Tom and Ollie has invested £300,000 in opening a new production facility, expanding its online presence and retail division, and creating nine new jobs.

The artisan food manufacturer and retailer secured the funding through Whiterock Finance’s Growth Loan Fund II, which provides loans to Northern Ireland SMEs of between £100,000 and £1.5 million.

Belfast-based Tom and Ollie specialises in handcrafted Mediterranean deli foods with over 65 lines made in-house including hummus, pesto, tapenades, harissa paste and a variety of marinated olives and peppers, all made without preservatives and said to offer an authentic Mediterranean taste.

The funding has helped the team develop its website and add an online delivery service to its offering, with over 300 products now available for next day delivery across Ireland.

The business has over 20 years’ experience in the sourcing, production and supply of Mediterranean deli foods, working with carefully selected growers and suppliers across Europe, Turkey and North Africa.

Customers in wholesale and retail markets across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the UK include Dunnes, Sheridans Cheesemongers, Nisa, SPAR and over 40 independent retailers.

“The pandemic was devastating for our wholesale market and being able to invest in our website and operate a delivery service has been invaluable to our business during a year of lockdowns,” said Shay Mullan, director at Tom and Ollie.

“We can now deliver an unrivalled selection of the best of Irish and European foods to doorsteps across the region. We also developed a full retail offering which is available across the Island in a number of local shops, farm shops and large retailers.”

Before expanding into wholesale and retail, the business was one of the first traders to open a stall at St George’s Market following its refurbishment in 1997 and, post-lockdown, was among the first traders to return to St George’s Market when it re-opened in April.

Finance for the £30 millionGrowth Loan Fund II is provided by Invest Northern Ireland as part of its Access to Finance portfolio, and part funded by ERDF under the EU Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014-2020. Invest NI has also offered the company £48,000 towards the creation of the nine new jobs.

Jenna Mairs, senior investment manager at Whiterock Finance, said: “It’s great to be able to support local artisan-makers, especially those with skills and knowledge like the team at Tom and Ollie. The tenacity of the business and its ability to pivot quickly was exceptional during the pandemic when their traditional revenue streams generated from foodservice wholesale was non-existent.

“The ability to adapt and develop both a retail offering and an online delivery service is a testament to the passion the team at Tom and Ollie put into their craft and Whiterock has been delighted to be able to support that process.”

William McCulla, director of corporate finance, Invest NI, said: “In recent years, we have supported Tom and Ollie to help it build its sales in external markets. Our latest support for nine new jobs, combined with this Growth Loan Fund II investment from our suite of Access to Finance funds, will see the company expand its business to achieve further success internationally. We very much look forward to continuing our support with the company in the years to come.”

The Copeland Distillery has announced the launch of its first whiskey product, a blended whiskey called Merchant’s Quay. Its release marks the Distillery’s entry to a third spirits category having introduced a rum range in November 2020 amid the pandemic which joined its successful range of gins. 

The Copeland Distillery revealed a major investment in whiskey production when it took on a 125-year lease at an abandoned cinema in the harbour town of Donaghadee in 2019, and have also produced malt and pot-stilled whiskeys that are undergoing the maturation process and are expected to launch in 2024. 

Founder of The Copeland Distillery, Gareth Irvine, said: “Today is a huge milestone for all of us here at the Distillery. Merchants’ Quay, our first whiskey and only a taste of what’sto come, will support our goal of building credibility and establishing pedigree in the whiskey market in advance of the launch of our single malt and pot-stilled products which are currently being distilled and aged at the Distillery. 

“We have ambitious plans when it comes to whiskey, as part of our long-term goal of creating a world-class, varied portfolio of spirits that represent a taste of Northern Ireland’s craftsmanship and history. There is a growing demand for Irish whiskey, at home and internationally, and we are already seeing huge interest across Europe, Asia and North America in The Copeland Distillery’s growing range.

“As with all of our products, it is taste, innovation and historythat are important to us and Merchants’ Quay celebrates the connection that Donaghadee has had to maritime activity in Northern Ireland. The Copeland Islands and Donaghadee harbour, were busy trading ports for hundreds of years where ships have been launched, and casks landed, over the centuries.”

