Local is way to go for top stores to tackle supply crisis

Mervyn, who runs Kennedy Bacon on his pig farm near Omagh in Co Tyrone, is now supplying three dry-cured bacon products to Sainsbury’s. Louis, another new

supplier to Sainsbury’s is one of the founders of Hellbent, a Belfast-based producer of South African-style beefy Boerewors sausages, and Clarke Millar, owner of Clarke Millar Foods in Dunmurry, is sending its packs of three Mulligan’s branded southern fried chicken wraps to the supermarket.

All are now supplying the 13-strong network of Sainsbury’s supermarkets across Northern Ireland due to a far-sighted agreement between the leading UK retailer and Henderson’s Wholesale, part of the multi-award winning local food group in Newtownabbey. And they aren’t alone in benefiting from the contingency plan being implemented by Sainsbury’s to ensure customers here continue to have plenty of choice in bacon, sausages, bakery and convenience meals.

The enterprising deal with Henderson’s means that other smaller producers from here, including Ann’s Kitchen, a specialist in convenience meals, and butchery business K&G McAtamney, both from Ballymena and suppliers to Henderson’s under its quality-led Spar brand, are on the shelves of Sainsbury’s in place of products from Britain.

All the smaller enterprises hope that shoppers at Sainsbury’s will support them and thereby ensure they remain on its shelves long after the border chaos has been ironed out.

Mervyn Kennedy, commenting on the agreement, said: “I was delighted to hear from Henderson’s about the placing of three of our bacon rashers with Sainsbury’s due to the problems at the new Irish Sea border. It’s a marvellous opportunity for us to build a relationship with the supermarket’s buyers that, I hope, will lead to longer term business for us.”

Developing long-term business with Sainsbury’s is an aspiration also shared by Clarke Millar and Louis Ludik. “The agreement is potentially very important for smaller companies here,” Clarke added. “But it’s not clear yet how long we’ll be asked to supply products.

“It could be three to six months and maybe - fingers crossed- longer. Everything, of course, hinges on how the Irish Sea border problems develop over the next few months. What the agreement does is to enable Sainsbury’s shoppers to see and sample quality products from smaller companies from here in particular,” he said.

Louis Ludik, best known for rugby skills with Ulster, continued: “We see the new business as an important measure of the success we’ve been experiencing in Henderson’s Eurospar stores across Northern Ireland over almost a year. Our hope is that this will lead to further business here and to opportunities for our sausages in Britain. It will help increase awareness among Sainsbury’s shoppers of our sausages.

“We’d also aim to encourage Sainsbury’s to consider listing our deliciously spicy meatballs and beef burgers over the next few months.”

The agreement between Sainsbury’s and Henderson’s is an outcome of concern over the supply of some food products from Britain due to the disruption in the post-Brexit trading relationships.

High-level talks before Christmas between the retailers pinpointed hitches that could materialise in supply from Britain due to confusion over the new bureaucracy.

Sainsbury’s has confirmed to the News Letter that it has “a temporary supply agreement with Henderson Wholesale Ltd”.

Henderson’s Spar branded foods now in Sainsbury’s are successful local products that it has crafted with smaller producers here.

Henderson’s said: “Over the last several months we have been contingency planning for Brexit to minimise any disruption to the food supply chain for our 470 stores across Northern Ireland after December 31 2020. 

“We can confirm that we have entered into a temporary supply agreement with J. Sainsbury supermarkets that will see both parties working together to ensure availability of a range of fresh and frozen goods for our customers. We expect this to be in place for at least three months.”

The boost for smaller food producers has been praised by Michele Shirlow, chief executive of Food NI, the independent body which promotes local food and drink.

She said: “This imaginative deal shows that buying more locally is the way to address some supply difficulties. It’s good for local producers, the wider economy and the environment.

“I hope it will be extended and that others will follow in the weeks, months and years ahead. Supermarkets can count on our producers to deliver quality, outstanding taste and great value for money for their customers,” she added.

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