Tasty treats in Netherlands for Melting Pot fudge
Handmade gourmet fudge and fondue specialist, Blackthorn Foods, from Northern Ireland, has won first time business in the Netherlands for its award winning Melting Pot branded products.
The company, based in Belfast, has begun supplying its complete range of hand crafted fudges and fondues to Rosenberg Import BV in Roosendaal, near Eindhoven.
The business in the Netherlands is Blackthorn's first in Europe outside the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
The new business breakthrough is the outcome of a marketing drive to grow business in key European markets and builds on the success of the artisan company, run by sisters Dorothy Bittles, Cathy Johnson and Jenny Lowry, in the UK and Ireland.
Blackthorn Foods, which has gained a string of UK Great Taste Awards, has also secured new business with Partridges, the high-end market food store in London's Kensington.
The company, which recently expanded its processing operations to meet the growing demand for its extensive range of gourmet fudges and fondues, has supplied products for sale in the US.
Jenny Lowry, Blackthorn's marketing director, commenting on the deal with Rosenberg, says: "We've been exploring opportunities for our products in Europe for some time and decided to focus on the Netherlands. It's a market that's easily accessed from Northern Ireland by air and one in which consumers appreciate the type of premium quality confectionery that we produce.
"Rosenberg is a good fit for us because of its successful track record and distribution network. We will be working closely with the Rosenberg team on promotional activities to help in developing sales throughout the country. The Netherlands, in addition, is an ideal platform for expansion into other neighbouring markets.
Rosenberg Import BV imports, distributes and markets quality gourmet foods throughout the Netherlands. Rosenberg's portfolio includes chocolate, confectionery, coffee accessories and seasonal foods for Dutch stores.
Rosenberg's branded products are sold to consumers through several supermarkets, gift shops, coffee corners, speciality shops, foodservice, airports, wholesalers, restaurants, department stores and cash and carry outlets.
Blackthorn Foods was formed by the sisters in 2004 using a fudge recipe developed by their father. The traditional and flavoured fudges are made without additives, trans fats or preservatives. Six flavours have won Great Taste Awards from the UK Guild of Fine Foods.
As well as handmade butter fudge, the company produces a range of flavoured products including honeycomb and chocolate, rum and raisin, Baileys and white chocolate and stem ginger and dark chocolate.
In addition to Partridges, Blackthorn's Melting Pot branded products are stocked by two of the largest UK distributors, Hider Foods and Cotswold Fayre, Cress and Co in Scotland, and Simply Wild and Fainne Oir Foods in the Irish Republic. The products can also be found in Dobbies and Wholefoods in the UK.
The company has recorded growth rates in excess of 50 per cent a year over the past five years.
Pic Caption: Sisters Dorothy Bittles, Cathy Johnson and Jenny Lowry of Blackthorn Foods