Safeway reaffirm relationship with local college

Loughry College has been chosen by supermarket outlet Safeway as the venue for its Annual Conference, further emphasising the special relationship between the educational institution and the retail chain.

Links between Loughry College and Safeway go back to 1997 when the company first entered the Northern Ireland market. Looking to establish sourcing relationships with local suppliers, Safeway looked to the Food Business Incubation Centre - based at the College - as the perfect location of for home-grown produce.

Since then, Safeway has invested considerable sums of money in maintaining such relationships with local producers – over £230 million in the past year alone. The retail chain has seen a like-for-like result in its sales figures, with the most recent results revealing an increase of 13 per cent, representing the eight consecutive quarter of double-digit growth for the company.

In addition, each year Safeway presents an Innovation Award to students at Loughry College for product development, giving students an opportunity to commercialise their ideas through local food suppliers.

Dr Michael Mullen of Loughry College said that he was delighted that Safeway had chosen the institution as the venue for its Annual Conference and that the occasion would celebrate their successful partnership.

Lawrence Christensen, Supply Director for Safeway, added: “We have been discussing ways of developing our relationship further, as Safeway develops in the province, and looking at ways of reaffirming our commitment with the local suppliers whose business we have been fundamental in nurturing.”

Safeway is currently the province’s second largest food retailers, employing over 2,000 people in 12 stores throughout Northern Ireland. (CL)