co to leverage the group’s extensive experience in category development to support its ambitious growth plans.
Founded in 1992, the Real Yorkshire Pudding Co is the No.1 chilled Yorkshire pudding brand in the UK and the leading own label supplier, with listings in all major retailers. It has a reputation for creating premium quality, indulgent products, which include Yorkshire puddings and toad in the hole.
LA Foods on Friday (7) reopened Nisa Local in Shepherd’s Bush on Uxbridge Road, West London with a new layout and an extensive refit designed to enhance the shopping experience for the local community.
Operated by convenience chain LA Foods, the store relaunched also has an expanded range of fresh and chilled products, and a significant selection of Co-op own-brand goods.
The refurbishment, which took approximately six weeks to complete, has introduced several upgrades, including a brand-new store layout to improve customer flow.
One of the biggest changes was relocating the checkout counter to the front of the store, making it more accessible and allowing staff to have better oversight of the shop floor.
Malik Zameer, Store Manager, explained the reasoning behind the transformation, “People are drawn to fresh, modern environments, and we wanted to create a store that truly meets the needs of our customers.
We’ve expanded our chilled and fresh product range, particularly our fresh produce, which has already had a positive impact on sales. We’re now seeing an uplift in fresh sales by approximately 50 per cent which is a fantastic start.”
The new-look store now offers an impressive selection of Co-op own-brand products, providing customers with access to high-quality, great-value groceries, chilled meals, and food-to-go options. In addition, the refit has introduced a temperature-controlled ‘beer cave’, a first-of-its-kind feature for the area, offering an extensive range of wines and beers.
Another key improvement was removing previous signage that covered the store’s windows, allowing passers-by to see inside.
“Now, every aisle and bay is visible from outside, creating a more open and welcoming feel,” added Zameer. “It encourages people to pop in, even if they’re not planning to buy anything - it’s all about creating an inviting shopping space.”
The official relaunch event featured a variety of special offers and activities, including a raffle with prizes such as a tablet and Amazon vouchers, goody bags for customers, and free product samples from suppliers.
Customers who made a purchase on launch day also received a coupon for £5 off their next visit to the store.
LA Foods Group have now been working alongside Nisa for over 20 years, with 13 stores currently under the Nisa fascia. Last year, LA Foods extended their existing supply contract with Nisa for a further 5 years.
Andrew Rutter, Head of Key Accounts at Nisa, praised the store’s transformation, “We are delighted to see this Nisa Local re-open with such a strong focus on fresh food, convenience, and community support.
"The new layout, improved product range, and addition of Co-op own-brand lines make this store an excellent destination for local shoppers.”
With its modern design, expanded fresh food selection, and commitment to the community, the Uxbridge Road Nisa Local is set to be a key shopping hub in Shepherd’s Bush for years to come.
Wholesaler JW Filshill, having achieved its 2020 pledge to cut its carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 five years early, is prioritising sustainability in its 150th anniversary year.
In terms of Filshill’s sustainability goals, the company revealed that it has reached this target five years early, boosted by its relocation to the new Renfrew site, significant investment in electric HGV vehicles, solar panels and full LED lighting, and transitioning to HVO fuel for all diesel-powered operations at Westway Business Park.
Filshil has also committed to investing in a software platform that will assist greatly in tracking Scope 3 emissions.
The wholesaler relocated to its purpose-built 120,400 sq ft distribution centre at Westway, near Glasgow Airport in March 2023
This year, the fifth-generation wholesaler has won two key industry awards for its work around sustainability and commitment to becoming a net-zero business: the Sustainable Wholesaler of the Year at Scottish Wholesale Achievers in February and, earlier this month, the Environment and Sustainability Award at the Unitas Connect Awards.
In both awards, the judges recognised investment not just in Filshill’s own operations and workforce but its engagement and collaboration with its suppliers and customers to consider all aspects of the supply chain.
Keith Geddes, chief financial and operating officer at Filshill, said, “We’ve made huge strides around sustainability within the business and leading the way within the wholesale sector not just in terms of Scotland but across the UK.
