Innovative meatloaf from leading Northern Irish processor

A new meatloaf has been developed and is being launched by Doherty's, one of Northern Ireland's leading producers of chilled and frozen meat products, for retail customers in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Doherty's, based in Derry, is a family-owned and managed business which has been supplying quality meats to customers, initially in the North West of Ireland, since 1830. The company has grown steadily and now supplies major UK retailers including Asda and Tesco as well as Ocado, the leading UK on-line retailer. It also supplies Ireland's Musgrave Group.

The new 580g meatloaf comes in an oven-ready tray at around £3.40 and cooks in 45 minutes for a delicious meal. It's the most recent in a series of innovative products developed by the family business.

The company, which operates from a modern plant near Derry city centre, has also won major UK and Irish free-from awards for its gluten-free Irish pork sausages. It has also invested heavily in marketing activities including a rebranding under Doherty's Do It Right.

Sales manager Brian McQuaid says the meatloaf product has been developed in response to a business opportunity pinpointed by its market knowledge. "Our business success is based on placing a sharp focus on all our markets and our contacts with customers. We saw a gap in the market for a meatloaf that's rich in beef and has a distinctive beef flavour.

"What we have done is to create the new product using our expertise in producing quality beef burgers and beef balls with the finest pork from our award winning traditional Irish pork sausages in the development of the meatloaf.

"The main ingredients of the new product are beef (60%) and pork (20%) with herbs and spices. The meat is sourced from longstanding suppliers and is fully traceable,"' Mr McQuaid," adds.

Doherty's has a heritage in quality meat processing stretching back six generations and is widely acknowledged throughout the North West of Ireland to Donegal and Sligo as one of the country's leading meat processors.

In addition to growing business with leading retailers and independents, Doherty's has expanded its thriving van sales business supplying Northern Ireland and the border counties in the Republic of Ireland.

The company, which is BRC accredited and now employs 45 people at its modern and HACCP approved processing plant, produces sausages, minced beef products, bacon, ham and black and white puddings.