The Copeland distilling team and company founder, Gareth Irvine, collaborated with Brian Watts, Master Distiller at The Great Northern Distillery on all elements of the blending process for Merchants’ Quay. The result showcases the youngDistillery’s ability to create sophisticated and unique cask and flavour combinations. An impressive and unconventional blend, Merchants’ Quay consists of three different whiskeys matured in four casks. 

First, a grain whiskey matured in virgin oak casks and finished in re-char bourbon casks has been carefully selected to join a double distilled malt, aged in American bourbon barrels, while a triple distilled malt aged in Oloroso sherry barrels finishes the unique blend. 

The end result is an amber colour that has a masterful bouquet on both the nose and the palate. An enjoyably sweet aroma oftoffee apples and dark berries is layered above familiar undertones of vanilla and clove spice before a mild hint of fresh cedar hits. On the palate, Merchants’ Quay is a tasteful and complex experience of refreshing, fruity orange and honey whilst its finish is a contrasting yet complementary dry, toasty oak. 

Claire McAlinney, Trading Manager at Musgrave NI, said: “At Musgrave, supporting local is a key priority and we are delighted to welcome the Copeland Distillery’s new whiskey to SuperValu and Centra stores. Merchant’s Quay is an exciting addition to our shelves as it responds to a growing demand from our customers for a local whiskey that is as robust in character as it is in its storytelling and connection to Northern Ireland. The Copeland Distillery continues to grow and innovate and the addition of a whiskey to its range, alongside its gin and rum, makes for an appealing selection for our off-sales customer.”

Irvine continued: “Of course, as our first whiskey offering, we would be excited to introduce Merchants’ Quay at any time of the year, but the current timing, with hospitality businesses reopening, makes this launch both meaningful and rewarding. 

“It’s been a challenging year for us with our Distillery not being able to host tours and events as planned and we know for our friends and peers in hospitality, it’s been a rollercoaster. We’re hopeful that the coming weeks will bring a renewed sense of purpose and opportunity to everyone in the trade, and new launches represent a key part of working together to build our businesses back up.”

Merchant’s Quay is priced at £31.99 (RRP) for 700ml. It isavailable to purchase online at CopelandDistillery.com and in SuperValu and Centra stores across Norther Ireland, along with selected independent off-licences, from Thursday 20^thMay. 

Skilled chefs and lifelong friends Mark Haughey and John McCartney decided to set up their own small food production business to provide the popular meals they had been creatingin hotels, cafes and restaurants around the Newry area to shops and other outlets throughout Northern Ireland.

Their objective in setting up JustGoodGrub three years ago was to offer retailers and caterers “simple, delicious and fresh grub” cooked by them from their original recipes andingredients sourced mostly from local suppliers.

“We had grown out of working for other people and wanted to do something creative for ourselves in food preparation,” Mark explains. “We decided to specialise in pre-packed mealsand desserts that were fresh and ready to eat,” he says. “We had been talking about setting up in business for a number of years to enable us to offer our culinary knowledge and expertise on a wider basis and decided to take the plunge in 2018. We hadn’t been going for that long when the coronavirus pandemic appeared and many of the cafes we had been building business with had to shut their doors,” he adds.

The small business, however, benefited from a sharp growth in retail sales as more local shoppers turned to local food options and delis and small food shops decided to add ready meals to their shelves. The meals are distributed through a deal with Gourmet Foods from their kitchen unit in Newry which also includes a small deli.

They turned to digital technology to help meet the hospitality restrictions by developing an app to enable consumers to order meals on smart phones and computers.  “With the app, we have been able to increase orders by 85 percent since the start in January and to improve efficiency in our kitchen,” he says. “It makes it easier for us to plan ahead. The app means that people can select a meal and then click for collection at our premises,” adds Mark, who grew up in Newry, John hails from Katesbridge.

“Due to the uncertainties of Covid restrictions and reduced town footfall we decided to launch an app that allowed customers complete convenience to order of our full menu online and choose a collection time,” continues John.

