25 January 2011
Willowbrook Foods Stir Up Exports with New Products
WILLOWBROOK FOODS “STIR” UP EXPORTS WITH NEW PRODUCTS
Willowbrook Foods has scored a major export success with the first food range from its new Food Innovation Centre in Killinchy. The company, a specialist in fresh pre-packed vegetables, salads and potatoes, has been awarded the business to supply a range of eight new stir-fry products to Budgens, part of the Musgrave Group, in 180 stores throughout Great Britain. This further strengthens the Company’s relationship with this customer. Willowbrook currently supply a full range of prepared Salads, Vegetables and Stir Fry to Musgrave Retail Partners under both SuperValu and Centra as well as the Willowbrook Farm brand to stores throughout Ireland. As a result of the additional work, the Company will also create up to 25 new jobs.
The new export deal was announced by John McCann, Managing Director of Willowbrook Foods, and welcomed by Maynard Mawhinney, Invest Northern Ireland Food Director, when he visited the company’s new Food Innovation Centre, an integral part of an ongoing £5 million expansion of the Killinchy operation which includes a state-of-the-art processing plant for pre-packed and cooked products such as its successful ‘Simply Cook’ range.
Mr Mawhinney said: “The new business with Budgens demonstrates a key feature of the Food Innovation Centre at Willowbrook Foods – a sharp focus on developing innovative products in association with existing and potential customers in both retail and foodservice sectors. This focus is also seen in management changes which strengthen the vitally important connection between sales and marketing and product innovation functions.
“The market-led approach underpinning new product development at Willowbrook insures this progressive company, which already has a successful track record in providing innovative foods, is able to respond quickly and effectively to business opportunities as they develop in the fast moving food markets of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.
“Overall, this investment in a dedicated and fully-equipped Food Innovation Centre will strengthen the company’s ability to compete for business in these dynamic and price-sensitive markets,” added Mr Mawhinney.
Mr McCann said: “Developing this significant new business from Budgens with our latest product range is a tremendous boost for the business. It is also a further justification of our decision to invest in new products for both retail and foodservice sectors particularly in Great Britain, which is already an important market for us.
“We will be supplying a range of stir fry products that have developed in partnership with the buying team at Budgens which will be available under their own brand.“
“This new range introduces additional product lines that we have developed for one of Britain’s leading retail networks and positions us to grow our business with the company particularly in the supply of own label products.
“New products are the lifeblood of the food industry. Retailers are continually searching for new food and drink products which will attract consumers in pursuit of different taste experiences into their stores.
“While developing new products has been at the heart of our business since its formation we saw an opportunity to strengthen and highlight this commitment to add value through continuous innovation as part of our new 55,000 sq ft factory complex at Killinchy, now nearing completion.
“As well as having strong food technology skills, the Food Innovation team has considerable marketing experience and knowledge. Our sales director is also heading up new product development and is bringing his vast experience of dealing with retailers and foodservice organisations in our target markets to this operation,” added Mr McCann.
Willowbrook Foods has been operating for over forty years, and was established by Mr McCann on the family farm overlooking Strangford Lough. The company, which has British Retail Consortium accreditation, currently employs over 200 people at processing plants in Killinchy and Newtownards, and looks forward to employing an additional 25 new employees.
A portfolio of over 500 fresh and pre-packed products has been developed by the company and supplied to major retailers and foodservice organisations throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland.
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