16 February 2023 - Flipbook - Page 51
BUSINESS
FARMWEEK
OCTOBER 28 2021
51
NURTURING THE NEXT BIG THING
W
ORKING for a large
retailer, we are often
scrutinised about our
commitment to local
suppliers, and whether
there is a route to market for small
emerging suppliers with a new
product.
It may look like a daunting
task to breakthrough and find
your product on the shelves of
a supermarket with 18 million
customers. But start small and
scale fast has always been a mantra
in Asda, supported by a local
buying team based in our flagship
store in Antrim.
Over the years we have hosted
INDUSTRY
INSIGHT
SHOP TALK
Joe McDonald
Asda NI Corporate
Affairs Manager
Supplier Development Academies
and Meet the Buyer events, and
sometimes it’s just an introductory
phone call, or a chance meeting at
a trade show, with the successful
outcome that various local
suppliers have found their way onto
Asda shelves.
I’m thinking of farm level success
stories like Cavanagh Eggs or
Finnebrogue who now supply Asda
across the UK.
The most recent initiative at
Asda is the launch of an incubator
programme to support emerging
and entrepreneurial brands in
bringing exciting new products into
our stores.
The ‘Nurture’ programme will give
innovative suppliers easier access
to shelf space and the opportunity
to work with Asda in getting
new products into the hands of
shoppers.
The programme will see a rolling
calendar of product launches that
align to different ‘themes’, with the
aim of surprising and delighting
customers.
Suppliers selected to join the
programme will also have access
to data to help them develop
and improve their range, as well
as a suite of online and end-toend supply chain training and a
dedicated team to support their
growth.
This marks a renewed focus
on innovation as the big four
supermarkets seek to drive a
greater volume of newness into
stores. To access thousands of
newly launched products and
suppliers, Asda’s buying teams
have partnered with leading
online product discovery platform,
RangeMe, to help the supermarket
in its efforts to always bring
new and exciting products to its
customers.
I would encourage any local SME
with a new product to check it out
and see if this looks like a viable
route for their emerging business.
This is an open door for small
entrepreneurial businesses to come
forward and let Asda see what
you’ve got!
Asda Enniskillen opens Taboo
Donuts spooktacular concession
A
SDA has opened its first in-store donut
concession offering customers donuts,
Italian gelato and freshly ground coffee.
Established in 2018, family run Taboo
Donuts took up residence in Asda
Enniskillen on October 25.
Brett McKinney, Director of Taboo Donuts
explains: “We’re really excited to launch our
concession in Asda Enniskillen. Making donuts
fresh every day is the way we do it at Taboo, from
Toffee Cheesecake and Eton mess to Raspberry
Ripple and Lemon Meringue – we literally have a
flavour for everyone!
“As a business we take real pride in using high
end quality ingredients.
“We have secured exclusive contracts with our
Italian suppliers to create the most authentic
tasting, indulgent donuts and gelato that we can.
“Not only does this concession allow us to
create new job opportunities in the area but
we are just really thrilled to bring our locally
produced donuts, coffee and gelato to Asda
shoppers.”
Cathy Elliott, Asda’s Buying Manager for NI
Local, added: “The Taboo concession in Asda
Enniskillen is the first of its kind in our Northern
Irish stores and we can’t wait for our customers
to try out the treats and drinks on offer.
“We pride ourselves on working with local
suppliers to bring our shoppers delicious and
diverse offerings – and these donuts are just the
thing ahead of Halloween!”
The special Taboo concession is part of the
overall store refresh for Asda Enniskillen and
will be a ‘test and learn’ trial as part of Asda’s
partnership strategy, which is on track to launch
200 Food for Now concessions with different
brands across Northern Ireland, England,
Scotland and Wales by the end of 2021.
NEW: Brett McKinney,
Director of Taboo
Donuts, and Cathy
Elliott, Asda Buying
Manager for NI
Local, try some of
the spooktacular
donuts available for
Halloween at Asda
Enniskillen.
International award for food innovation in Belfast
garnered five years’ experience in
New York working alongside some of
the world’s best hospitality brands,
NTERNATIONAL recognition has been
awarded to The Toast Office in Belfast as including the Dead Rabbit and Marriott
International, Ryan has returned home,
it was crowned winner in the European
and through concepts such as the Toast
Visual Identity category in the renowned
Office brings a new creative voice to
Restaurant and Bar Design Awards.
hospitality in Northern Ireland.
This places the brand amongst the most
Toast Office introduced a new snack
creative and influential restaurants and
concept to The Hatch in Cathedral Quarter.
bars in the world, and pays testament to
The hot Mac and Cheese, luxury snacks,
the unique design concept of the brand,
were prepared in a modern kitchen with
conceived in Belfast by design studio
a hatch opening on to one of the oldest
Crown Creative.
streets in the city’s Cathedral Quarter, the
Crown Creative is a specialist hospitality
main hospitality hub.
design studio, founded and managed by
The Restaurant & Bar Design Awards
Limavady native Ryan Crown. Having
is the world’s leading independent
DUO: Ryan Crown and Ema O’Kane of Crown competition dedicated to excellence in
Creative, the designers behind Hill Street
hospitality design and is a benchmark for
Hatch and Toast Office in Belfast’s Cathedral the industry’s most creative and influential FOOD SORTED: The Toast Office introduced a new snack
bars and restaurants.
Quarter.
By SAM BUTLER
I
concert to The Hatch in Cathedral Quarter, Belfast.
Belfast in Bloom 2021 Award winners announced
T
HE Morning Star, Mourne Seafood
restaurant and Strandtown Primary School
have been crowned winners at this year’s
Belfast in Bloom 2021 Awards.
Residents from across the city were recognised
in the ‘Best Front Garden’, ‘Best Hanging
Basket’ and ‘Best Window Box’ categories of
the competition. Among others receiving top
honours were Edenderry Allotments for ‘Best
Allotment Site’ and Ligoniel Improvement
Association for ‘Best Community Garden’ in
BEST: Glynis Close from Memento with Lord
Mayor Councillor Kate Nicholl at this year’s
Belfast in Bloom Awards ceremony at Malone
House.
Belfast. The awards were announced at a
special ceremony at Malone House. The popular
competition has been running for over 25 years
and is hosted by Belfast City Council.
Presenting the awards, Lord Mayor Councillor
Kate Nicholl, said: “It’s wonderful to meet this
year’s Belfast in Bloom winners and congratulate
them on their well-deserved awards.
“Across the city, there are a large number of
green-fingered residents, community groups,
businesses and schools who continue to make
Belfast bright and beautiful.”
The Morning Star picked up the ‘Best Public
House’ award, Mourne Seafood ‘Best Restaurant’
and the Europa ‘Best Hotel’ awards. Memento
received the ‘Best Commercial Premises’ award.
Ligoniel Improvement Association won
for ‘Best Community Garden’ and Westland
Gardens Community Garden was the runner-up.
Edenderry Allotments won ‘Best Allotment Site’
and runner-up was Blythefield Allotments.
Strandtown Primary School picked up the
award for ‘Best Kept School Garden’. Among
residents who received top awards were Donna
Bates for ‘Best Front Garden’ in west Belfast and
John McCall picking up two awards for ‘Best
Window Box’ and ‘Best Hanging Basket’ in north
Belfast.
n The full list of awards winners will be
published on the council website at www.
belfastcity.gov.uk/belfastinbloom