With an expected deal value of £450,000, the healthy ready meal range is currently stocked in more than 40 stores across Musgrave’s portfolio with plans to roll out across more stores in the coming months.

Established in 2018, Karri Kitchen combines founder, Shera McAloran’s Indonesian heritage with locally sourced ingredients to recreate flavoursome recipes that have been passed through generations of her family.

With the number of consumers choosing convenience meals at a five-year high, and the cost-of-living crisis reducing spend on takeaways and eating out, preprepared meals like Karri Kitchen will bolster an already strong category. Add to that its recipes’ strong Asian influence, a cuisine that has steadily grown in popularity from the 1990s.

‘We’re excited to extend our partnership with Musgrave NI as they stock our products in more of their stores’

Shera McAloran, founder of Karri Kitchen

The company has recently been awarded several accolades for its products including Best Poultry Ready Meal in Ireland for its Mango Chicken Curry and a Healthy Product Innovation Award at the Irish Food Awards. The tasty and nutritious meals were also a hit at this year’s NI Food and Drink Awards, winning the Healthier Product Innovation Award and Highly Commended in the Small Company Award.

Julie Cherry, Trading Director at Musgrave Northern Ireland said they were delighted to add Karri Kitchen to their supplier portfolio.

“Karri Kitchen is an innovative local supplier and we are delighted to expand our partnership with them. With locally sourced, quality ingredients coupled with aromatic and bold flavours, the range of eight meals has already impressed judges of prestigious food awards as well as our customers.

“As the company goes from strength to strength it is primed for growth in the buoyant healthy ready meal market.

“As a key part of Musgrave’s ethos, we are always seeking quality local suppliers to work with and spend £160m on local food and drink annually. We work with more than 3,000 local farmers, partner with over 150 local suppliers and stock over 3,500 local products across our stores.”

Shera McAloran, Founder of Karri Kitchen said: “Karri Kitchen is the reflection of my Indonesian heritage, my varied experience in the food industry, as well as my great passion for healthy and nutritious food. We use locally sourced ingredients to create delicious, healthy and convenient meals and we’re delighted that consumers across Northern Ireland have embraced the South East Asian flavours.

“As the company continues to grow, we’re excited to extend our partnership with Musgrave NI as they stock our products in more of their stores across the region,” she added.

The post Karri Kitchen cooks up £450k deal with Musgrave NI first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Emily McCorkell, who runs Lo&Slo Sauces, a specialist in American-style BBQ sauces and other condiments in Derry, and Shera of Karri Kitchen in Portadown, a producer of Asian fusion dishes, have both been shortlisted in the Scotland/Northern Ireland regional section of the popular national entrepreneurship awards.

Commenting on the shortlisting – the only two from Northern Ireland – Emily says: “This is a fantastic development for my small company. It’s tremendous to be nominated for such national recognition along with other business people from across the UK. It will help as I seek to grow my business in both short and long- terms.”

Emily plans to launch a range of new products soon on the back of her success with her existing BBQ sauces.

Lo&Slo

Originally from Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, Emily, who also runs a popular ‘street food’ truck in Londonderry, launched Lo&Slo in September 2018 and has since developed a range of sauces and seasonings which are on sale in delis and food stores across Northern Ireland.

Emily came initially to Londonderry on a community project to help children and youngsters find a better life. She subsequently married a local businessman and stayed to raise a family and build a career in the food industry.

“Food is a long-term passion of mine that dates back to my upbringing in the US,” she explains. “I’ve found it’s a great way to bring people together and to build understanding and friendships. Food events here in Derry run by the Council are building community relationships that will last in the years ahead.”

Shera, originally from Indonesia, creates original Asian fusion prepared meals for delis and supermarkets here under the Karri Kitchen brand. Karri has also won business with Aldi Ireland for 140 stores in the Republic of Ireland.

Karri Kitchen

She says the nomination is “immensely encouraging” for her small business as she seeks to build on existing successes which include being part of the Grow with Aldi promotion in 140 supermarkets across the Republic of Ireland.

“It is a further substantial boost for my small food manufacturing business in Portadown.”

Shera has received assistance from business development agency Invest Northern Ireland in the shape of an innovation voucher to create and market her products. She set up Karri Kitchen with husband Chris in 2018 to help introduce Asian food from her homeland in Indonesia and from her time in catering in Australia to Northern Ireland. She worked in the hospitality industry there before meeting her husband-to-be, marrying and setting up home in Portadown, where Chris is a successful businessman.

Founded in 2013, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards acknowledges the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and businesses in the United Kingdom.

The awards have celebrated some outstanding entrepreneurs who have gone on to become household names.

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen entrepreneurs facing unprecedented challenges with many businesses concerned about getting through tough times.

Regional Great British Entrepreneur Awards winners will be selected at the national final in November as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the biggest celebration of entrepreneurship throughout the UK.

Quality

Nearly 900 entrepreneurs from more than 650 businesses have been shortlisted across the eight UK regions after a record-breaking year in which nearly 5,000 entries were received.

Founder Francesca James said the quality of this year’s entrants exemplified the strength of entrepreneurship across the UK: “We have seen some incredible finalists over the years, and this year is no exception. It really is one of the strongest shortlists we’ve ever had, and the fact that so many exceptional people have applied during such a tough year is a testament to the resolve and entrepreneurial talent that exists across the UK.

“As well as the recognition, our finalists and eventual winners will join our fantastic alumni community that supports each other all year round. From networking and thought leadership, right the way through to mentoring and guidance – being a part of our ecosystem of entrepreneurs can be incredibly rewarding.

“Creating the shortlist out of so many wonderful applications was incredibly tough, so I don’t envy the judges who will now decide the regional and final winners. Everyone who has been shortlisted should be incredibly proud and we’re thrilled to be able to showcase their achievements.”

The post Foodie entrepreneurs shortlisted for awards first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.