Northern Irish ham processor sees fast business growth

Givan's, Northern Ireland's leader in premium cooked ham and other pork products, has seen a significant increase in business during 2017.

Based in Belfast, the family-owned and managed company, has also experienced growth in sales to the Republic of Ireland, especially in the greater Dublin area.

James H. Givan is a fifth generation family business stretching back to 1938 in east Belfast. In addition to providing a wide range of pork and bacon products, the company is widely respected as Northern Ireland's leading supplier of cooked ham, especially to foodservice operations.

The company is also a leader in roasted hams particularly for the Christmas season.

Director David Givan, commenting on the growth in business, says: "We've had an excellent year in terms of sales to foodservice and other processing operations especially in Northern Ireland.

"We are also seeing increasing interest in our products from foodservice in the Republic of Ireland, a market in which we are keen to accelerate growth. We are also exploring opportunities to win business in Great Britain," he adds.

The company supplies delis and independent stores in Northern Ireland with ham joints and sliced ham as well as bacon products and has also diversified into other meats including chicken and ham convenience meals.

Givan's strategic focus is on niche products that combine heritage and outstanding flavours and taste.

The family business currently employs eight people and has operated from an EC approved purpose-built processing unit in east Belfast for 20 years.

"Our business is in curing and preparing hams using a simple and completely natural process. We don't add anything to the hams, pork and bacon."

Pork legs are sourced from a local farm it has worked with over many decades and cured using a secret family recipe.

"This means we know where all our raw materials come from and how the pigs are reared, a commitment in line with the current focus on provenance. Customers in both foodservice and retail are now seeking the sort of product transparency from farm to fork that we offer.

"Good husbandry and animal welfare procedures are also very important to us. It's transparency, heritage and commitment to customer service which are at the core of our growing success in today's exacting and fiercely competitive markets," he adds. "We are a flexible and responsive company that strives to provide all our customers with the products they require."

The whole process, he adds, takes place on the premises which also ensures the company has complete control over its products.

The range has also grown steadily and includes products such as cooked hams, traditional roast, crumbed ham, mustard, smoked and festive along with traditional cooked gammon, traditional gammon with or without bone and roast pork.

There's also a popular Festive Ham (with pineapple and cherry) for Christmas and other holiday periods.

Other meats in the extensive portfolio include fresh pork, a comprehensive range of bacon and pork sausages.