Ritchie Visits Thriving The Delilites Food Company In Warrenpoint

Leading Warrenpoint- based company Delilites has recently secured an impressive 50% increase of foodstuffs supplied to leading supermarket, Sainsbury’s. This significant increase in business will now see Delilites supply a remarkable 70% of the category stock-keeping units to the supermarket chain.

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie visited the family-run company, who manufacture sandwich and food- to- go products, such as pre-packed sandwiches and wraps, has been a supplier of Sainsbury’s since 2010.

[caption id="attachment_51974" align="alignleft" width="390"]Delilites secure additional business with Sainsbury’s Leading Warrenpoint- based company, Delilites, has recently secured an impressive 50% increase of foodstuffs supplied to leading  supermarket, Sainsbury’s. Pictured announcing this increase in business is Jackie Reid, Sales Director for Delilites, MP Margaret Ritchie and Paul McAlinden, Regional and World Foods Supply Manager. Delilites secure additional business with Sainsbury’s
Leading Warrenpoint- based company, Delilites, has recently secured an impressive 50% increase of foodstuffs supplied to leading
supermarket, Sainsbury’s. Pictured announcing this increase in business is Jackie Reid, Sales Director for Delilites, MP Margaret Ritchie and Paul McAlinden, Regional and World Foods Supply Manager.[/caption]

As a result of the 50% increase in business with Sainsbury’s, Delilites has introduced five new lines to their product range, which are now available in stores across Northern Ireland. The new lines incorporate the recently refreshed package design, with some produce now presented in convenient sandwich bags.

Due to the increased demand for this hugely popular brand, Delilites has recently employed an additional two members of staff, adding to their already strong workforce of 150 trained employees.

Sainsbury’s now works with around 100 regional suppliers, including Delilites, in order to provide its 13 stores in Northern Ireland with over 600 local lines.

Ms Ritchie said: “I am delighted to visit Delilites in Warrenpoint which has now secured additional business with Sainsbury’s. This is not only good for local business but it will sustain existing jobs and provide the potential for new employment. It is important that this partnership between Sainsbury’s and Delilites is supported, encouraged and enhanced.”

Jackie Reid, Sales Director of Delilites added: We are all delighted to get an uplift of 50% of the current business into Sainsbury’s; this is great for a local Northern Irish Company.  It’s down to our fabulous customers demand for more of our innovative products and the trust they have in the Delilites brand. The increase in the category listings and sales has meant a significant amount to our company; we have employed two new members of staff to meet the demands of this account and enable us to continue to provide a superior quality product and excellent service’.

Nigel Macaulay, Sainsbury’s Regional Operations Manager, also said: “Our regional suppliers are very important to us. Delilites are a shining example of a local supplier that we are working with who are providing sought after local produce and helping to generate employment in the local area. It is fantastic to see such an increase in business with Delilites and look forward to continuing to work closely with them

Sainsbury’s sourcing in Northern Ireland.

*  First store opened in Ballymena in 1996 and the most recent store opening was Bangor. *  All the own-label milk we sell in Northern Ireland stores is sourced from our nine SDDG farmers in Northern Ireland, through Dale Farm. *  All of our own brand milk and cream sold in Northern Ireland is produced, processed and packaged in Northern Ireland. We sell over 9.6m pints of milk a year. *  All our eggs in Northern Ireland are cage free and are supplied by Skea eggs. *  We source over 360,000 pigs from 15 pig producers and 25 farms in Northern Ireland through our supplier, Dunbia. *  Sainsbury’s supports 1,500 beef farms in NI and source 35,000 tonnes of beef a year from these farms *  Doherty & Gray have been using local pork and beef to produce Taste the Difference sausages for Sainsbury’s in NI for over six years. *  In season, Sainsbury’s source their pak choi from local grower Robin Cherry in Ballymena who uses an innovative process which avoids the use of soil and grit.

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