Latest news with #Craigavon
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Northern Ireland's billion-pound firm club: From Almac to Hendersons
Pharmaceutical firm Almac this week joined an elite group of Northern Ireland businesses with an annual turnover of more than £ who are the other local firms with annual turnover of more than £1bn? And how have they come to become some of the most lucrative businesses in Northern Ireland?Starting with Almac, here's a run down of those companies comprising Northern Ireland's billion club. Almac: £1.027bn turnover in 2024 The firm, based in Craigavon, County Armagh, is one of Northern Ireland's few genuinely multinational firms with significant operations in the US as well as facilities in Singapore, the Republic of Ireland and Almac Group was founded by Sir Allen McClay in 2002, who then structured it, before his death in 2010, so it is owned by a charitable structure means the firm has to constantly reinvest its profits and is also protected from takeover - keeping it close to its Northern Ireland main business is providing services like manufacturing and distribution to the world's major pharmaceutical also has a drug discovery division - for example, earlier this month it reached an agreement to licence a cancer treatment to a Taiwanese firm for further development and commercialisation. John Graham Construction: £1.002bn turnover in 2024 The Graham group is Northern Ireland's biggest building firm with current projects including the Loft Lines apartment development in Belfast's Titanic growth over the past 20 years has been based on expansion in Great Britain, particularly the Scottish data suggests it is now among the UK's 30 biggest construction is headquartered in Dromore, County Down, where John Graham set up in 1878, although company archives suggest the business has existed in some form since the late Graham has been the company chairman since 2007, having been managing director in the 10 years before that. LCC Group: £1.246bn turnover in 2024 LCC's best known brand is the Go chain of filling stations, which is part of a portfolio of energy stands for Lissan Coal Company, which reflects the company's origin as an importer and retailer of continues to be a significant part of the business with operations in Spain, Belgium and sells home heating oil under a variety of brands and has its own terminal at Foyle port where it imports and stores liquid has been supplying electricity since 2012 and gas since 2014 under the Go brand, mostly to industrial and commercial users rather than business, which is owned and operated by Michael Loughran, is based in Cookstown, County Tyrone. John Henderson Holdings: £1.338bn turnover in 2023 Henderson Holdings controls the Spar and Vivo franchises in Northern Ireland. It has held the Spar franchise since owns and operates 111 Spar and Eurospar stores in Northern Ireland and acts as the supplier to hundreds more independently owned Spars and also has a food service business, which supplies about 4,500 customers including schools, hospitals and business was founded in the 1890s by John Henderson, a merchant who sold cheese, butter and eggs. He expanded into wholesaling, initially from St George's Market in he retired in 1943, his son-in-law, William Agnew, took a controlling share in the business. It continues to be operated by the Agnew family. Barnetts: £1.568bn turnover in 2024 The Barnett group has its origins as a 19th Century grain merchant and its brands are best known in the agricultural supplies animal feeds under the Thompsons and R&H Hall brands but has a much wider business across agricultural commodity trading and manufacturing.A decade ago the company diversified by buying a stake in Logson, a packaging manufacturer, later buying full control of that this year it bought a majority stake in Symphony Group, the UK's largest privately-owned manufacturer of fitted addition of the Symphony Group is likely to see the group turnover exceed £2bn. Billion-pound Northern Ireland businesses or not? Two other businesses qualify for the £1bn club but they are not Northern Ireland businesses in the same way as the five Park, the chicken producer, had a turnover of more than £2bn in 2023 and is a NI-registered it has been owned by US-based Pilgrim's Pride Corporation since Power NI had a turnover of just more than £1bn in 2024 but it is part of the Dublin-based Energia is in turn owned by I Squared Capital, a Miami-based investment business.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Civil Service: 'Not enough office space' if working from home ends
