The Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association - RGDATA - is the representative association for the owners of over 3,500 independent family owned grocery shops, convenience stores, forecourt stores and supermarkets in Ireland.

• RGDATA is representative of the owners first and foremost – their needs, requirements and concerns dictate RGDATA’s actions and priorities.
• RGDATA directly promotes, supports and protects the independent retail  grocery sector by targeting issues that really matter to owners.
• As a representative body for all independent owners, RGDATA is seen as having a broad appeal and voice – bigger and more effective than any single player in the retail grocery market.
• RGDATA has the back of the owners – whether when dealing with Government, media, regulatory agencies, town planning issues or disputes
• RGDATA is an independent source of information, advice and support for owners
• The current environment highlights the importance of a strong independent voice for owners – the need is greater now than ever!

RGDATA Has Three Key Roles:

• To lobby Government and politicians to ensure that the interests of RGDATA members are secured in legislation, policies and Government measures. Government and politicians recognise RGDATA as representing the independent retail grocery sector as a whole and not just any one constituent element.
• To represent and support retailers in their dealings with  regulatory agencies – such as the WRC, the HSE, the CCPC and An Garda Siochana.
• To provide advice and active support to retailers on a range of issues that directly impact on their businesses – on issues raising from HR/Employment Law, Consumer & Competition Law, and planning.

Achievements 

• Energy costs – RGDATA was instrumental in securing the introduction of the Temporary Energy Business Support Scheme – the first time the State every subsidised the energy bills for businesses.
• Margin – RGDATA has successfully protected the retail margin for agents of the National Lottery by ensuring that the Operator’s licences fixed  the level of retail agent commission.
• Planning – RGDATA’s activities directly led to the introduction of the Retail Planning Guidelines, the cap on the size of superstores and the ban on out of town retail development and convenience retail in retail parks– this has ensured that independent retailers are not squeezed out by big box retailers. We have supported retailers faced with planning challenges from unsustainable retail planning applications in their area and are the only trade association that actively participates in the planning process making objections and appeals where necessary to uphold the RPGs.
• Recycling – secured a commitment that the new Deposit Return Scheme would be cost neutral for retailers and would not lead to increased or hidden charges for shop owners.
• Insurance – RGDATA has been to the fore in securing reforms impacting on insurance – insurance costs are coming down and need to come down faster.
• Town centres – RGDATA was instrumental in achieving a revolutionary new Government Policy to put town centres first – this will secure additional protection and funding for Irish town centres. 
• Liquor Licensing – securing important and effective changes on legislation to restrict the sale of alcohol in shops.
• Stopping Unfair practices - Securing regulatory action for misleading advertising by grocery multiples.

Activities

RGDATA activities and member services include:

Representing the interests of independent, family owned shops to Government, media, regulators and policymakers by:

• Monitoring legislation that might impact on members.
• Meeting with and making submissions to Government and policymakers.
• Providing HR and business advice and support to members via a Helpline and members' web site.
• Producing email, web and print communications for members.
• Actively participating in planning policy and planning activity to ensure vibrant town centres and that the Retail Planning Guidelines are adhered to.
• Offering planning support to members seeking to ensure sustainable retail development in line with the Retail Planning Guidelines and Town Centre First policy
• Successfully campaigning for a Town Centre First Policy.
• Carrying out member surveys to support our campaigns.
• Producing research and reports to support our goals.

RGDATA Represents Independent Retailers at:

• National Economic Forum at Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment chaired by Tanaiste Leo Varadkar.
• Government’s Retail Consultation Forum  (Also Sub Group on Town Centre First and Sub Group on Sustainability/Circular Economy) chaired by Minister for Retail Damien English.
• Central Bank’s National Payments Forum.
• Central Bank’s Cash Forum.
• Food Safety Authority National Retail Forum.
• Waste Management Forum Department of Environment, Climate & Communications.
• Circular Economy Forum Department of Environment, Climate & Communications.
• Garda National Rural Safety Forum
• Garda Retail Theft Forum.

RGDATA  is a founding member of The Local Jobs Alliance and the Alliance for Insurance Reform.

RGDATA is an associate member of Independent Retail Europe.

During the formation of the most recent National Development Plan RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley was appointed to the NDP Advisory Group by Minister Simon Coveney. She was appointed the Town Centre First Advisory Group by Minister Dara O’Brien. She served two terms as a member of the National Oversight & Audit Commission (NOAC). Tara is also the representative for smaller non producer retailers on the Board of Deposit & Return Scheme Ireland .

Structure & Organisation

RGDATA is led by a board of directors that includes independent retailers representing all interests in the independent retail trade. The President is Colin Fee (Centra - Louth) and the current Board members are: Padraig Broderick (Spar - Limerick) ; Eamon Gavin (Centra - Cavan) , Leona Pender (Londis - Kildare); Annie Timothy (Londis - Roscommon), Rachel Twomey  (SuperValu – Dublin) and Joseph Wallace (SuperValu - Wexford).

RGDATA is a nominating body for the Seanad and our  nominee for the Seanad Barry Ward was elected a Senator in the most recent election.

RGDATA Campaigns

Some of our current campaigns include:

• Seeking the  extension and backdating of the temporary Energy Support Scheme and a tax on windfall profits being made by energy companies.
• Making representations to ensure that the challenges currently facing independent food retailers are heard and understood by policymakers, regulators and the media so that no additional costs are imposed on retailers
• Representing independent food retailers at the Living Wage Working Group at the Department of Enterprise seeking a full economic impact survey of the cumulative impact of changes to sick pay, pensions auto-enrolment living wage on independent retailers and identifying targeted supports to assist with their introduction.
• Seeking adoption of the changes to the Employer Liability Bill to rebalance the Duty of Care and bring down shop insurance premiums.
• Seeking changes to the proposed Latte Levy to stop compostable cups being treated the same as single use plastic cups and ensuring the monies collected are invested in composting infrastructure.
• Ensuring the new Deposit & Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium beverage cans is cost neutral for non-producer retailers and retailers are adequately recompensed for their role in delivering the scheme.
• Banning licensed bookmakers taking bets on National Lottery Products and impacting on €120 million in retail agents’ fees and funding for Good Causes.
• Ensuring the Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement does not impact on smaller independent retailers.
• Campaigning for additional commercial rates relief – including combatting additional charges that retailers are facing from rates revaluation programmes.
• Ensuring that reforms to the liquor licensing legislation take full account of the perspective of retailers.