Mark McCammond, retail operations director

Mark McCammond, retail operations director

Henderson’s 80-store retail operation is “utterly consistent and impressive” and 2016 was no exception, as it outperformed the market for the fourth consecutive year, with strong like-for-like sales growth, and profits significantly ahead of budget and last year’s result.

This “excellent retailer” was also praised for its clever use of retail space. A pioneer of franchises and partnerships (it opened the first Subway in the UK) many of its stores include fresh meat counters run by local butchers and in 2016 it launched its first Chopstix noodle bar. Meanwhile its exclusive Barista Bar coffee operation is now the biggest coffee brand in NI, with sales up 47%, and its Daily Deli food-to-go concept grew 31%. Its Post Office business also doubled in size.

Its £8.5m capex programme in 2016 also included the opening of its 21st Eurospar. Henderson plans to open five more in 2017.