{"id":391752,"date":"2026-01-26T19:11:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T19:11:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/391752\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T19:11:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T19:11:14","slug":"thousands-of-northern-ireland-jobs-at-food-trucks-and-takeaways-at-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/391752\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Thousands of Northern Ireland jobs at food trucks and takeaways at risk\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thousands of jobs could be at risk as a result of a revaluation process, it\u2019s been claimed.\n<\/p>\n

The Northern Ireland Food To Go Association warned that Reval2026, carried out by Land & Property Services, was putting at risk businesses like caf\u00e9s, takeaways, food trucks and local producers central to communities across Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n

It warned that \u201cmore than 100 small food businesses and local producers could close if rates bills rise sharply, placing thousands of local jobs at risk and accelerating the loss of independent traders from high streets\u201d.<\/p>\n

Chief executive Michael Henderson said the sector faced a \u201ctipping point\u201d. \u201cThis is about small, independent food businesses. These are family-run caf\u00e9s, takeaways and food trucks that employ local people who provide an essential service to our local communities every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Draft figures released by LPS, part of the Department of Finance, show overall Net Annual Values (NAVs) have increased by around 15%, with sharp rises across hospitality-linked properties.<\/p>\n

NAVs are combined by LPS with rates set by Stormont and councils in order to determine levels of business rates.<\/p>\n

Mr Henderson added: \u201cFor many food-to-go businesses, even a relatively small increase in rates could be enough to push them over the edge and this could result in closures which could be avoided…<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen small food businesses disappear, they are rarely replaced. Empty units follow, jobs are lost and communities lose familiar places that people depend on every day\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cThese businesses keep town centres alive and support local employment. Improved rental evidence does not mean improved viability, costs remain high, footfall is fragile and many small food businesses are hanging on by a thread.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the association has now required an urgent meeting with Finance Minister John O\u2019Dowd to discuss the potential impact of Reval2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese businesses are not just balance sheets or valuation figures. They are the heartbeat and backbone of local communities, providing jobs, skills and everyday services people rely on. We need to make sure their voices are heard before it\u2019s too late.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Michael<\/p>\n

Michael Henderson, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Food To Go Association<\/p>\n

News Catch Up – Thursday 22 January <\/p>\n

Kiera Campbell, chair of the Northern Ireland Food To Go Association, said: \u201cOur members want to keep trading, employing and serving their communities, and it\u2019s our role to make sure their voices are heard as rates decisions are taken.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are calling for meaningful engagement to ensure rates policy reflects the realities faced by caf\u00e9s, takeaways, mobile operators and local producers across Northern Ireland. We want to ensure rates reform is fair, proportionate and does not undermine local economies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angela McGrath, the Commissioner of Valuation for Northern Ireland, said last week: \u201cLPS will review any new or relevant information ratepayers wish to bring forward now and make updates where appropriate before the new valuation list takes effect in April 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Thousands of jobs could be at risk as a result of a revaluation process, it\u2019s been claimed. The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":391753,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[84,147534,59,147535,1335,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-391752","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-department-of-finance-dof","10":"tag-gb","11":"tag-john-odowd","12":"tag-margaret-canning","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom","15":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=391752"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391752\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/391753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=391752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=391752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=391752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}