MEAT company Doherty & Gray has secured an initial £350,000 new listing with supermarket giant Tesco in Northern Ireland.
The Ballymena company will produce a range of Tesco Finest-branded burgers and Tesco beef burgers to selected stores across the north, developed with support from Tesco NI technical manager Leanne Black.
The listing has increased Doherty & Gray’s annual business with Tesco Northern Ireland by around 30 per cent and the addition of two more employees to its staff of 90.
It follows a company decision to invest £200,000 in the latest production and packaging equipment as part of a continual improvement programme which will allow it to fully engage in further strategic growth opportunities.
Doherty & Gray, which has been in business for 63 years, first started to supply Tesco in Northern Ireland 20 years ago, and its several other lines include its renowned Hull’s vegetable roll.
Alan McKeown, the company’s commercial sales manager, said: “Superior production techniques were used to give customers a rustic burger with an open texture for an enhanced eating experience. We have used store cupboard fresh ingredients where possible to deliver a fantastic burger experience.
“We have a highly skilled workforce and prides itself on making the highest quality sausages and burgers to be enjoyed by consumers. The Tesco Finest Burgers will all be made using locally sourced Northern Ireland beef,” he added.
Leanne Black, technical manager from Tesco NI, said: “We are extremely proud of this new investment with Doherty & Gray as it is another step in our commitment to the local farming and agri-food community.”
Tesco spends almost £590 million on Northern Irish products each year. It has more than 1,200 local product lines on its shelves produced by around 90 suppliers and 6,000 farmers.
