Big Pot soups listed by Makro in Britain
Big Pot Company, the Northern Ireland producer of a range of fresh soups, including gluten-free and low-fat products, has won business from Makro, its first sales in Britain.
The new contract, the result of a partnership with Nicco Foods of Cheshire, has led to Big Pot supplying four soup lines to 30 Makro depots in Great Britain.
The leading European wholesaler has placed an initial order for Big Soup's 500g tomato and basil, vegetable broth, French onion, and carrot and coriander products.
Big Pot, founded by directors Alison Seaney and Colin Monaghan in 2009, teamed up with Nicco last year to help sell and distribute its soups to retail and wholesale outlets outside Northern Ireland.
"We're extremely enthusiastic about the new business with Makro and appreciative of the advice and sales support from such a successful and well-connected food business as Nicco," says Mr Monaghan.
"Our business in Ireland has been going really well and we hope to see a significant expansion in the stores stocking the soups in the near future. We've been working flat out to meet the demand particularly during promotional activity.
"The new deal with Makro gives us a solid platform for further growth in Britain particularly with smaller retailers and foodservice organisations such as hotels and restaurants. It's all immensely exciting and looking good for the future."
David Nickisson, managing director of Nicco Foods, is confident that there's a good market in Britain for Big Pot soups. "The Makro contract follows presentations to several leading retailers in Britain and is an important breakthrough for the company and our overall marketing drive. What helped in sealing the deal was the quality and taste of the Big Pot soups. Indeed all the companies were impressed by the products.
"Soup is no longer a seasonal product. The recession and pressure on incomes has led to soup being regarded as a healthy, convenient, value for money and filling food option particularly among consumers with a fixed income.
"Big Pot's products offer nutritional benefits such as being low-fat and gluten-free. We are confident that there's scope in Britain for such quality products."
Big Pot, based at Cookstown in County Tyrone, uses raw materials sourced from neighbouring farms and is focused on creating nutritious, healthy and gourmet soups.
In addition to retail products, Big Pot produces a range of fresh hand-made soups, sauces and stew in five litre pots for foodservice customers such as Kerry Foodservice and other deli and coffee shops.
In 2009, the company also launched five varieties of soup in 500g retail pots focused on fresh nutritious recipes which are now listed by Tesco and in most of the independent and convenience stores in Northern Ireland. Top seller is the company's vegetable soup. It is also planning to develop a beef stew for retail outlets.
Nicco Foods has been distributing Northern Ireland food in Britain for three years and is projecting sales of around £1 million this year. Among Northern Ireland products being distributed by Nicco Foods are chicken and cakes.
Nicco Foods Limited, formed by Mr Nickisson in 1993 as a sales and marketing organisation for manufacturers throughout Europe, has built its business by supplying major retail and catering accounts.
A £10 million plus business, Nicco now markets frozen, chilled and ambient products under brand business and private label. It has a particularly strong presence in the frozen food market, which is accounting for 40 per cent of its business, 35 per cent in chilled products and 25 per cent in ambient products - supplying a wide range of retail and catering customers.