Made with Love in attractive new gift packs

Made with Love xo, the award winning producer of jams, chutneys and relishes in Northern Ireland, has launched a range of gift packs aimed at export markets.

The company has launched an initial range of three gift packs each containing four 100g jars. The range includes a selection of chutneys for cheese and a 'collection of jams made with whiskey, vodka, amaretto and berry liqueur. The compact products all feature attractive packaging that makes them a perfect gift from Ireland.

Made with Love xo, which is based in Bangor, county Down, has won recognition for the quality and taste of its products from the UK Great Taste Awards and the Blas na hEireann Irish National Food Awards.

Founder Margaret Cooper says the decision to develop the gift packs was influenced by its success at Belfast International Airport, where the company is among a group of Northern Irish artisan producers in the Taste of Ulster shop.

"The packs are a response to feedback from travellers especially those bound for destinations outside the UK for smaller jars to enable them to sample a number of my products. They've generally had to choose just one of the traditional 220g jars for their hand baggage.

"Carrying more than one of the bigger jars can be difficult. The gift packs are much more convenient to carry and also gives customers a chance to sample a wider range of flavours.

"The packs have also attracted considerable interest here from delis, and I'd hope to win business outside Northern Ireland with them. I've already had approaches from potential customers in Europe and South America. The packs are also ideal for promotional and marketing purposes," she adds.

All Made with Love xo products are hand crafted and ingredients sourced by Mrs Cooper.

She set up the business in 2012 and now supplies leading retailers and delis. In addition to supplying these outlets, she has supplied leading hamper businesses.

"The gift packs are also perfect for hampers, and I'd hope to expand this part of my business.

"What I am doing is to develop a unique product range that now stretches to 30 including chilli jam, which is proving very popular with shoppers, along with a plum and vanilla jam. In addition, my unique 'Christmas in a Jar', a quite different blend of tasty ingredients for the festive season, has won national awards."