Glastry Farm Ice Cream, Northern Ireland’s producer of luxury ice cream and sorbets, has won business with German discounter Aldi in Ireland.

 

The contract is Glastry’s first with Aldi and will see three flavours of the Northern Ireland farm-based producer’s ice cream on sale in Aldi stores in the Republic of Ireland. The flavours, available in 500ml tubs for Aldi, are lemon meringue,  yellowman honeycomb and chocolate and salted caramel.

 

Dairy farmer Will Taylor, who established the business in 2007, commenting on the deal with Aldi, says: “We are thrilled to receive this order, our first from a major supermarket chain, following a pitch for business from the retailer. Earlier in the year, Aldi invited smaller food producers throughout Ireland to bid for business.

 

“The retailer was interested in expanding its supplier chain, especially smaller producers. We applied and submitted samples which the buyers liked and subsequently placed an order for three of our flavours.

 

“Aldi has a great reputation in Ireland as an excellent customer to work with. We look forward to building our business relationship with Aldi. We pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service which should help us develop further this immensely important business,” adds Mr Taylor.

 

Aldi currently has around 130 stores exclusively in the Republic of Ireland and has a strong commitment to suppliiers from across the island.

 

The ice cream and sorbets are produced exclusively from the family’s pedigree Holstein dairy herd that’s grass-fed on the farm, near the shores of the picturesque Strangford Lough, a conservation area.

 

In addition to its new business witjh Aldi, Glastry is also supplying ice cream to retailers in the United Arab Emirates.

 

“We have total control over our primary ingredient,” Mr Taylor continues. “This means our products have total transparency and provenance,” he adds.

 

Mr Taylor has successfully diversified the family dairy farm into an award-winning producer of luxury ice cream and sorbets for both retail and especially foodservice operations including major hotels and restaurants. He has collected a host of awards from bodies such as the UK Guild of Fine Food and Blas na hEireann, the Irish National Food Awards.

In addition to its awards, Glastry was named in the World Opportunity Programme run by Heathrow International Airport which gave the company access to a funding and support package  designed to encourage smaller UK exporters.

 

 

Huge congratulations to the three Northern Irish Regions who made it to the Top 1O in the Foodie Destination Awards. A special shoutout to Armagh Food Heartland who finished 4th overall.

 

Food NI member Tom & Ollie, the leading producer of artisan pastes, tapenades, dips, pesto, hummus, roasted tomatoes and olives, has won business with top German discounter Lidl for its products.

Based near Ballymena in county Antrim, Tom & Ollie is one of the most successful producers of artisan fresh foods at markets across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The company has won a listing for its products from Lidl for around 200 stores across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The products include smoked sundried tomato pesto, sundried tomato pesto, slow roasted cherry tomatoes and slow roasted yellow tomato segments with garlic and are produced at the company’s premises near Broughshane.

Lidl listed the products as part of its unique Kickstarter programme which offers smaller food processors an opportunity to build first-time sales in its network of stores.

Shay Mullan, who founded Tom &Ollie with fellow directors Hugh Cushnan and Fergal McGrainne in 2014, says: “We were delighted to be included by Lidl in the Kickstarter programme and now to have won a listing for our unique and handcrafted products which have been successful at food markets across Northern Ireland and the Republic.

“The listing gives us a tremendous springboard to grow sales throughout the island of Ireland and to gain expertise in dealing with such a successful and prestigious retailer,” he adds.

The products are part of Tom & Ollie’s recently launched 15-strong retail packs, an important development for the small company which has also achieved SALSA food safety accreditation.

Tom & Ollie, which takes its name from its success in marketing tomatoes and olives, develops around 70 lines at its modern production operation in county Antrim. These include seasonal products such as wild Irish garlic pesto harvested near the plant, which also specialises in Irish cheese and charcuterie.

The new range is available in a range of pack sizes between 180g and 230g in tubs within an attractive sleeve.

Mr Mullan continues: This diversification into retail packs is the outcome of product development and planning over several months and has been influenced by requests from shoppers at markets about where they can continue to buy our range of fresh products.”

Other high profile customers for their products include Pallas Foods which supplies retailers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

The company is also among the longest established traders at the iconic St George’s food market near Belfast city centre.

Tom & Ollie also runs a successful catering business for parties, weddings, and other events, offering savoury dishes. They’ve even created a unique multi-tiered cheese cake instead of the traditional cake for a local wedding.

The growing popularity of their original and tasty products has encouraged them to invest further in the business. An on-line delivery service has been launched and gourmet food hampers introduced.

The delivery service has over 300 products available for next day delivery in Ireland.

Shay Mullan (right) and Hugh Cushnan of Tom & Ollie.