The Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA) has called upon the protests at supermarkets to end and urged the DARD Minister to establish a new forum bringing together wholesalers, retailers, producers, processors and farmers to improve communication and partnership across the supply chain.
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Glynn Roberts, NIIRTA Chief Executive.[/caption]
NIIRTA Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said: “The issue of Milk Prices is a European and Global challenge which requires a joint approach from Stormont, Whitehall and Brussels. Locally, DARD need to do more to improve communication and partnership across the entire Agri-Food Supply Chain in Northern Ireland.
“Minister O’Neill needs to bring together key players in wholesale, retail, producers, processors and farmers in a new partnership forum to address the challenges facing the supply chain. “In the past retailers are only brought to the discussion table when there is a crisis in the Agri-Food Sector and so we need a new way of proactively working together. “The Agri-Food Board also needs a revamp and retail representatives added to their governing body to ensure it is more representative of the supply chain,” added Mr Roberts.]]>
