Business

Slim's Healthy Kitchen ready-meal range hits shelves at 400 Henderson stores

Slim's Healthy Kitchen founder Gary McIldowney (left) with Tommy Groves, assistant site manager at Spar Titanic, announcing the meals deal with 400 Henderson stores across the north
Slim's Healthy Kitchen founder Gary McIldowney (left) with Tommy Groves, assistant site manager at Spar Titanic, announcing the meals deal with 400 Henderson stores across the north

SLIM'S Healthy Kitchen has signed a deal with Henderson Group to bring its convenient meals to the shelves of more than 400 Spar, EuroSpar, Vivo and VivoXtra stores throughout Northern Ireland.

And it means an additional 14 jobs at the Belfast-based hospitality company, which also operates restaurants in Belfast's Lisburn Road and Belmont Road and also a franchised location in Magherafelt.

Gary McIldowney, owner of Slim's Healthy Kitchen said: "I am delighted the Henderson Group have selected Slim’s retail meals cooked from scratch, packed with fresh produce and are made locally.

“As a result, we're expanding the team at our central kitchen in Belfast from 26 to 40, including the addition of two delivery vehicles to our existing fleet of three.”

Initially, a selection of seven out of Slim's Healthy Kitchen's 13 meal options will be on offer at Henderson's stores, including options such as soy and ginger chicken noodles, jerk chicken with rice, Korean-style chicken with jasmine rice, fajita chicken burrito bowls, chili chicken penne, Chinese-style chicken curry, and chili beef wedges.

“Our retail meals are created for busy individuals, gym goers, calorie counters or those who crave wholesome, nutritious meals without the time-consuming kitchen effort,” added McIldowney

“The meals are ready in minutes and delivers on our purpose of making healthy eating accessible to even more people across Northern Ireland.”

Steven Kennedy, trading manager at Henderson Group, added: “We're delighted to welcome Slim's Healthy Kitchen meals, bringing even more choice and convenience to our shoppers.

“It’s at the heart of our brand at Henderson Group to support local and we’re thrilled this partnership has resulted in an expansion of the Belfast-based company, with the introduction of 14 new jobs. Slim’s Healthy Kitchen has had a very successful 10 years, and we look forward to many more working alongside them.”

Slim's Healthy Kitchen, established in June 2013, set out to change public eating habits by providing a healthier alternative to fast food.

McIldowney added: “We have recently attained STS accreditation approval, enabling us to cater to the UK's public sector with ambition of securing a public tender contract in the near future.”