Gourmet sandwich firm aims to wrap up more sales in Republic

Deli Lites Ireland aims to grow sales of gourmet sandwich, wraps and salads in the Republic of Ireland to over 50 per cent of turnover this year. To expand existing business, the company, based at Warrenpoint, County Down in Northern Ireland is investing over £600,000 in facilities and an extensive marketing drive.

The investment includes state-of-the-art production facilities that will enable the company to exploit business opportunities it has identified in the Republic of Ireland and to build on recent contracts which have raised the profile of the Deli Lites brand and led to gaining wide respect for the quality of its products and excellent customer services.

In addition to expanding sales of its existing range, Deli Lites is also focusing on initiatives that will expand its product portfolio and provide new opportunities in the fast growing 'food to go' marketplace.

Brian Reid, Managing Director, Deli Lites, commenting on the investment, said: "Our objective in making this strategic investment is to grow sales by over 25 per cent through an even sharper focus on the Republic, our primary export market where we already have solid platform for sustainable growth.

"Contracts there have increased our market standing and are helping to highlight the quality of our product range and the strength of our focus on exceeding the needs of customers everywhere.

"At the core of the strategy are the acquisition of the new and much larger premises and the achievement of British Retail Consortium (BRC) accreditation. BRC accreditation enables us to bid for contracts from major retailers throughout the island of Ireland," he added.

Formed in 2007 by Mr Reid and wife Jacqui, Deli Lites is a gourmet sandwich company, supplying sandwiches, wraps and salads to many of the top convenience stores, hospitals, cafés and corporate catering customers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. An associated company also operates a network of cafes.

Pic Caption: Pictured L-R are: Maynard Mawhinney, Invest NI Food Director and Brian Reid Managing Director of Deli Lites in Warrenpoint.