New Tesco deal for Northern Ireland's TS Foods

TS Foods in Northern Ireland is to create a new hot deli range of products for Tesco in a £600,000 deal.

Based at Castlewellan in county Down, TS Foods has seen business with Tesco for its range of products including stuffing, grow by 50 per cent. It aims to create six new jobs.

The new range will allow TS Foods to significantly increase its business with Tesco NI through innovative products such as pork sausage rolls with caramelised onion and cheese and apple and sage flavours, plus breaded cod bites and chicken olives.

TS Foods' Northern Irish heritage is rooted in its produce, with all pork and chicken locally sourced. The award winning company prides itself on the exceptional choice, quality and value of its products and has produced the new deli range in response to consumer demand for convenient food, that doesn't compromise on taste or quality.

Joanne Molloy, commercial director of TS Foods says: "We've been supplying Tesco NI for 20 years and the relationship has allowed us to expand the company and provide opportunities for our own Northern Ireland suppliers. Our ethos aligns with Tesco NI in supporting the local economy, whether it's providing jobs for local people or carefully selecting the finest ingredients for our products.

"We're always striving to innovate and develop new products according to customer demand. Today's consumers' tastes are ever changing and we try to be receptive to that.

This range is designed to cater to the growing desire for tasty, quality food that's also convenient," she adds.

Sandra Weir, fresh food buyer at Tesco Northern Ireland, says "We're excited to introduce this new range of deli treats to our hot deli counters. Customers are increasingly demanding tastier convenient meal solutions and the feedback on this range from TS Foods has been excellent."

At the start of the 12-month long Year of Food and Drink initiative Tesco announced a £500,000 programme to provide a platform for the local food and drinks industry to engage with the scheme. Their year-long programme has included involving local suppliers and artisan producers in in-store food fairs and multi-store sampling as well as radio and press advertising and the hugely successful Taste Northern Ireland Festival in September.

The latest deal with the Castlewellan based company underpins an ongoing commitment to local produce that has been at the heart of the Year of Food and Drink campaign.

Pic Caption: Anna Hazzard and David Steele of TS Foods with Aiden Furey of Tesco NI.