Northern Irish Papas Minerals finds cheer in Britain

Papas Minerals, the Northern Irish specialist in traditional non-alcoholic drinks, has secured its first significant business in Great Britain and is also close to clinching a major retail deal in the Republic of Ireland.

The company, based in Bangor, County Down, has recently supplied its range of traditional minerals and cordials such as cloudy lemonade, sarsaparilla as well as its original ginger wine and elderflower to artisan food and drink specialist Mmm…and Glug based at Grainger Arcade in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Papas Minerals, founded by managing director Wayne Adair in 1999, has been focusing on business outside Northern Ireland. The company supplies its handmade beverages to over 100 independent retailers, have been developed through its web presence and also from referrals from existing customers.

Papas produces a range of beverages from original recipes without artificial flavours, colours or sweeteners. The range includes a sugar-free ginger wine. It also produces a clove and winter berry cordial which is sold throughout the year.

Mr Adair says the business with mmm…and glug followed a recent visit by the Newcastle Company to St George's Market in Belfast, where Papas has had a presence for more than a decade.

"They sampled our beverages at the market and then placed an order, our first substantial business in Britain. While we've had small orders from individual consumers in Britain from our website over the years, the business placed by mmm…and glug is significant and encouraging because it's from an established retailer specialising in craft beverages. We'll be supporting the new business through in-store tastings and briefings for their customers.

"They were attracted to the historic St George's because of their location in Newcastle's famous Grainger Market."

Papas minerals are all handcrafted and bottled from original recipes and using traceable ingredients.

"We've been finding increasingly that people of all ages are looking for different tastes and traditional products from artisan producers who have total control over their products."

Papas Minerals produces its range of soft drinks in 750ml bottles, also hand labelled. The small business was among the first to take a stall in the revamped St George's Food Market in Belfast when it reopened in 2004.

Mmm Food and Drink Ltd is a fast growing and entrepreneurial food businesses selling and promoting good quality and cutting edge food products in Northeast England and beyond.
The business is based in centre of Newcastle upon Tyne in the historic Grainger Market and sells a wide selection of food and drink sourced, wherever possible, from small passionate artisan producers.

Mmm…and Glug aims to be a full service food store, a one-stop shop with a selection of products that have been carefully chosen to be the best.

The retailer's focus is on products made in small batches by producers with passion and a story to tell shoppers.

Northern Ireland Food and Drink companies are celebrating the regions pure, natural, quality food and drink in 2016, with a series of local, national, and international promotional events