The enterprise, which is based at Newry’s WIN Industrial Estate, currently supplies more than 100 delis, independent grocers and family butchers across Northern Ireland with a range of freshly cooked meals. The business they began together now employs over 50 people and is poised for further growth.

They brought experience over 50 years in kitchens throughout the area to running their own venture which is clearly flourishing as people appreciate increasingly the quality and flavours of a menu that includes a broad range of traditional dishes such as roast beef, chicken and turkey and contemporary meals such as burgers, Asian curries, lasagne and Mexican burritos and tacos. The company currently cooks over 10,000 meals every week in Newry.

The meals are also on the menu at a deli, The Food House, they opened in Banbridge last August along with their first sit-in café and a Mexican food bar. The investment has created 14 jobs in the market town.  A new and larger deli and food hall beside the existing JustGoodGrub base is scheduled to open.

The success they are enjoying has given the entrepreneurial duo the confidence to push ahead with the opening of a much bigger deli and food hall, The Food Market, in Newry later this month.

“The new food hall will also enable us to expand our networkof local suppliers that we currently work with,” says John.“JustGoodGrub is all about fresh produce and great taste, with something for everyone from Asian dishes to traditional dinners to our low calorie JustGuiltFree meals for the calorie conscious also made from fresh locally sourced ingredients in our Newry kitchen.

“Working with local producers is an immensely important element of our business, one which the new Food Market will drive and provide exciting opportunities for both existing and new local suppliers in Newry and beyond,” Mark adds.

As well as the 30 lines they produce for distribution they also have another 70 plus sold exclusively in their Deli in Newry and The Food House Banbridge. This includes six different fresh soups, six different hand produced delicious salads, many high-quality family and tasty individual meals.

The talented chefs and businessmen are now considering expanding into the Republic of Ireland.  “This would make sound business sense because we’ve already had approaches from potential customers in Dundalk and Monaghan in Republic,” Mark adds.

Five Northern Ireland organisations are the first to pledge their commitment to the UK wide Peas Please initiative, which aims to make vegetables more appealing, accessible and affordable for everyone. They will be among 100 major organisations in the UK which are pledging support for the important project.

UK research shows that 95 percent of teenagers currently don’t eat enough veg. In response, Ulster University Business School became the 100^th pledger making it their commitment to promote to their students, through their teaching and research, the important role vegetables can play in improving diets, the environment and the economy.

The Northern Ireland pledgers are Mash Direct in Comber, a specialist in vegetable sides and convenience meals, Henderson Group in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland’s biggest food wholesaler, Ulster Farmers’ Union, The Horticulture Forum, and University of Ulster Business School.

Since Peas Please was launched three years ago it has delivered 162 million additional portions of vegetables the food system working across all UK regions.

Eighty percent of UK grocery retailers have now committedto major initiatives to help drive up vegetable consumption. Supporters also include Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Lidl and Co-op.

Peas Please says “the ambitious targets for veg sales and procurement are vital to increase vegetable consumption”. This is a main focus of the work of the Food Foundation and partners Food Sense Wales, Nourish Scotland and Food NI in the lead up to the United Nations Food Systems Summit in September and COP26 in November. 

The success shows a real commitment from retailers and food businesses to move towards clear and transparent reporting on vegetable sales which is seen as a vital part of transforming the food system to be more sustainable and provide healthy food for everyone.

 Michele Shirlow, Food NI Chief Executive, says: “We are delighted to be supporting the immensely important Peas Please project because of its strategic focus on improving the health and wellbeing of people here and especially children and young people through the greater consumption of vegetables”.

“We hope that the leadership being provided by Northern Ireland pledgers including Mash Direct, Henderson Group and Ulster University will inspire many more companies and organisations to back the project designed to improve health across Northern Ireland, and the UK”.

“The project is hoping to support efforts to counter dietary problems and conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cardiac conditions and to ensure people here and in the future have easy access to a healthier, affordable and sustainable diet.” 

“It is great to see 100 major food businesses commit to increasing veg consumption to support better health for millions of people.  Transparent and regular reporting against targets is vital if we are to turn the tide on our current dietary crisis and see future generations face a better and healthier future with everyone having access to an affordable and sustainable diet,” adds Mrs Shirlow.