TESCO BOARD ENJOYS NORTHERN IRELAND FOOD AND DRINK AT UNIQUE SHOWCASE
Twenty one Northern Ireland companies supplied food and drink for a special buffet lunch for the Tesco Commercial Board. Top executives from the Northern Ireland companies were also on hand to meet directors at the heart of the £57 billion business, now the world's third biggest retailer with a presence in 14 countries.
The showcase was the first-ever organised by the Tesco board for a UK region. The decision to set up the presentation and lunch which was supervised by celebrity chef Paul Rankin, was the result of a joint initiative by Invest NI's Food Marketing Team and Cliff Kells from Tesco's top management in Northern Ireland.
Maynard Mawhinney, Invest NI Food Director, commenting on the showcase, said: ???We greatly appreciate the very positive response from Tesco's top management to our approach to set up an event which provided unprecedented access for our companies to key decision makers. ???It provided our companies with an ideal platform to demonstrate the quality, provenance and innovation which underpins local food and drink, now a £3 billion industry that's focused on growing sales outside Northern Ireland. ???Tesco makes a huge contribution to the wellbeing of the agri-food industry throughout Northern Ireland by spending £480 million annually on almost 2,000 food and drink products from 92 local suppliers. In addition, almost 10,000 local people are employed by Tesco here.
???Another and immensely important contribution to local food industry is made by Tesco's technical team in the work the members do with existing and potential suppliers in developing new products, packaging and labeling that meet the needs and aspirations of customers and are also in line with increasingly exacting environmental regulations and requirements. ???This dedication of Tesco management in Northern Ireland to sourcing products and services from a range of local suppliers also benefits more than 3,000 farmers here who supply the company with quality beef including over 750 who provide farm quality assured Tesco Finest Aberdeen Angus Beef to the retailer's meat counters across Northern Ireland,??? he added. Tesco currently has 45 stores ??" 30 superstores, one Metro and four Extra stores as well as 10 Express convenience stores in Northern Ireland. Pic caption: Sir Terry - Still Very Much Hands On: Sir Terry Leahy, Tesco, Chief Executive pours a glass of orange juice for Kevin McCann, P McCann & Sons, the Portadown based fruit packer, processor and fruit juice manufacturer at the Northern Ireland food and drink showcase held at Tesco HQ in England. The event was organised by Invest Northern Ireland in conjunction with Tesco. Northern Ireland Food and Drink Companies taking part in the event with the Tesco Commercial Board
Avondale Foods, Craigavon ??" soups and salads
Dale Farm, Belfast ??" butter, cheese, yoghurts
Clandeboye Estate, Bangor ??" natural and fruit yoghurts
Finnebrogue, Downpatrick ??" sausages and venison
Fivemiletown Creamery, Fivemiletown ??" cheddar and speciality cheeses
Irwin's Bakery, Craigavon ??" bread, morning goods and cakes
Johnston's Coffee, Lisburn ??" ground coffee
Kettyle Irish Foods, Lisnaskea ??" beef and pork
Mash Direct, Comber ??" convenience meals
McCann and Sons, Craigavon ??" apple and other juices
Morrow's Foods, Newtownards ??" pate
Mullins, Kilrea ??" ice cream and desserts
Northern Salmon, Glenarm ??" farmed salmon
Provenance, Newtownards ??" sauces and mayonnaise
Punjana, Belfast ??" tea
Unimush, Armagh ??" mushrooms
White's Oats, Tandragee ??" porridge oats and toasted oat snacks
Whitewater Brewery, Kilkeel ??" ales and lager