A return-to-office policy for the civil service would not be possible because there is no longer enough space to accommodate everyone, Stormont assembly members have been civil servants began working from home during the pandemic, a trend which has NI Civil Service (NICS) is in the process of reducing its office estate by 40% by selling buildings and ending Smyth, chief executive of construction and procurement delivery at the Department of Finance, said that four-year process was on track. She told Stormont's finance committee there was currently sufficient office space for civil servants but that would not be the case if there was a widespread return to office-based the policy was "everyone's coming back four days a week" then "we wouldn't have the space, we wouldn't have the physical accommodation to do that," she Smyth said a review of the NICS hybrid working and working-from-home policies is due to be published also revealed the sale of one of the biggest NICS offices had not been completed despite going sale agreed last Court in Belfast City Centre is the former HQ of the Department of Smyth said it would be put back on the market shortly and the current bidder remains also told assembly members a decision was expected by the end of July on whether Marlborough House in Craigavon would be 1970s office block is due to be vacated by civil servants and a listing could complicate efforts to find a new use for the site.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Almac: Annual sales hit £1bn at Craigavon pharma firm
Annual sales at Almac, the Craigavon-based pharmaceutical firm, topped £1bn for the first time in revenues for the year ending 30 September were £1.027bn, a £69.5m (7%) increase from profits rose by 27% to £119m, which is up from £93.8m in the previous main line of business is providing services, such as contract manufacturing, to major global pharmaceutical firms. It also develops its own drugs, for example earlier this month it reached an agreement to licence a cancer treatment to a Taiwanese firm for further development and company continued to grow its workforce over the last year and now employs about 7,700 people across its global Armstrong, Almac's group chairman and chief executive, said: "Today's results mark another successful year of growth for Almac."As a privately-owned and independent company, we re-invest all our profits back into the business, enabling us to innovate and expand to meet the growing needs of our global clients, working in partnership to advance human health."Those investments have included growing the company's production and distribution facilities in the US and has now joined a small number of Northern Ireland-based firms that boast an annual turnover of £1bn or include Graham construction and W&R Barnett, a commodities and manufacturing group.
Belfast Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Important step in strengthening our presence in NI': Greggs opens doors of new outlet
The move marks continued growth for the on-the-go food supplier known for its sausage rolls, hot drinks and sweet treats. Customers flocked to the new addition to the busy retail park on Monday morning. Shop manager, Amt Stewart, said she 'can't wait' for Greggs fans to come through the doors. . 'Whether it's a Greggs classic savoury, a Fairtrade coffee or something hot for dinner, there's something for everyone – ready to sit-in, take away or collect through Click + Collect,' she added. The newest outlet is part of the firm's wider expansion strategy which has seen five new shops in NI including the two stores in Lisburn Road and one on York Street in Belfast. A drive-thru service is available at Craigavon's Marlborough Retail Park store in Craigavon with another shop launched in Foyleside Shopping Centre. Retail Operations Director for Greggs, Gillian Long, brand the new Antrim space as 'modern' and 'convenient'. 'Our new shop at the Junction, Antrim has brought 14 new jobs to the local area, as well as providing customers with a modern, convenient new place to experience their Greggs favourites,' said the director. 'It also marks an important step in strengthening our presence in Northern Ireland, creating meaningful employment in the region.' Opening Monday to Friday from 8am to 7pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm, The Junction customers cam now enjoy their range of diverse pastries – including steak bakes and vegan alternatives – and drinks. Southern fried chicken goujons, potato wedges, as well as margherita, pepperoni, spicy Mexican chicken, spicy veg and pepperoni hot shots are also on offer. Drink options include hot coffees, cold cloudy lemonade and iced lattes. With breakfast starting at 11am, customers can take advantage of Greggs breakfast deals. These offer a breakfast roll or baguette with a Fairtrade orange juice or hot drink. From 4pm, customers can also enjoy a pizza slice and a drink for just £3.15 instead of the usual £4. Creative Director at The Junction, Chris Flynn, is 'delighted' to welcome the new outlet. 'We are delighted to welcome Greggs to The Junction,' he said. 'We know that there are lots of excited Greggs' fans in Antrim, who can't wait to try the delicious food-on-the-go. 'The beautiful new shop is a really welcome addition to the Centre, and is a perfect place to take a break from shopping with the comfy indoor and outdoor seating.' Inside the former army base at Bessbrook Mill in County Armagh Those seeking to skip lengthy queues or quick bite on the go can order through Click + Collect via the Greggs App. Every nine purchase made in different categories on the app, from hot drinks, sandwiches, bakes and sweet treats, earns one item completely free. New users of the app area also able to receive a complimentary hot drink, as well as a sweet treat on their birthday.
