27th November 1998

Email this Page |

The supermarket giant Sainsbury has announced it is to provide substantial funding for research at the University of Ulster in Coleraine as a means of helping stimulate informed debate on current issues within the retail sector.

The sponsorship will be used over the next three years to fund a Fellowship in Retailing and Research Studentships and to support researchers in the Faculty of Business and Management.

Retailing expert, Donald McFetridge, a lecturer at the University's Coleraine campus, has been appointed to the prestigious post of Sainsbury Research Fellow.

Sainsbury's Group Property Director is Mr Ian Coull:

"Given the enormous interest at present, especially in food retailing, we believe this whole area requires further research so that the debate can continue on the firm grounds of knowledge and reality rather than myth and anecdotal hearsay.

We have always held the work of Donald McFetridge and his team at the University in the highest regard. We hope this sponsorship from Sainsbury will assist both Donald in his future research and allow new students to develop their academic careers," he said.

The funding has been welcomed by the Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management, Professor Richard Barnett:

"The retail sector is playing an increasingly important role in the economic and social life in Northern Ireland. Sainsbury are obviously aware of that and of many of the issues which go with it.

"It is refreshing that such a massive company is interested in helping support debate and that it has turned to our team at the University of Ulster for the further research which is needed."

Sainsbury's relationship with the University of Ulster extends back more than three years and began a year or so before its formal declaration in June 1995 to open stores in Northern Ireland.

Its Coleraine outlet and filling station was opened in December 1997.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk