Northern Irish wheatgrass juice producer grows in Britain


Squeeze Wheatgrass, the Northern Irish producer of healthy wheatgrass juice drinks, has won listings with two specialist food businesses in Great Britain.



The company, based at Warrenpoint in county Down, grows its own wheatgrass using the latest hydroponic technology and has just been listed by Green City Wholefoods in Glasgow and Yumbles, Britain's independent food e-commerce website.



Green City Wholefoods, the leading Scottish food wholesaler, is focused on organic foods and was set up by the Scottish Wholefood Collective in 1978.



The deals with Yumbles and Green City follow a drive by Squeeze Wheatgrass to extend its distribution network in Great Britain and to build on the success of sales by ways of its website. Currently around 60 per cent of sales flow from its e-commerce site.



"We've established a solid base in Britain and Europe through the website," says Jacquelyn Stewart, founder and managing director of Squeeze Wheatgrass. "To achieve faster growth and to benefit from the developing market trend towards healthy drinks with provenance, we have identified a need to develop the more traditional distribution channel.



"Green City and Yumbles are hubs in England and Scotland that we can build on as the only UK producer of ready-to-drink wheatgrass shots.



"Our shots offer full provenance and traceability - growing, harvesting, juicing and packaging wheatgrass shots, a proven energy boosting drinks," she adds.



The ready-to-drink shots are 100 per cent natural and produced without additives and preservatives and are accredited by the Vegetarian Society. Wheatgrass is said to contain over 90 minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium. It is also reported to boost red cells and stimulate the thyroid gland, helping to correct obesity, indigestion and other complaints.



The juice is also produced using High Pressure Processing technology to ensure shelf-life of 12 weeks. The company has invested heavily in hydroponic technology to grow the wheatgrass



indoors and has won a string of major awards including the IGD Food Industry Award in 2012, two years after the formation of the artisan business. Almost 100 sq metres are being grown on the company's own hydroponic farm in the foothills of Northern Ireland's Mourne Mountain range.