Northern Irish prepared vegetable supplier Mash Direct is aiming to grow business in the US as part of an international expansion programme.
The family business, based in Comber, County Down, is exploring opportunities in several parts of the US including the Chicago region.
International business currently provides 16 per cent of sales and includes markets such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and the Republic of Ireland. Mash Direct - which serves Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Ocado, Waitrose, Spar and Iceland - also recently secured a listing for eight products by high-end retailer Fortnum and Mason, has identified the south of England as a key growth market in Britain.
Jack Hamilton, Mash Direct’s new markets and marketing director, said: “2015 was a record year for us, and 2016 has also started brightly for us, both in the UK and abroad and the brand is going from strength to strength. Our new listings greatly increase domestic reach, getting our products into the hands of new customers and expanding our customer base nationwide.
“Mash Direct also plans to move more strategically into the US export market, looking particularly at Chicago and Maine, which have similar food retail landscapes to the UK, and where there is a growing interest in genetically modified organism-free vegetables.'
The company, he added, is benefiting from the growing focus of consumers on foods with heritage and provenance: “We are aiming to continue driving the success of the last 16 months forward throughout 2016.”
