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A revaluation of business rates risks forcing the closure of more than 100 small food businesses, including cafés, takeaways, food trucks and local producers, across Northern Ireland.
That’s the warning of the Northern Ireland Food To Go Association (NIFTGA).
The Northern Ireland Executive’s revaluation of non-domestic properties, known as NI Reval2026, will be used to to calculate business rate bills from 1 April.
While the revaluation covers more than 75,000 non-domestic properties, NIFTGA said small food-to-go operators will feel the impact first and hardest, despite operating on tight margins and limited reserves. Draft figures show overall net annual values have increased by around 15%.
Michael Henderson, NIFTGA spokesperson, said:
“This is about small, independent food businesses. These are family-run cafés, takeaways and food trucks that employ local people who provide an essential service to our local communities every day.
“For 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. The Association warns that more 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.
“When 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.
“These 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.”
NIFTGA said it has requested an “urgent meeting” with minister for finance John O’Dowd to discuss the potential impact of Reval2026 and “to ensure the concerns of small, community-based food businesses are fully understood at ministerial level”.
Kiera Campbell, NIFTGA chair, added:
“We are calling for meaningful engagement to ensure rates policy reflects the realities faced by cafés, takeaways, mobile operators and local producers across Northern Ireland. We want to ensure rates reform is fair, proportionate and does not undermine local economies.”
Business rates is a big issue across the UK.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will soon announce additional help for pubs affected by recent business reforms in England but hospitality and retail groups have said more businesses should be covered.
Business rates support has also been offered in Wales and Scotland but industry groups say it isn’t enough.
