Northern Ireland Copeland Gin listed by Marks and Spencer

Northern Ireland's Copeland Gin, a specialist in fruit infused craft gins, has been listed by Marks and Spencer.

The top retailer has chosen Copeland's unique raspberry and mint gin for its 18 stores across Northern Ireland - just 11 months after the launch of the company and its 'ginfusions'.

As well as the listing by M&S, Copeland Gin has also secured a distributor in the Republic of Ireland in a deal with The Celtic Whiskey Shop in Dublin.

Gareth Irvine, the founder and managing director of Copeland Spirits, which is based at Saintfield in county Down, describes the M&S listing as a "most significant boost for the business".

"It's a marvellous endorsement of the taste and quality of my raspberry and mint gin that is produced using locally sourced raspberries and produced in small batches.

"Winning business with such an important and quality-focused retailer as M&S is tremendously encouraging for a recently established business like Copeland Spirits and our gin. I was delighted when M&S approached me to stock the raspberry and mint product," he adds.

The company was established in 2016 following a crowdfunding campaign and soon launched two products fusing gin with local fruit botanicals - raspberry and mint and rhuberry from rhubarb and blackberry.

Copeland Gin, in addition, is focusing on sales in Britain and further afield and is planning to enhance its range of products.

"I am currently following up several export opportunities and have been encouraged by very positive feedback about the gins. It's been a tremendously exciting 11 months for the business," he adds.