Taken private in the late 1990s in conjunction with his brother-in-law, the company is now involved in light manufacturing, property investments, financial services and architectural signage In June 1997 Fitzwilton signed a joint venture deal with Safeway plc which saw 15 of its Northern Irish Wellworths stores converted to Safeway outlets.
Fitzwilton objected to Sainsbury's planning applications on the grounds that authorities had "moved mountains" to allow the company's developments to proceed.
[7] His son Tony O'Reilly Jr would also step down as a director in early 2017 formaly ending over 45 years of family membership of the board.
[8] Fitzwilton's main residual business was Rennicks, a supplier of "road traffic management products", mostly metallic roadsigns but also owns Mobile Traffic Solutions,[9] which sells and rents portable changeable message signs (PCMS) for which it holds exclusive marketing rights for Ireland and the UK.
[10] In 2017 the Rennicks underwent a Management buyout supported by Renatus Capital Partners, at which Fitzwilton ceased to have any operating companies.