Farm cheese success in Russia

Dale Farm, the leading Northern Irish dairy processing business, has won a contract in Russia worth around one million euro. The company is to supply its mild white cheese to a customer in St Petersburg in a major deal signed during the recent Gulfood Exhibition in Dubai.

The company, part of United Dairy Farmers, Northern Ireland's biggest dairy co-operative, has won a series of international awards for the quality of its cheddar cheese and is involved in a major export drive for the products. Dale Farm successes include the UK Great Taste Awards and the Nantwich International Cheese Festival.

Dale Farm was part of the Northern Ireland Naturally pavilion, organised by Invest Northern Ireland, the UK region's business development body, at the show in the United Arab Emirates, now among the most important events in the global food calendar.

Dale Farm, which produces its range of award winning cheese at Cookstown in county Tyrone, has taken part in Gulfood over a number of years and has secured business for other products, including milk powder, at previous exhibitions.

Dr David Dobbin, Dale Farm chief executive, commenting on the company's latest export success, says:"We see Russia and China as key growth markets for our export sales and are delighted to have won this substantial contract, which is the result of the market development work by our sales team. They have been well-supported by Invest Northern Ireland."

The company has also won business in the past for its whey powder in China. It has successful dairy businesses in England and Scotland and is a major producer of liquid milk, butter and yoghurt.

Gulfood 2013 was among the most successful exhibitions for Northern Ireland companies. Other companies announcing business there were Mash Direct, Comber, County Down, for its range of quick-serve potato and vegetable dishes and Glenarm Organic Salmon, County Antrim, for farmed salmon from County Antrim.

Mash Direct is now supplying products to Spinneys, while Glenarm Organic Salmon will feature on the menus of upmarket hotels.

Pic Caption:Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster is pictured at Gulfood in Dubai with Dale Farm's Brian Moffatt.