AWARD-winning salad and sandwich producer the Brunch Box has produced a new premium prepared salad range for Tesco Northern Ireland in a deal worth £500,000 - representing a 900 per cent increase in its business with the multinational.
The Brunch Box - which last year reported a turnover of £7 million - produces food-to-go products such as pre-packed sandwiches, wraps, salads and ready meals to retail and food service customers.
The new prepared salad range is part of its commitment to growing the business with continued investment into the company, and the Tesco deal allows Brunch Box to employ five additional staff, bringing the employee total to 130 people at its Dundonald facility.
The new range introduces four prepared salads to Tesco deli counters, including premium coleslaw, French style pasta salad, sweet chilli and cranberry coleslaw, and potato salad.
The Brunch Box, established in 1994, has been supplying Tesco NI with premium ready-made sandwiches since 2012.
Its managing director John Weatherup said: “Four years and countless sandwiches later, our relationship with Tesco has gone from strength to strength. We share the retailer’s passion for supporting local suppliers and we use local ingredients in our products wherever possible, using rich sauces, mayonnaise and dressings as key ingredients.”
“Following direct feedback from customers, the buying team in Tesco worked closely with us to develop a prepared salad range for the deli counter specifically with the Northern Irish palate in mind. Our relationship with Tesco has given us the opportunity to expand our product lines and given us the confidence to invest a further £100,000 in our business, allowing us to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers.”
Sandra Weir, fresh food buyer at Tesco Northern Ireland, said “This new prepared salad range from the Brunch Box has been created in response to the growing trend towards healthy, ‘grab-and-go’ fare which has been steadily increasing for some time.
"The Brunch Box has already proven it can consistently deliver an excellent product at a good value price point so we are really excited to have its new prepared salad range in Tesco deli counters across Northern Ireland.”
