Gourmet sauces for top Irish retailer

Peppup, the Northern Irish gourmet ketchup producer, has won its first significant business in the Republic of Ireland with a deal to supply Donnybrook Fair, the upmarket retailer in Dublin.

Based in Portaferry, county Down, Peppup is providing its original and chilli ketchup products to Donnybrook Fair, one of the Republic's most successful and respected gourmet retailers. The retailer, a family run business has five stores in the greater Dublin area.

Founded by Turin-born businessman Luca Montorio and wife Liz, Peppup has won a series of UK Great Taste Awards sauces to recipes they have created using roasted peppers and tomatoes. Both the sauces are gluten-free.

The company also counts Fortnum and Mason, Booths and SuperValu among its customers. The small business was formed n 2013 and also sells its sauces across Northern Ireland.

Mr Montorio, commenting on the new Donnybrook Fair deal, says: "This is a hugely significant contract for us in a market we are targeting for fast growth. What it does is to give us a firm springboard for growth with this very important and quality conscious retail chain.

"The Republic is a substantial marketplace with enormous potential for the sauces we have developed and new products in the pipeline. We intend to focus resources on building this market and also strengthening our position in Great Britain especially with retailers such as Donnybrook Fair which share our passion for quality food with outstanding taste.

"This hugely encouraging listing follows an approach to the retailer. The response was positive and encouraging, leading to our first business with the company," he adds.

In addition to the four stores in Dublin, Donnybrook Fair has grown to include a cookery school, restaurant and catering service.