Showcasing the M&S own label range from Around Noon are (L-R) Around Noon NPD manager Victoria Laverty, M&S trading director for Ireland & Northern Ireland Eddie Murphy, and Around Noon sales director Philip Morgan (right)
Northern Irish food-to-go manufacturer Around Noon has secured a deal to supply own label sandwiches to Marks & Spencer stores across the island of Ireland.
Around Noon also announced substantial new investments signifying its readiness for growth, including new equipment and facility upgrades, and the creation of new management positions such as quality manager and NPD manager.
The latest agreement between the Newry-based firm and the high street retailer follows last year’s contract to supply the Twelve Handmade in County Down sandwich range, which was estimated at the time to be worth £3.5m.
Around Noon said its recent accreditation for M&S own label supplier status came after a rigorous approval process, which benchmarks companies across the food supply chain and evaluates their food safety, quality and culture against the retailer’s high own label manufacturing standards.
“We are driven to produce quality food from the finest ingredients and always with local provenance in mind,” said Around Noon sales director Philip Morgan. “The initial response to our Twelve range of sandwiches across the M&S store network in Ireland was one of resounding success, which we’re pleased to build upon further now as an own label supplier.
“The retailer has one of the finest reputations for quality with stringent qualification criteria for its suppliers. As such, we’re proud that M&S recognises our shared emphasis on quality and is trusting our expertise and market knowledge to inform and shape the future of its food-to-go offering on the island of Ireland,” Morgan added.
Eddie Murphy, M&S trading director for Ireland & Northern Ireland, said the company looks to build new partnerships with trusted suppliers that shared its values and delivered on promises of quality.
“We have been hugely impressed by the high standards that underscore Around Noon’s dedication to ingredient sourcing, product development and manufacturing, and we’re very pleased to welcome them into the M&S family,” commented Murphy.
While Around Noon presently supplies 19 M&S own label sandwich lines to stores across Ireland, there are plans for a further 13 products to be launched throughout 2023. It also supplies a range of chilled, hot, frozen and bakery products to customers including forecourt, convenience and multiple retailers and cafes throughout the UK and Ireland.
Last month, the business acquired London-based The Soho Sandwich Company to create an enlarged group with 800 employees and annual revenue of over £80m.
No comments yet