“We’ve reduced our carbon footprint by 8 per cent in the last year alone and invested in two fully electric HGVs. We have looked at several innovations to further reduce our CO2 emissions including switching to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) for all our HGVs at Westway – this has been a game-changer for us as this is a much cleaner fuel than diesel.
“Overall, we now know that we are producing just 50g of CO2 per case which is a reduction of 65 per cent since 2021.”
He added, “We are now pushing ahead with benchmarking our Scope 3 emissions. By adopting a wholesale food and drink-focused software platform, we can better track our Scope 3 emissions.”
Geddes said getting all staff on board, across all departments, has been key to Filshill’s success in achieving its sustainability goals.
“From fairly simply measures such as reducing paper invoices and switching to e-invoicing and using both sides of the page when we do need to print something out – small actions make a huge difference over time. Backhauling is another area we are looking at," he said.
Filshill also contributes to the Zero Emission Truck Taskforce, set up by Transport Scotland, along with the Scottish Wholesale Association with which it has worked on key projects to accelerate the use of electric vehicles in Scotland’s wholesale industry.
The company, one of Scotland’s oldest and most respected independent food and drink wholesalers, is marking its 150th anniversary in 2025 with a raft of activity based around the theme Delivering Success that champions sustainability, innovation, community, and wellbeing.
Culminating with a 150th Anniversary Celebration Dinner in Glasgow in October, the year honours Filshill’s journey from its origins as a confectionery manufacturer in Glasgow’s Gallowgate in 1875 to its position today as an award-winning wholesaler serving independent KeyStore convenience stores across Scotland and the north of England. while setting the scene for a future of ambition, growth, and positivity.
The award-winning wholesaler also aims to raise £150,000 for six charities which represent large demographics of the communities they serve as part of the anniversary celebrations. Chosen by Filshill staff, the charities are:
CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland)
Dementia Scotland
Cancer Research UK
MND Scotland
SSPCA (Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
Towns and cities across Britain are already witnessing a wave of closures as independent businesses shut their doors ahead of April's triple tax burden, the UK's leading retail body has warned.
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), which represents 6,000 independent businesses nationwide, reports that many shop owners are making the heartbreaking decision to close now rather than face the financial cliff-edge coming in April.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira said, "We're seeing a deeply concerning trend of preemptive closures.
"Shop owners are doing the maths on the increased National Insurance contributions, higher minimum wage costs, and the looming reduction in business rates relief, and many are concluding that continuing simply isn't viable."
The combined impact of employers' National Insurance rising to 15%, the minimum wage increasing to £12.21, and business rates relief dropping from 75 per cent to 40 per cent is creating what Bira describes as a "perfect storm" for independent retailers.
With approximately 13,000 shops closing their doors in 2024, and forecasts suggesting this could rise to as many as 17,000 closures in 2025, the scale of the crisis facing British high streets is unprecedented in recent times.
"These aren't just statistics – they're family businesses that have often served their communities for generations," Goodacre added. "We're particularly alarmed by the number of retailers telling us they're closing now to avoid accumulating further debt before the April changes take effect."
The association warns that this trend could accelerate in the coming weeks, creating empty units across Britain's high streets and fundamentally altering the character of town centres.
Goodacre added, "If the government doesn't recognise these early closures as the death knell for our high streets and take immediate action, we risk losing the diverse, independent businesses that make our communities unique.
"The economic and social cost of these closures will far outweigh any short-term tax gains."
Bira is calling for an urgent review of the planned tax changes and additional support measures for small retailers to prevent what it describes as an "devastating blow" for independent high street businesses.
Various retail and wider industry bodies are warning the government over the upcoming rise in costs for businesses at multiple fronts.
Commenting on the modest growth in sales in Ferbruary, Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said, "The industry is already doing all it can to absorb existing costs, but they will be left with little choice but to increase prices or reduce investment in jobs and shops, or both.
"The focus of the Employment Rights Bill should be on unscrupulous employers but instead the industry faces ongoing uncertainty and a trajectory that risks punishing responsible businesses who provide valuable employment, particularly at entry level. It is time for government to course correct to ensure investment and growth are not undermined.”