Supply deal has snowball effect for bakery

Snowballs are spreading festive cheer for one local business as Irwin's Bakery has secured a major supply deal through its cakes and biscuits division, Howell Handmade. The business has won a contract to supply its locally made ‘Mini Snowballs’ to Asda stores across the UK as part of the supermarket’s ‘Chosen by You’ own-brand range.

The first ‘own label’ supply contract for the Saintfield-based home bakery, will be worth over £150k per annum to the business and will run right through the key Christmas trading period, with a view to extending this to a longer basis.

Stefan Szymura, Account Manager with Irwin’s Bakery said the contract was, “a big win for Howell Handmade and a significant development in the overall Irwin’s business strategy".

Whilst Irwin’s products have a number of ‘own brand’ deals with key retail partners UK-wide, this is the first major supply contract of this kind for a Howell Handmade product and is testament to both the quality and appeal of traditional Northern Ireland baked goods. The small sponge coconut buns were chosen for the Asda range following a series of consumer taste tests, from which Asda said feedback was "extremely positive."

Irwin’s Bakery acquired Howell in 2006 and in doing so has successfully extended its reach within the confectionery bakery category.

Launch of CBI Deloitte Commissioners Network

We worked with the CBI and Deloitte this week to launch the CBI Deloitte Commissioners Network - a new network aimed at driving best practice within public service delivery through smarter commissioning.

The launch brought together senior representatives from the public, private and third sector - who will in turn will meet several times throughout the coming year to discuss and debate issues around the delivery of public services, and specifically the topic of commissioning - the structured process of deciding how and on whom public money should be spent.

Finance Minister Sammy Wilson officially launched the programme, and chaired an open and honest initial discussion which will hopefully set the tone for the network's meetings and consultations.

Watch this space...

Northgate Wins '2011 IT Supplier of the Year' Award at Prestigious UK IT Industry Event

Newtownabbey based Northgate Managed Services has cemented its reputation as one of the UK’s leading providers of ICT services by being named ‘IT Supplier of the Year’at the British Computer Society (BCS) and Computing UK Industry Awards 2011.

The award recognises Northgate Managed Services' dynamic growth and its strong financial performance which saw the company return a 21% increase in its revenue, successfully win more than 80 news clients in a range of sectors; invest significantly in staff training and development, strengthen industry partnerships, and create more than 100 new jobs across its UK operation.

Commenting on the award, Andy Ross, Chief Executive, Northgate Managed Services said, “We are delighted to have won the 2011IT Supplier of the Year Award. This is the second time in 3 years that we have won this award and reflects a huge amount of hard work over many years and is a fantastic endorsement of the services and IT solutions we provide to our clients."

'Generation Innovation' Goes Live

One hundred of Northern Ireland’s most innovative and entrepreneurial students have become the first members of the ‘Generation Innovation’ network to encourage them to make opportunities for themselves without emigrating.

The initiative, launched by NISP CONNECT with representatives of the local business community, hopes to stop the brain drain from Northern Ireland by building a physical and online network of Northern Ireland’s brightest students before, during and after their third-level studies. These young people represent the future of the critically important Knowledge Economy that you may have seen me write about in previous posts.

Membership benefits include invites to annual high-profile networking events and access to an online network letting members exchange ideas, post news on their development and seek internships and business relationships.

For more details on the initiative visit http://www.generationinnovation.co.uk/ or view the video below which perfectly captures the opportunity and lays down the challenge.

A baker's dozen for Irwin's

More good news for the local food sector this month as Portadown based Irwin’s Bakery has scooped a contract with Sainsbury’s in Northern Ireland to supply pancakes and soda farls for its new core range of ‘By Sainsbury’s’ own-label products.

The deal, worth over £250,000 p.a to Irwin’s, will see its locally-made products being sold in all 13 of Sainsbury’s Northern Ireland stores. This will strengthen Irwin’s already strong relationship with the retailer, which it currently supplies with around 4m products each year.

Michael Murphy, Commercial Director at Irwin’s Bakery comments, “We are delighted to have secured this deal with Sainsbury’s and are particularly proud to be producing traditional local products such as pancakes and soda farls for inclusion in their newly launched ‘By Sainsbury’s’ range. With almost 100 years experience in baking breads and hotplate products such as pancakes and soda farls, we have the expertise and knowledge that Sainsbury’s need from their supply partners to deliver first class own-brand products.”

For more information on Irwin's range of products visit http://www.irwinsbakery.co.uk/ or follow Irwin's on Facebook www.facebook.com/irwinsbakery

Local Businesses Shine at CIM Awards

Three of Morrows' clients had a presence at the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ireland Marketing Excellence Awards, held at Belfast's City Hall on November 3rd.

Northern Ireland Science Park was a named finalist in the Business to Business Service Marketing category; Moy Park was a finalist in the Best Sales Campaign and Overall Food & Drink categories and Irwin's Bakery picked up the top accolade in the Food & Drink category.

These awards are a testament to the level of innovation and quality these businesses demonstrate in marketing their brands – and how they use strategic communications to drive their businesses forward within their sectors.

Speaking about their win, Michael Murphy, Commercial Director of Irwin's Bakery said, “We’re extremely proud to have picked up this award, not least as Irwin’s were being judged against competition from across a very broad and thriving food sector.”