Strathroy Dairy lands ‘rail’ good deal
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Officials and staff of Strathroy Dairy Ltd, Omagh, celebrating the winning of a contract to supply its products for catering operations on Irish Rail train services in the Republic of Ireland, from left, Patrick Cunningham, managing director, Leanne McCul
by Julie Moore
Omagh dairy company, Strathroy Dairy Ltd, has been selected by Rail Gourmet to supply its products for catering operations on Iarnod Eireann (Irish Rail) train services throughout the Republic of Ireland.
Strathroy Dairy is one of three northern businesses that have been selected by Rail Gourmet buyers, following a 'meet the buyer' event, organised by Invest NI.
Rail Gourmet took over the complete supply chain, logistics and on-board operation for Irish Rail in March 2007.
It now employs 180 people based at 10 locations throughout Ireland. Irish Rail carries around 43 million passengers in its inter-city, suburban and commuter services.
Invest NI, the organisation which offers support and advice to start-up and existing businesses, lined up a number of local food companies, including Strathroy Dairy Ltd, the Bite Group, Enniskillen, and McCann's, Craigavon, to present their products to Rail Gourmet buyers.
Following this initial contact, the successful companies were then involved in more detailed negotiations with Rail Gourmet.
Strathroy Dairy Ltd., a family-run business, has produced premium milk products since 1923.
Rapid growth
Delighted with the new contract, meaning a welcome boost to the local industry, Eamon Lynch, sales manager for Strathroy Dairy Ltd., said: "This was all made possible through Invest NI. We were looking to export more, expand the business and grow a profile down South, and through the 'meet the buyer' event we were very successful.
“Although it's quite a small contract, every new business is nice in the current economic climate. It is a good news story for the area, none of the doom and gloom that we are hearing too much of at the minute.
“It opens up opportunities for other businesses down the line as well."
Also welcoming the business won by the three local food and drinks companies, Maynard Mawhinney, Invest NI's food director, said: "These contracts have been secured from one of the most important food services operations in the Republic and are very good news for the companies involved. They are also a significant boost for the local food industry.
“The contracts provide a platform that the successful companies can use to develop their business with Rail Gourmet. In addition, the 'meet the buyer' event introduced Rail Gourmet to a wide range of local suppliers. We will continue to encourage this through our ongoing contacts with Rail Gourmet.
“Our 'meet the buyer' programme is one of our most successful initiatives and has helped many smaller food and drink companies to develop contacts with key procurement executives in a very wide range of retail and food services organisations in Ireland, Great Britain, other parts of Europe and India."
