Gilfresh ensure local shoppers come first

Loughall-based Gilfresh have been able to ensure local shoppers are first in line for the freshest new season produce, thanks to a little known fact.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Jul 2013, 14:00 BST
Pictured with grower Paddy Finn are Cliff Kells, commercial manager for Tesco NI and William and Thomas Gilpin of Gilfresh and armfuls of the freshly harvested tasty local veg.Pictured with grower Paddy Finn are Cliff Kells, commercial manager for Tesco NI and William and Thomas Gilpin of Gilfresh and armfuls of the freshly harvested tasty local veg.
Pictured with grower Paddy Finn are Cliff Kells, commercial manager for Tesco NI and William and Thomas Gilpin of Gilfresh and armfuls of the freshly harvested tasty local veg.

Vegetable growers in County Armagh have a distinct advantage over their UK rivals with their unique sheltered fields.

Thanks to the sheltered growing conditions and ideal weather in recent weeks, Tesco stores in Northern Ireland are among the first in the UK to stock new season local leeks and a wide range of new season cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower and turnips from Gilfresh.

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Gilfresh supply over 350,000 cases of fresh produce to Tesco NI each year. The third-generation Co Armagh family business and its network of local vegetable growers have been delivering fresh produce for more than 50 years.

This first-to-market new season crop is welcome news to Gilfresh which has just come through one of the most challenging times in recent years due to the extremely wet weather conditions.

However thanks to the dedication, hard work and expertise of the company and its grower base, Tesco customers have been continuously supplied with fresh vegetables.

William Gilpin, Owner and General Manager of Gilfresh Produce, said: “We’ve had growers out in the field checking the crop for the last few weeks, waiting for the optimum time to harvest and the results have been fantastic.

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“We enjoy a great relationship with Tesco, and are now supplying 25 vegetable lines to the business, including carrots, cabbages and salad crops.”

Cliff Kells, Tesco Northern Ireland Commercial Manager, said: “We continue to work closely with growers in Northern Ireland to offer our customers the best of fresh locally sourced produce as early as possible.”

The first of the new season crop is now on sale in Tesco stores throughout Northern Ireland.

Shoppers can look out for the Taste NI logo on all locally supplied products in stores and for more info follow at www.facebook.com/tastenorthernireland

Related topics:TescoNorthern Ireland