Heavenly Tasty wins business from top retailer in Portugal

Heavenly Tasty Organics, the Northern Ireland leader in natural foods and drinks for babies and toddlers, has won its first export sales in Portugal.

The company, which is based at Augher in county Tyrone is now supplying eight lines to Auchan in Portugal for its stores and thriving online business. Auchan in Portugal is an integral part of Groupe Auchan, the top French retailer which has an international network of industry leading supermarkets.

Among the award-winning products being supplied by Heavenly Tasty is its organic Corn Puffs, Veggie Waffles, Halo Bites, Wafer Wisps and Italian Breadsticks. Listed products also feature a winner of the coveted UK Quality Food and Drinks and another a finalist in the awards.

Heavenly Tasty managing director Shauna Blair, who founded the pioneering baby and toddler foods enterprise, commenting on its latest export success, says: “Winning business for eight of our lines from such an important international retailer as Auchan is a tremendously encouraging development for us and a great endorsement of the quality, taste and provenance of our range of natural products.

“Auchan Retail will feature the products in the pharmacy section of its successful website as well as in its stores. The retailer has almost 60 modern hypermarkets and other stores across Portugal, including 30 in Lisbon and a vast customer base. It has been trading very successfully and profitably in Portugal since 1996.

“Being listed by such a prestigious retailer is particularly important because our market research found that shoppers in Portugal prefer to buy from supermarkets. In addition, the group is investing extensively in its digital shopping activities which will also benefit us as we seek to grow significant sales in this important European marketplace which also has a growing commitment to natural and organic products especially for babies and toddlers.

“As well as the new business in Portugal, the deal gives us an opportunity to develop contacts within Auchan’s international network of over 4,000 hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores. We’ve now achieved a good reference site within one of the world’s biggest retailer group,” adds Mrs Blair.

In addition to the launch in Auchan, Heavenly will be on the shelf in Apolonia supermarkets in the Algarve from April.

The new export business in Portugal is the result of a marketing drive by Heavenly Tasty to grow international sales particularly with major retail chains.

Mrs Blair, a mum of four young children, established the company in 2009 and runs it with husband James, the commercial director, from their base in county Tyrone.

She began developing natural foods when she was unable to find the type of baby products she wished in Northern Ireland.

The company has expanded into key markets in Britain, the Irish Republic, where it recently won business from Dunne’s Stores, the biggest retailer there, as well as other parts of Europe and the Middle East.