A NEWPORT businessman has been appointed to the board of the UK's largest non-food buying group Associated Independent Stores.

Managing director Martyn Sheppard, pictured, heads up George Street Furnishers, a leading department store with branches in Newport and Cardiff.

For 15 years the store has enjoyed the benefits of the financial clout of AIS, a factor which had a lot to do with the opening of the company's second store in Cardiff at the beginning of last year.

As a non-executive member of the AIS board, Mr Sheppard represents the interests of AIS members in Wales and the South West.

AIS have a combined membership turnover of £1.8bn. More than 270 independent department stores and specialist stores operate from 611 outlets across the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands. These stores profit from the level of the group's buying power and services normally enjoyed by the big high street chains - yet with no loss of their independence.

"With that financial clout we can get specific ranges of goods, greater backup and service as well as buying at a very competitive rate," said Mr Sheppard. "Although George Street has built up a reputation in this area we have not got a national standing. Now when we go to a manufacturer it's different because we are literally representing 250 retailers like us and that benefits the customer."