New convenience meals from Willowbrook Farm Foods

Willowbrook Foods, Ireland's biggest processor of lettuce and salads, has launched an innovative range of convenience meals. Based on the family farm at Killinchy in county Down, Willowbrook Foods has developed a new range of ready-made meals that includes dishes that can be either popped in a microwave for a delicious hot meal or consumed cold for both lunch and dinner.

The product range, most of which come in 220g transparent packs, includes dishes such as Chinese Style King Prawns, Prawn Asian Noodles, Fiery Chicken Salad, and Spicy Chicken Cous Cous. The RRP is £2.50.

The new range is the latest from Willowbrook Food's Innovation Centre which was opened in 2011 and has focused on developing products in liaison with key customers in both retail and foodservice.

John McCann, managing director of Willowbrook Foods, commenting on the company's latest launch, says: "The 'Food to Go' range is designed to provide a solution to those who want a tasty meal that can be cooked quickly and also offers something different in terms of ingredients.

"We know from our longstanding dialogue with major retailers particularly in the UK and Ireland that younger consumers are keen on different flavour combinations.

"The experienced team in our Food Innovation Centre worked closely with retailers to come up with the range of innovative dishes for younger consumers in particular seeking a quick and tasty lunch or dinner.

"Our trialing of the range with focus groups produced immensely positive feedback especially in terms of taste. The range represents our longstanding commitment to the development of innovative market-led foods that also combine heritage and provenance. All our products are fully traceable and thereby ensure customers quality and safety."

The new range is now part of an extensive product portfolio that covers more than 300 foods including fresh vegetable packs, salad bags, prepared vegetables, mash range, cooked noodles and pasta and luxury dressed salads for customers as diverse as Tesco, The Henderson Group, Musgraves, Booths, McDonalds, KFC, Subway, Dominoes and the Hilton Hotel Group.

The company, which employs around 250 people, operates from three plants in Northern Ireland which have achieved BRC Grade A in the last 10 years. Willowbrook Foods are currently Ireland's biggest user of lettuces and other vegetables, grown in Northern Irish farms and farms throughout the UK and Europe. It also grows its own bean sprouts in Northern Ireland.