MAJOR UK AWARD FOR MASH DIRECT

Northern Ireland based Mash Direct has been named as the top small company in the most prestigious awards for food businesses in the United Kingdom. The company, a market leader in the development and manufacture of potato and vegetable products was voted ???Small Company of the Year' at the annual Food Manufacture Excellence Awards at a gala presentation in London. The judges highlighted Mash Direct as ???an admirable example of a farm business that had successfully diversified into making all-natural mashed vegetable products for the microwave and oven???. The company was also a finalist in the ???Chilled Ready Meals and Prepared Foods category. The awards, organised by Food Manufacture, a magazine within the William Reed Business Media stable, honour the very best food and drink manufacturing companies, assessing their progress across criteria ranging from category and supply chain management to health, safety and environmental management. Host for the evening was TV sports presenter Steve Rider. Tracy Hamilton, Mash Direct's Commercial Director, said: ???This award is a marvellous endorsement of the quality of the business and of our commitment to excellence in the manufacture of our extensive range of natural and wholesome products. ???The judging panel, made up of industry experts, were looking for all round excellence in food manufacturing over the previous year. It was a very exacting process that required us to show our commitment across a number of business areas including manufacturing process, customer service, sales turnover, market growth and new product development. ???Other areas that came in for consideration included health and safety, environmental measures such as waste reduction, and how we develop our people. ???They looked closely at our business and clearly decided that we measured up exceptionally well on all these important business areas. The recognition for excellence will be of tremendous benefit as we continue to develop our sales in Great Britain and other neighbouring markets,??? she added. Mash Direct has also won a series of awards for its products including gold awards in the influential UK Great Taste Awards. Mash Direct was launched in 2004, after its founders, Martin and Tracy Hamilton, decided to diversify within their 20 year old vegetable growing business. The company has developed a range of vegetables traditionally cooked on the farm for natural taste and goodness. The products are processed without additives, preservatives or colourings. They are low in salt and are a good source of dietary fibre. Mash Direct's portfolio of over 15 products includes mashed potato, carrot and parsnip, cheese and onion mash, green cabbage, red cabbage and beetroot, garlic potatoes in a rich creamy sauce and leeks with a cheese sauce.Other winners included some of the biggest names in food processing such as Premier Foods, Kerrygold, and Greencore Frozen Foods.