Kestrel Foods to supply UAE grocery stores

Kestrel Foods, the Northern Irish dried fruit and nut producer, has secured a contract to supply its sports nutrition snacks in the United Arab Emirates.

Acti-Snack, a dried fruit, nut and seed mixture, was launched in 2013 by Kestrel for consumers interested in sports and nutrition. It will now supply the range to LuLu Hypermarkets, which operates a chain of grocery stores across the Middle East and India.

The company is based at Portadown in county Armagh.

Lorraine Hall, Kestrel's sales and marketing director, says: "We recognised an opportunity and used our knowledge of dried fruit, nuts and seeds to create a range which not only tastes great but also focuses on meeting nutritional and athletic objectives.

"The initial response from retailers has been hugely positive, with over 100 outlets across the UK, Ireland and Norway already stocking Acti-Snack. This major partnership with LuLu in UAE will be pivotal in driving the brand forward internationally."

The contract comes after a 'landmark' year for Kestrel Foods, with company-wide sales increasing by 25 per cent on 2012/13.

Mrs Hall adds: "The past 12 months represent a landmark year for our business. Our strategy remains focused on exports, new product innovation and finding new routes to market through online partnerships and foodservice supply."