Northern Irish wheatgrass pioneer in rapid sales growth

Squeeze Juice Café, the Northern Irish producer of fresh wheatgrass juice, experienced a 170 per cent growth in sales last year to markets ranging from Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland to Switzerland and Israel. Distributors have recently been appointed in the Republic.

The award winning artisan business, based at Warrenpoint in County Down, is investing in new production/office facilities and using the latest hydroponic technology to expand output of their innovative ready to drink juice.

This will enable it to meet continuing growth in orders from its network of distributors and through its e-commerce site, currently providing around 60 per cent of its business.

Squeeze Juice Café, formed in 2010 by Jacquelyn Stewart, has developed a solid base in London that includes a number of health stores and juice bars. The fresh juice is produced for consumption in shot-sized 30ml pouches which have a shelf-life of 12 weeks.

She says: "The healthy benefits of wheatgrass juice are being recognised increasingly in Britain and further afield. These benefits are backed up by research showing that wheatgrass juice is a natural energy drink that can be a liver and kidney tonic and help with skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis.

"Wheatgrass juice also helps boost the immune system and is a living anti-bacterial food that aids cell oxygenation. Wheatgrass juice contains over 90 mostly alkaline minerals

"The growth in 2013 and projected increase in sales this year led to my decision to expand the business. We will be able to grow substantially more wheatgrass which we will continue to harvest, juice, process and package to ensure full provenance and traceability.

"Our fresh wheatgrass juice is a natural product without additives or preservatives."

The company gained a prestigious IGD Food Industry Award in 2012 - the Kraft Leading Edge Award - for transforming a small café into a successful online business. The company was also a finalist in Women in Business Awards 2012 in the category of Entrepreneurship/Innovation.