New yoghurt smoothies launched by Northern Irish farm business

Clandeboye Estate, the Northern Irish yoghurt producer, has launched an initial range of yoghurt smoothies. The artisan company, Northern Ireland's only indigenous yoghurt business, has developed four flavoured smoothies in 250ml containers - blueberry, mango, strawberry and toffee - which are now attracting the attention of leading retailers.

Clandeboye, which uses fresh milk from the estate's extensive Holstein and Jersey herd and has won a series of awards including UK Great Taste Awards for its Greek-style natural and stirred yoghurts with fruit layers, has trialled the new smoothies with independent retailers in Northern Ireland and been encouraged by the very positive feedback.

Bryan Boggs, Clandeboye's general manager, commenting on the new range, says: "We've been working to perfect the smoothies for some time as part of strategic focus on measures to grow our business.

"Diversifying into yoghurt smoothies was a logical step for us given our longstanding commitment on new product development. It enables us to use whey from our existing yoghurt operation and to blend with fruit purees to create a range of four low-fat smoothies.

"Our focus is on developing products using only the most natural ingredients. We trialled the smoothies successfully at a recent food festival in Belfast and have since won business from a number of independent retailers in Northern Ireland.

"Our objective is to win business from major retailers and then to develop opportunities that we've seen in the Republic. We'd also hope to develop business in Britain in the longer term," he adds.

The yoghurts and smoothies are produced in the artisan enterprise on Clandeboye Estate, which is situated in county Down, close to Bangor. Clandeboye is one of the largest privately owned estates in Ireland and is home of Lady Dufferin, The Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava.

The extensive estate has an award-winning herd of Holstein and Jersey cows.

The company launched its natural yoghurt and Greek style yoghurt in 2007 and is now one of the most successful artisan brands in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

In addition to its own Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt, the company launched a range of Heavenly Herd brand or fruit layered yoghurts in 2011. The extension of its portfolio of yoghurts helped double turnover

The company's yoghurt also featured recently in another new product from Northern Ireland - frozen yoghurt developed by Morelli, a family business that's been making Italian style ice cream for over 100 years.