"Gold' listing for Northern Ireland's Mash Direct

Northern Ireland convenience meals business Mash Direct was shortlisted in the prestigious Grocer Gold Awards.

The company, which specialises in potato and vegetable ready meals, was listed in the SME category, which is an award designed to encourage smaller fmcg players.

Mash Direct, a family business run by Martin and Tracy Hamilton, is based on an extensive farm at Comber in county Down.

The company supplies its range of products to major retailers in the UK and Republic of Ireland and exports to other parts of Europe, the US and United Arab Emirates.

Entrants for The Grocer SME award must confirm that the parent company's UK retail sales do not exceed £50 million, as well as providing sales, share or other evidence to support the case for outstanding performance by a new or existing SME brand in response to changing trade or consumer needs.

Launched in 2003, The Grocer wanted to break the mould by creating a different kind of awards; one that would make a truly positive statement about the great work being done by the companies in this fast-moving industry. With that in mind the awards are focused on key business areas such as innovation and customer satisfaction.

Some of the awards are decided using independent and exclusively commissioned research from The Grocer and its partners. In addition, there were 19 categories where companies self-entered in order to be considered.