Deli Lites flexes to meet all consumer demands

The online move has seen the business adjust to changing consumer needs, with the introduction of Ireland-wide deliveries resulting in strong demand for its bakery products, plant-based healthy eating boxes and heat-to-eat dishes.

The Warrenpoint-HQ’d firm has also seen a strong uplift in its corporate orders as employers seek to stay engaged with their teams who have been working from home by sending care packages.

Deli Lites also celebrated major success at the food-to-go industry’s highly competitive, annual Sammies awards, where it won New Sandwich Category for its Irish Stout Pastrami Tósta and placed highly commended for its vegan Spiced Fritters, Beetroot, Hummus, Kale and Candied Walnut snack.

Commenting on the need to evolve the business in a short time frame, Brian Reid, the Co-Founder and CEO of Deli Lites, a recent nominee in this year’s IoD Director of the Year awards, said: “Like many organisations, we realised that the health crisis and subsequent lockdown was going to have a significant impact on our business. Consumer habits changed almost overnight, as large segments of the workforce in the countries and regions we supply, began working from home and only essential travel was undertaken.

“It was vital that we made swift changes to our business strategy by bringing forward our e-commerce plans which allowed us to reach consumers directly at a time when they wouldn’t be sourcing our products from retail and food-to-go outlets. One of the most encouraging developments has been the growth in corporate orders.

“As lockdown has eased many hospitality businesses have also been able to utilise our heat-to-eat and bakery products at a time when they may need to have less staff in their kitchens due to social distancing requirements. It has been this range of challenges which has enabled our business to put in place new food solutions and continue to bring in essential business.”

Deli Lites Ireland was founded by Brian and Jackie Reid in 1998 and employs a team of almost 300. Its customers include major retailers such as Sainsbury’s, Boots and Applegreen, as well as local food service companies. The business produces more than 20 million products every year, including gourmet sandwiches, nutritious salad bowls, hot sandwiches, heat-to-eat meals and award-winning bakery treats with increasing export distribution of their product across the globe.

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