John Jones, managing partner of Philip Morris & Son in Hereford, has stepped down as president of the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) after completing his two years in the role.
Karen Forret, managing director and owner of Scottish independent multiple retailer Wilkies, took over the presidency at Bira’s annual general meeting this month. Bira works with more than 6,000 independent retailers across the UK.
A two-year term marked by pressure and advocacy
Jones described serving as president as “a huge honour.” He said the past two years had been challenging for independent retailers and highlighted Bira’s importance in enabling them “to collectively achieve what we can’t do individually.”
He identified the launch of the Bira Forum as his proudest achievement. The forum provides members with a space to discuss issues, share challenges and access advice, creating a channel for exchange within the association.
High street optimism and policy calls
Despite the pressures facing the independent retail sector, Jones remains optimistic about the future of the high street. “People value the sense of place and community that the high street provides, as well as the knowledge and service an independent retailer offers,” he said.
He added that genuine business rates reform and an overhaul of planning rules were needed to help the high street thrive. Alongside the forum, he pointed to rates and planning as areas where external conditions affect independent retailers’ ability to operate. His comments did not set out a detailed policy programme, but they identified the areas he sees as central to the high street’s prospects.
Adaptation as a survival strategy
Jones also stressed the importance of adapting to change. “Philip Morris & Son is 180 years old, but the business as it is now in no way resembles the business it was originally. I think the key to surviving and thriving is evolving,” he said.
The remark drew on his experience at a business that has operated for 180 years while changing its form over time. For Jones, that lesson applied both to his own business and to the wider independent sector as it responds to pressure.
Leadership transition and legacy
The change comes as independent retailers continue to face pressure on the high street, a theme Jones returned to repeatedly in his remarks.
Bira chief executive Andrew Goodacre thanked Jones for his contribution. He praised Jones’s leadership during a tough period for independent retail and described the Bira Forum as a lasting part of his legacy.
Jones will remain involved with Bira as Forret takes on the presidential role. The transition hands the position to a leader from a Scottish independent multiple retailer, while Bira continues its work with thousands of independent businesses across the UK.