Dairyland Cuisine is to distribute Pat the Baker breads to foodservice outlets throughout Ireland. The company introduced the breads to its customers at the Catex tradeshow in Dublin last month.

"We want to be a one-stop-shop, so bread is a great addition to our range," Dave Kiernan told British Baker. "We’ve had a lot of queries and two other bread companies offered us their product."

Dairyland Cuisine’s product list includes 800g sliced white, brown and multigrain breads as well as stone ground and soda breads.

Johnston Mooney & O’Brien exhibited its new Oatmeal sliced pan and Sunflower and Rye sliced at the show. This company supplies O’Briens sandwich chain and Burger King with its Bundy burger bun.

Tara’s Handmade Foods launched eight new bakery lines at Catex in addition to its 40 existing products. "There are fewer skilled staff around and cafés buy in cakes, cookies and confectionery. They like to see new products," said Michael Breen, who runs the business with his wife, Tara. Among the launches were gluten- and nut-free products as well as Easter Cup Cakes complete with mini chocolate eggs and Cocoa, Cola & Pecan Cup Cake.

Catex is the biennial exhibition of the catering trade with some 10,000 visitors. Bakex, the bakery exhibition that used to be part of Catex has now been offered space at a forecourt show in October.