Mash Direct shortlisted for Made in UK Awards

Mash Direct, the Northern Ireland, producer of convenience, has been shortlisted in the Made in the UK Awards for manufacturing businesses.

The company, based on a family farm at Comber in county Down, is shortlisted in the Food and Drink category, sponsored by Atradius, in the awards. Mash Direct, owned and run by husband and wife team Martin and Tracy Hamilton, has won a string of awards for its enterprise, manufacturing prowess and innovation.

Mash Direct is included among some of the leading manufacturers in the UK, together with other more unsung businesses that have proven excellence in innovation, exports and technical expertise. Other companies in the awards include Jaguar Land Rover.
The awards are run by Insider magazine which is committed to recognising and rewarding manufacturing businesses around the UK for the quality of their work.

The regional manufacturing awards, part of the Made in… brand, are now firmly established in all parts of England and Wales, from the South West to the North East and everywhere in between, as well as Northern Ireland.
The winners of the national awards will be announced at a special gala awards ceremony in Liverpool on 17 June.

Mash Direct, specialising in pre-prepared potato and vegetable convenience products, has extensive business in Great Britain with major retailers such as Waitrose, Asda, Sainsbury, Spar, Tesco, Iceland and Ocado. It has identified the south of England as a key growth market in Britain and is also exploring opportunities in the US especially in Chicago and New England.

The company is also benefiting from the growing focus of consumers on foods with heritage and provenance.

International business currently provides 16 per cent of sales and includes markets such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and the Republic of Ireland. It recently secured a listing for eight products by high-end retailer Fortnum and Mason in London.