Finnebrogue opens new vegan and vegetarian factory in Co Down

Finnebrogue Artisan, the UK's leading top tier sausage producer, has announced a major diversification by opening a vegan and vegetarian factory at its base in Northern Ireland.

The state-of-the-art vegan and vegetarian facility will open on a site adjacent to its existing food-processing plant outside Downpatrick.

The family-owned Finnebrogue business - where sales have spiralled from around £5 million a decade ago to more than £80 million - has revolutionised the bacon and ham market in the last 12 months by launching the first mass-produced nitrite-free alternatives.

Managing director Brian McMonagle said: "Finnebrogue has always prided itself on providing consumers delicious, innovative products, and given the increasing demand for vegan and vegetarian alternatives, this new factory was the obvious next step in our extraordinary growth.

"We are determined not to stand still and are always looking to make food the best it can possibly be, without being bound by the way it's always been done.

"More and more people are switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet - and even meat eaters are increasingly seeking a day or two off a week."

Mr McMonagle added: "Alongside the opening of our new factory, our new product development team is doing extensive work to make some of the tastiest meat-free products on the market."

Finnebrogue has been producing vegetarian and vegan products for three years, but the opening of this new factory marks a significant up-scaling of the firm's meat-free production.

It is expected to turn over £30 million a year when at full capacity and will provide up to 90 new jobs.

Finnebrogue is one of the fastest growing food manufacturers in the UK. As well as its soaring sausage business and ground-breaking naked bacon and naked ham, it is a top supplier of venison and wagyu beef to many of the nation's leading retailers.