M&S Festive boost for Northern Ireland venison processor

Northern Ireland's Finnebrogue has expanded its venison range for Marks and Spencer to meet the growing demand for the meat. Finnebrogue, based at Downpatrick in County Down, is benefiting from a 78 per cent hike in sales of venison at M&S stores throughout the UK and Ireland.

To meet the sharp rise in demand, Finnebrogue has added four new products for M&S for the festive season, two of which can be ordered exclusively from the M&S Christmas and New Year Food to Order catalogue - Rib Loin of Venison, French trimmed and served with a creamy Madeira and pink peppercorn sauce, and Venison Wellington, a joint topped with prune and bramley apple stuffing in butter-enriched pastry and accompanied by a rich red wine gravy.

Two of Finnebrogue's successful lines from 2010 are also available in store again - Venison Joint with Mushroom Duxelle and Bacon Lattice and Venison Rump with Mulled Winter Fruit Glaze.

Venison Cocktail Sausages and Venison and Roasted Red Onion Stuffing, also new to the range, will be available in all M&S stores this month.

Denis Lynn, Finnebrogue Estate managing director, says: "Our new product development team has worked extremely hard to create these products for Marks and Spencer's Christmas range.

"Venison is now seen as a healthy alternative to turkey or goose and offers a unique flavour to those looking for a different taste on Christmas Day. Historically, people have not been familiar with cooking venison so our ready cook products help to dispel the myth around the meat and, as a result, confidence in cooking venison is now growing year on year."

Conrad Digan, M&S head of foods Ireland, adds: 'Finnebrogue has been supplying us for over 10 years and has continuously made changes to its product lines to meet customer needs and trends.

"Sales suggest that our customers have acquired a taste for venison and in order to meet the growing demand for ready-prepared products which are fool proof solutions to dining occasions at Christmas, Finnebrogue has developed these new and exciting lines for the festive season.

"Whether served at parties or as the main meal on Christmas Day, there is plenty of choice for everyone whether they have tried venison before or not."