Irwin’s takes the biscuit with China export deal

Invest NI chief executive Alastair Hamilton with Su Xiaomin, senior manager of business development, China Merchants Food (Shenzhen) Co Limited, and Brendan Lappin, Irwin’s Bakery business development manager

A range of Northern Irish biscuits will feature on Chinese shelves after a leading local bakery secured a six-figure export deal.

The deal will see Irwin’s Bakery supply biscuits created specifically for the Eastern market to China Merchants Food, the food division of the state-owned China Merchants Group, and one of the world’s largest food companies.

The contract, which is the bakery’s first deal with the People’s Republic, will see 500,000 packs a year of Irwin’s new biscuits stocked in stores across the country.

The selected range includes All Butter, Oat Original, Oat Strawberry, Oat Honey & Raisin, Shortbread Original, and Shortbread Chocolate chip.

Brendan Lappin, Irwin’s Bakery business development manager, said: “This is a very significant contract for Irwin’s, which gives us an excellent platform for further growth in this important marketplace.”

The deal was assisted by Invest NI, which provided presentation guidance and facilitated attendance at major Asian trade shows, Anuga and Food Hotel China.

“There is a high level of demand for premium imported products in China,” Mr Lappin added. “It is testament to our strong working relationship with Invest NI and the products’ quality credentials that our first order was shipped at the start of November.”

Invest NI chief executive Alastair Hamilton added: “As we look forward to 2016 Year of Food, this valuable deal will not only benefit Irwin’s, but help raise Northern Ireland’s reputation for producing food of pure, natural quality in this market and thereby create a platform for more companies to follow in its success.”