Mash Direct products shortlisted in top UK awards

Two innovative products from Mash Direct, the Northern Irish producer of quick serve potato and vegetable meals, have been shortlisted in a major UK competition.

Mash Direct's Dauphinoise Potato and Mashed Potato with Maris Piper Potatoes have been shortlisted among five products in the Ready Meals Category of the Grocer Awards.

Tracy Hamilton, Mash Direct's commercial director, says: "It is brilliant to have both products on such a high quality shortlist. It is testament to the hard work of everyone involved here at Mash Direct that our products are being recognised for their quality throughout the industry."

The winning product will be announced on Tuesday 18th September at an event at The Wyndham Grand in Chelsea Harbour.

Based on the family farm at Comber, County Down, centre of Northern Ireland's potato growing industry, Mash Direct has a successful track record for award winning innovation in terms of production, new product ideas and marketing techniques.

The company is now an industry leader in the development of delicious quick-serve mashed potato, vegetable and cabbage foods produced without artificial additives, preservatives or colourings.

All Mash Direct vegetables are grown, steam cooked and packaged on the farm and distributed throughout the UK, Ireland and beyond top major supermarkets and other food outlets.

Mash Direct products carry the healthy 'traffic light' on the sleeve, as recommended by the Food Standards Agency. Mash Direct follows the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards set by the British Retail Consortium and has been awarded grade A* in this standard for the fourth year in a row.

Earlier in the year, Mash Direct was named by business consultants Deloitte as one of Ireland top 20 best-managed companies. In 2011, the company also won the award as Chilled Foods Manufacturing Company of the Year in the Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards.