Asda helps Northern Ireland food companies grow sales

Asda has set up a bespoke 'Supplier Development Academy (SDA) to help smaller Northern Ireland companies win business from the retailer. The SDA is the first retail-led partnership of its kind to help the Northern Ireland food sector maximise its business potential.

Eleven companies have been hand-selected by Asda NI's local buying team to participate in the four-month programme, a £125,000 investment jointly funded by Asda and Invest Northern Ireland, the region's business development agency. The new scheme aims to boost sales the suppliers potential by up to 30 per cent and to assist companies in areas such as new product development with practical advice and guidance.

The workshop-based programme will equip participants with the valuable tools they need to optimise their trading partnership with Asda and also to maximise their business strategy through collaboration, mentoring and best practise.

Following a successful trial in Scotland in 2011, where suppliers benefited from sales increases of up to 36 per cent (equating to £1.6m), David Quigg from Asda's NI buying team believes there is no better time to roll out the programme across Northern Ireland.

"Not only is this a significant investment in Northern Ireland's food sector, but it also represents economic benefits for all involved as success and growth for our suppliers also means success for the local agri-food sector and for Asda.

"Since opening in Northern Ireland in 2005 we have developed a strong and growing supply base and our emphasis through the inaugural SDA is to develop these relationships and help each business reach a new level - which could mean trading with Asda on a national or potentially international platform."

Maynard Mawhinney, Invest NI food director, said: "Working with Asda on this initiative is another important development in our work to assist smaller food companies in particular to find out what major UK retailers expect from suppliers and how to build worthwhile business with them.

"Our food sector marketing advisors have been working closely with the Asda team to support the retailer's immensely encouraging commitment to purchase more food and drink products from Northern Ireland suppliers. The information gained, advice provided and contacts made will enable participating companies to take whatever steps necessary to shape existing products and, perhaps, develop innovative solutions that meet Asda's specific requirements."

Suppliers taking part in the programme include Quinfresh, a supplier of vegetables; White's, a processor of porridge oats and Toasted Oats snacks; Neill's Flour, flour products for baking; Mash Direct, mashed potatoes and vegetable for convenience meals; Doherty & Gray, sausages; Gilfresh, fresh vegetables; Linwoods, healthy foods; Really Good (QVS) Ltd, baked goods & dairy products; Flynn's Fine Foods, cooked meats; Cloughbane Farm; meat pies, lasagne and pasta bakes; and James Doherty Meats, gluten-free sausages.