A local firm is taking the biscuit into new markets as demand grows for its tasty treats. Adrienne McGill reports
A Northern Ireland company is enjoying sweet success in America after scooping a major export deal there for its traditional handcrafted biscuits.
Grace’s Irish Biscuits, an award winning company based in Bangor, which has received marketing and other assistance from Invest Northern Ireland to develop its exports, has won the contract to supply its shamrock-shaped oatmeal and shortbread biscuits to leading US discount retailer Cost Plus World Market in San Francisco for sale through its nationwide chain of 260 stores.
The firm’s range of unique food products boast a distinctive and traditional Irish style and quality which is regarded as second to none.
Details of the US deal were announced by William Bullock, founder and managing director of Grace’s Irish Biscuits,
The contract followed an approach to Cost Plus by Mr Bullock and a sample order was agreed last year. A new and much larger order has now been placed by the US discounter.
Commenting on the new order, Mr Bullock said: “This gives us a significant presence with Cost Plus World Markets in its stores from California to Virginia and is our biggest business to date in a market that we’ve targeted for faster growth.
“The contract also represents an important development for us beyond ethic Irish regions in New York and Boston into mainstream America.
“Exports of our traditional and distinctive shamrock shaped biscuits are growing steadily in the US, Europe and further afield and we are well on the way to becoming a leader in quality Irish oatmeal and shortbread biscuits.”
He added: “Our oatmeal variety has won a UK Great Taste Award and has also been acclaimed in the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards.
“These awards are an important endorsement of our commitment to deliver truly unique, high quality, Irish products, using the best of locally sourced ingredients and trusted producers.”
Formed in San Francisco in 1958, Cost Plus World Market sells a broad range of food, drink and other household products from suppliers worldwide. In 1996, the Company completed an initial public offering and trades on the NASDAQ national market.
Maynard Mawhinney, Invest NI Director of Food. welcomed the new export deal.
He said: “This is an extremely encouraging contract for this export-led company in the huge US marketplace. We’ve been working closely with the company to assist its marketing activities and to develop opportunities in Britain and overseas. The US is an immensely important marketplace which offers significant opportunities for innovative and quality food and drink from Northern Ireland.
“The success of Grace’s shows what can be achieved from a determination to do business there.”
The company also supplied biscuits to the International Fund for Ireland Winter Ball, which took place on December 1 at the Savoy Hotel in London.
The firm puts great emphasis on the “home made goodness” of its products which contain no artificial colours or flavours, no hydrogenated fat or GM ingredients.
Earlier this year, Grace’s secured a significant export deal in Germany - one of the world’s most competitive and quality conscious markets.
The contract with a Cologne food distributor was secured after Grace’s oatmeal and shamrock-shaped biscuits proved popular with over 40 department stores in Germany.
The contract followed an earlier export deal for the company in the Netherlands.
Mr Bullock, who was instrumental in forming Grace’s Irish Biscuits in 2008, said: “Winning business in Germany, one of the world’s most competitive marketplaces for biscuits and other foods, is a marvellous boost for the company and gives us an important platform for further growth in this and neighbouring markets.”