Northern Ireland Food Companies Seek Private Label Business
The longstanding commitment of our food companies to quality and innovation has attracted major retailers
Five
Northern Ireland companies including the biggest processors in red meat
and dairy products attended the big Private Label Manufacturers
Association (PLMA) exhibition in Amsterdam on 26-27th May to seek out
new business opportunities.
The group members included: ABP, one of Ireland's biggest beef and lamb
processors; Dale Farm, a Northern Ireland headquartered dairy processor
with subsidiaries in England and Scotland; Norbev, a contract bottler
with clients such as Makro; Rich Sauces, a leading supplier of sauces
and mayonnaise to the foodservice sector; and Tasty Foods Cuisine, a
producer of ready meals including beef and chicken pies.
The companies, which already supply many of the leading grocery
businesses and foodservice organisations in Great Britain, the Republic
of Ireland and other parts of Europe, were keen to explore new
opportunities from the attendance at PLMA of buyers from European and
international food and drink retailers.
Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI's Trade Director, commenting on the Northern
Ireland group, said: "The longstanding commitment of our food companies
to quality and innovation has attracted major retailers and several
have won private label business. These and other companies are keen to
develop relationships that will increase this important business.
"PLMA's World of Private Label in
Amsterdam provides the best possible platform for those seeking such
business. It's also a market that Invest NI has identified as offering
excellent opportunities to Northern Ireland companies and we are keen
to assist them to develop relationships with the huge number of buyers
expected to attend."
McDonalds Reinforces Commitment to Northern Ireland Beef
The beef used in McDonalds burgers comes from top quality carcasses of
cattle reared in Northern Ireland. The fast-food company has stressed
its commitment to sourcing the best beef from Northern Ireland
suppliers and has said that demand for its burgers has continued to
grow throughout the economic recession.
Niall Hennessy of McDonalds, speaking following a visit to Northern
Ireland suppliers including Linden Foods, said: "We take whole cuts of
quality meat, mince them, freeze them and cook them without adding any
fat and then simply season with a touch of salt and pepper, before
serving - nothing added, nothing taken away."
McDonalds take beef from some 1,450 farms across Northern Ireland.
After processing at Linden Foods in Dungannon, the beef is shipped to
Esca Food Solutions at Milton Keynes, where the world famous burgers
are made. The company also sources beef from other Northern Ireland
processors such as the Foyle Food Group and WD Meats.
The specification for carcasses which can be used for producing
McDonalds burger beef is just as high as that set by major supermarket
chains in that McDonalds require full traceability of the beef, which
must come from under 30-month Farm Quality Assured animals.
The major difference in the McDonalds requirements and that of
supermarket outlets is that the beef used by the restaurant chain comes
principally from the forequarter of the carcass.
Frank Foster of Linden Foods said: "The McDonalds beef comes from
exactly the same animals as the top quality steaks - just a different
part of the carcass."
In the past there would have been times when the forequarter beef was
difficult to move but now the higher value cuts are seeing some
reduction in demand while mince is enjoying a renaissance. All the red
meat processors in Northern Ireland report significant increases in
sales of mince to supermarkets.
Irwin's in the Dough with Jammy Joeys
Northern Ireland based Irwin's Bakery has secured another major export
deal in a Scottish market entry contract worth £250,000. From this
month the Portadown-based company will be selling its Howell's Handmade
Jammy Joeys in 47 Asda stores in Scotland. It is Howell House's first
export venture outside the island of Ireland and is expected to
increase the brand's overall sales revenue to £600,000 per year. Howell
House was acquired by Irwin's three years ago in order to introduce a
specialist 'hand-made' cakes and biscuits manufacturing division to the
overall business. In 2008, the product ranges were re-branded to
Howell's Handmade in order to reflect the brand's specialist artisan
credentials. It also makes Rankin Selection Cakes range which have been
developed with creative partner and celebrity chef, Paul Rankin.
Stefan Szymura, Irwin's account manager said: "We are delighted to have
secured this significant contract with Asda who has been a key element
of our export activity to date. Whilst the confectionery, cakes and
biscuit category is a competitive one, we are confident that our
signature Howell's Handmade products will win over Scottish consumers
with their unique homemade look and taste."
David Quigg, Asda buyer, added: "We're delighted that one of our top
Northern Ireland suppliers has fully maximised the benefits of being
part of the Asda group through this great Scottish export opportunity.
Our own local business with Howell House has more than doubled over the
last year, so this really is another great accomplishment and the first
step in what we hope will be the roll-out of further products from the
brand to the rest of the UK."
Top Irish Marketing Award for Mash Direct
Mash Direct, the unique farming enterprise, has been announced winner
of the Small Business Marketing Award in the prestigious All Ireland
Marketing Awards.
Fifth generation vegetable growers Martin Hamilton and his wife Tracy
have diversified within their farming business by adding value to their
raw product and introducing a range of steamed ready-to-heat potato and
vegetable accompaniments. Mash Direct is committed and dedicated to
providing consumers with wholesome traditional homemade products and is
recognised as a trusted household name.
The annual awards, organised by the Marketing Institute of Ireland in
Dublin, highlight the achievements in terms of professional marketing
of companies on the island of Ireland.
The award winning citation said: "Combining the advantages of
convenience and freshness, Mash Direct set about giving its brand a
voice, working hard on leveraging public relations initiatives,
focusing on innovative and attractive pack design, and using vehicle
branding. The firm has achieved very rapid growth, and has gained
listings in major multiples throughout the British Isles."
The award is the latest gained by Mash Direct from prestigious bodies
in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Other awards include the
UK Food Manufacture Excellence Award, the CATEX Overall Product of the
Show Award, the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Award and a series of
Great Taste Awards.
Sausages with Traffic Lights?
County Down based Finnebrogue, a venison and sausage producer, is the
first sausage manufacturer in Northern Ireland to adopt the Food
Standard Agency's recommended multiple traffic light approach to
front-of-pack nutrition food labelling.
Finnebrogue currently uses traffic lights on its M&S premium
sausages and is applying the system to its own brands. The company
supplies M&S with award winning Organic Pork Chipolata sausages.
The sausages won the Best Sausage Award at the SuperMeat and Fish
Awards in London.
The first products to include the traffic lights will be a new family brand called
'Good Little Company' and the first product to launch under this brand is
'Good Little Sausages'.
Good Little Sausages are high quality, healthy sausages for the whole
family to enjoy; they are made with 85% outdoor bred British
pork, are reduced fat and contain no preservatives, artificial colours
or stabilisers.
The Good Little Company is an ethical food company and in addition to
producing good quality products made from ethically sourced meat, it
uses environmentally friendly packaging and donates money from the sale
of every pack of sausages to feed people in developing countries.
Finnebrogue currently produces 10 million sausages a year including a
fresh chorizo sausage made from 85% outdoor bred pork, smoked
paprika and a hint of chilli.
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