BAKERY COMPANY IS ON A ROLLl

A Northern Ireland bakery company has just secured its first listings in the UK multiple and independent retail sector and sales are on a real roll! Located in Loughgall, County Armagh, Braeside Country Pies' products are now being distributed by Cambridge-based Fordham Fine Foods and Devon Cakes of Ottery St Mary, with both companies having already taken several orders each since April. Commenting on the new business, Jeff Lee, Managing Director of Braeside Country Pies, said: ???We already have a well-established business throughout Ireland, but felt there was a lot of potential for the company to broaden its reach into the wider UK market and we are delighted to be taking those first steps. Fordham Fine Foods is distributing our Christine's Farmhouse Bakery Swiss Rolls in three flavours ??" Jam and cream, Chocolate and Lemon Flavoured Chocolate Chip ??" and Assorted Cake Sections, which comprise of six slices on a serving plate in two each of three flavours ??" plain Madeira, Coffee and Chocolate ??" with different toppings and decorations. ???The first order to Fordham went out in April and we have since shipped a further three orders to them, so sales are going very well. Our Swiss Rolls are particularly popular, as there doesn't appear to be a wide choice of manufacturers in the UK because making them is quite labour intensive. Our Swiss Rolls deliciously light and fluffy ??" real melt-in-the mouth ??" but they are also very competitively priced. ???Our experience with Fordham Fine Foods has given us the confidence to actively seek to grow our UK business and we have since secured distribution with Devon Cakes,??? continued Jeff. ???Since May, they have been taking three pallets of cakes, Swiss rolls and buns every two weeks. These are all supplied with the ingredients labels on the base of the packaging but the top is left clear for Devon Cakes to brand label to customer requirements. ???All our products are 80 per cent hand made and finished in our SALSA accredited bakery,??? concluded Jeff. ???Because we are a small business, we are extremely flexible and very responsive and work closely with clients to develop products specific to their needs, whether under our own brands or for private label. All our products are made from top quality ingredients, sourced locally where possible, and all are very competitively priced. We know we have a great product and the capability to deliver to spec and on time. Our first foray into the UK market has given the company a great boost and we are already in talks with a number of other potential distributors and look forward to seeing our business continue to grow.??? Braeside Country Pies is owned by business partners Jeff Lee, on whose bramley apple farm the purpose-built bakery is located, and Leslie McNeill. Originally established seven years ago to add value to the family fruit business through the production of apple and rhubarb pies, the business has grown from strength to strength, especially since the acquisition in 2008 of another local business, Christine's Farmhouse Bakery, which diversified and expanded the product range into cakes, tray bakes, biscuits and traditional Irish fruit loaves. Pic Caption:Braeside Country Pies Directors Jeff Lee and Leslie McNeill with a selection of the cakes now available in the UK through Fordham Fine Foods and Devon Cakes.