New ideas and rich flavours from Northern Ireland Showcasing in US
Food and drink companies from Northern Ireland will be showcasing a broad range of products for retail and foodservice on the Northern Ireland Naturally presentation, (Booth 3933), at this year's Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, 20th-22ndJanuary 2013.
Four of the five companies on the stand, which has been organised by Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI), the region's government economic development agency, have been doing business, particularly with retailers successfully in the US, for many years.
Northern Ireland has also been represented at the show for several years and many companies have used it as springboard for growth in the US now the region's most important export market beyond Great Britain and Ireland.
Several Northern Ireland companies which took part in last year's Winter Fancy Food Show made business contacts which subsequently generated significant new business. All but one of the companies on this year's stand also exhibited last year on an Invest NI stand.
One company, Coco Mojo, which has developed a coconut-based natural health drink, is taking part in the international event for the first time.
The companies are broadly representative of key sectors in the Northern Ireland food and drink industry, the region's biggest manufacturer and one which contributes over $6 billion annually to the local economy and employs around 90,000 people across the fully integrated agri-food supply chain which enables companies to respond quickly to the requirements of individual customers.
In addition, Invest NI has a portfolio of almost 400 food and drink companies producing an extensive range of products. Northern Ireland is now a major supplier of quality and innovative food and drink to international markets. Invest NI has offices in the US at key centres such as Boston, Chicago, New York and San Jose, as well as in Europe, India, China and the Middle East.
The region, part of the United Kingdom, is a significant supplier of red meat, poultry, dairy products and convenience meals to major retailers in Britain & Ireland such as Sainsbury's, Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, Superquinn, Aldi as well as high-end stores such as Harrods, Fortnum and Mason, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.
In the US, Northern Ireland companies currently provide products to Walmart as well as discounters such as Big Lots and Cost Plus World Market. Regular customers for Northern Ireland food and drink in Europe include Albert Heijn in the Netherlands, France's Carrefour, Auchan and Leclerc, and SuperCor in Spain.
Invest Northern Ireland contact at the show is Shane McArdle, Cell: +44 (0)781717 3516, Email: shane.mcardle@investni.com
Companies exhibiting on Northern Ireland Naturally, Booth 3933, at Winter Fancy Food 2013 in San Francisco include:
Classic Mineral Water is Northern Ireland's leading producer of natural spring water, still and sparkling, as well as a range of flavoured waters. The company, based in county Armagh, draws water for processing from its own artesian spring and will be introducing a range of flavoured mineral waters as mixers for home use. The mixers include ginger ale, tonic and diet tonic. Classic Mineral Water's customers include Big Lots of Columbus, Ohio, which sells the Northern Irish company's sparkling and flavoured waters and lemonade. Contact: Thomas Morgan on +44 (0)28 3832 3392, Cell: +44 (0)78 6644 5504 E: tom@classic-mineral-water.com, www.classic-mineral-water.com
CocoMojo is a Belfast company which has developed a refreshing lifestyle beverage made from coconut water, coconut milk, tropical fruits, aromatic spices and botanical herbs. The CocoMojo range includes both plain and flavoured drinks. Contact: Patricia McNeilly on +44 (0)28 9066 4215, Cell: +44 (0)77 6652 7862 E: patriciamcneilly2@gmail.comW: www.cocomojo.co.uk
Johnsons Coffeeis Northern Ireland's oldest producer of ground coffee and will be celebrating 100 years in business during 2013. Based at Lisburn in county Antrim, Johnsons produces a range quality roast and ground coffees for both retail and foodservice. Among products of this fourth generation family business is a liquid coffee, Irel, which has secured customers in the US. Contact: Philip Mills on +44 (0)28 9267 9121, Cell: +44(0)79 8092 9980 E: pmills@johnsonbrothers.co.uk W: www.johnsonscoffee.com
Little Big Shot, based in Belfast, produces and markets internationally a healthy energy drink, specially designed to meet active lifestyle challenges. Little Big Shot is a refreshing blend of berry fruit juices combined with ginseng and B vitamins. B vitamins are involved in the release of energy from food, help combat tiredness and fatigue and contribute to the maintenance of various metabolic processes. Little Big Shot is produced without preservatives and E numbers. The product is suitable for consumption by pregnant women, children over the age of eight years and vegetarians. Contact: Kevin Carson, Cell: +44 (0)75 4009 3201 E: kevin@littlebigshot.com www.littlebigshot.com
White's Irish Oatmeal, Northern Ireland's only oatmeal milling business, has been processing natural porridge oats since 1841 and now produces a range of porridge and granolas. The company supplies Irish Oatmeal Old Fashioned Oats, traditional oats which have been steamed and rolled flat. Old fashioned oats produce a porridge which is more flavoursome and has a better texture than other quick cooking porridges. The oats they retain more of their wholegrain natural goodness and are an excellent source of fibre, vitamin E, B vitamins and antioxidants, helping aid digestion, boost the immune system and lower cholesterol. Steel cut oats have a much lower GI (Glycaemic Index) than instant oatmeal, meaning energy is released more slowly into the bloodstream. White's Irish Oatmeal products are free from additives and preservatives and have not been genetically modified in any way. Contact: Mark Gowdy or Danielle McBride on +44 (0)28 3884 2918, Cell: ++44 (0)77 8887 2081 E: markgowdy@fanevalley.co.uk E: Danielle.mcbride@whitesoats.com W: www.whitesoats.co.uk
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Harnett's Oils is a family-owned and managed business in county Armagh specialising in growing, cold pressing and bottling food oils such as rapeseed and hemp. The business traces its farming roots back to 1656. The products, mostly sourced from the company's own farm, are GM-free. Contact: Jane Harnett on +44 (0)28 3888 1210, jane@harnettoils.com W: www.harnettsoils.com
New Olive Company Ltd is a successful wholesale and retail business, the New Olive Company specialises in providing fresh, quality European produce including over 65 different varieties of olives, fine slow roasted tomatoes, stuffed peppers and luxury anchovies, several different types of fresh houmous including chilli, garlic & basil; red pepper and traditional houmous, antipasta & seafood. Contact: Seamus Mullan, call on + 44 (0)28 9447 0481 E: smullan2@aol.com W: www.loveolive.co.uk
Neill's Flour specialises in producing the very best quality flours and mixes for baking. The company, which is based in Belfast, has been producing flours for more than 150 years from its own mill. The flours are milled to the highest standards and include plain, self-raising, and fine, medium and coarse wholemeal for healthy options. In addition, the range features a strong bread flour specially for baking bread and for use in bread making machines. In 2005, the company became the first in Ireland to introduce a debranning system in its modern processing plant. Debranning involves removing the outer bran of the wheat to provide a much whiter flour. Contact: Peter Rodgers +44 (0)28 9032 9799, Cell: +44( 0)78 7267 8542 E: peter.rodgers@allied-mills.co.uk, W: www.allied-mills.co.uk