U.M.I. Foods wins two Grocer Own Label Awards

U.M.I Foods in Northern Ireland has won two major awards at The Grocer Own Label Awards in association with ASDA for innovative savoury pies.

U.M.I, based in Armagh city, county Armagh, won category champion for its Asda Grower's Selection Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Pies. It was also in named innovation winner in the same category.

Gillian Tate, senior product development manager at U.M.I Foods, commenting on the two prestigious awards, says: "We are absolutely delighted to have won category champion in the Grocer Awards as well as innovation winner for the same category, Hot Eating Savoury Pies (Chicken).

"When developing this product alongside ASDA, we were focused on providing a healthier pie option with a protein for consumers and we were thrilled with the final outcome and positive feedback we have received."

Now in their 12th year, the Grocer Own Label Awards are widely recognised across the industry as a significant accolade, highly coveted by supermarkets and retail own label.

The level of entries for the awards was highly competitive with over 1,000 products entered, which was narrowed down to 350 finalists. This year saw the introduction of a new method of recognising suppliers, with the traditional gold and silver awards replaced with category champions and innovation winners.

This was done with the aim of providing better recognition for the exceptional high level of innovation which has been coming through in own label in recent years.

Established in 1999 by directors Plunkett Curry and Seamus Cassidy, combining over 40 years' experience of the mushroom industry, the company was founded and built on four core principles: Quality, Innovation, Value and Service.

U.M.I. Foods has developed a diversified range and is now a specialist manufacturer of pies as well as hand prepared vegetable products. It also supplies loose, pre-packed and prepared Irish and British mushrooms.

The company has won a series of awards for its quality products and customer service including 'Best Supplier of the Year' in the recent Northern Ireland Food Manufacturing Awards. It has also been endorsed by some of the industry's most widely recognised and respected organisations, including being listed amongst the London Stock Exchange 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2016.