Shauna’s makes healthy options for toddlers

Shauna and husband James together own Heavenly Tasty Organics in Augher, now one of the leading creators and producers of natural and healthy products for young children in the UK and Ireland. The Tesco listing follows another recent deal with Dunnes, one of Ireland’s biggest retailers. The products are already in Dunnes

stores throughout the island of Ireland.

Heavenly Tasty Organics has just begun supplying its award winning and natural Breadsticks for toddlers to Tesco for 100 stores across the Republic of Ireland. The other products that Heavenly Tasty will is supplying to Tesco Ireland are Sweet Beet Veggie Waffles and Carrot and Cumin Veggie Waffles to 45 stores. All the products are now on sale in the stores and online at Tesco.ie.

The company’s latest contract in the Republic was secured with help from Dublin-based Total Brand Solutions, the Northern Ireland company’s distributor in the Republic, according to Shauna, the founder and managing director of Heavenly Tasty Organics.

“Securing this listing with from Tesco Ireland is an immensely exciting development in the Republic, a market we’ve been targeting for several years,” continues Shauna. “We are thrilled to be supplying Tesco which is such an influential and respected retailer with a tremendous community engagement.

“The listing strengthens significantly our presence in this dynamic marketplace. Our commercial director James Blair has worked with Tesco Ireland directly on product presentation and merchandising to maximise this exciting business opportunity for us there. The contract with Tesco will increase awareness of our healthy snacks with parents of young children. Total Brand Solutions will be looking after the distribution for us,” she adds.

Alison O’Doherty, Tesco Ireland, adds: “At Tesco, we’re always looking to add new and exciting products to our range that provide a helpful, tasty solution for parents of babies and toddlers. We look forward to working with Heavenly Tasty and bringing these tasty products to our customers across the country.”

Tesco operates over 150 supermarkets in the Republic and has won a series of awards for its engagement with the community there. It is now recognised as a retail industry leader. It employs over 13,000 people and is recognised as among the very best employers. It sources products from almost 500 Irish food and drink suppliers.

The retailer operates 151 stores, a distribution centre and head office based in Dublin, It is one of Ireland’s largest private sector employers and supports 13,000 Irish farming families including a number in Northern Ireland.

Shauna, a mum of four young children, established the company in 2009 and runs it with husband James from their base in Augher Business Park.

She began making her own natural foods when she was unable to find the type of healthy products she wanted for her first baby anywhere in Northern Ireland.

Shauna, a winner of Northern Ireland’s Women in Business Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, continues: “I searched the shops and supermarkets in Northern Ireland for pure, fresh, nutritious, and tasty baby foods but there just weren’t available anywhere back then.

“All of the baby foods I found were ‘on-the-shelf’ jars dated for years ahead in some cases and contained a multitude of un-pronounceable ingredients that I wouldn’t eat myself, never mind feed to a baby. To me it just didn’t seem right. All I needed was a little convenience and wholesomeness without the guilt.

“I subsequently found out two of my young children also had food allergies, ranging from severe nut and egg allergies, to dairy intolerance, and this spurred me on even more to go ahead and launch Heavenly Tasty Organics. I developed the original recipes during a stint at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise on the Loughry campus. Staff members there were all exceptionally helpful and supportive.

Her focus is on providing “nutritious, organic baby food which is heavenly and tasty, and only uses natural ingredients”.

The small family business has collected a strong of national and international awards including the prestigious UK Quality Food and Drink Award as the Best Baby Snack for its healthy Veggie Waffles in Sweet Beet and Shallot flavour.

Another organic product, Yummy Wafer Wisps Spinach, Apple and Kale, was shortlisted in the quality awards. The company has also won a series of awards in the Irish Maternity Awards.

In addition to boosting sales in the Republic of Ireland, Heavenly Tasty Organics has strong business in Great Britain and is actively pursuing opportunities it has identified in parts of Europe and the Middle East.

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