Cooked meats producer quadruples British exports after partnership

Cooked meats producer Green Farm Fresh Foods has quadrupled its exports to the British market, helped by a local distribution partnership formed six months ago.

Westmeath-based Green Farm said it has gone from supplying one retailer to supplying three retail groups since teaming up with specialist UK and Irish distribution partner, Oakland International.

Green Farm managing director Kenneth Greene said: “With plans in place to grow our export sales to the UK retail market, it was imperative to have the right consolidator and logistic partner so that, Green Farm could offer our target market a professional service with 100% service level compliance.

“As a producer of premium short shelf-life products we needed to insure product freshness wouldn’t be compromised while we offered our products to UK retailers. After discussing our plans for growth with the Oakland team our mind was put at rest.”

Mr Greene said Oakland took Green Farm on as a customer even though initial volumes were small. He said the partnership gave his company access to all UK retailers, discounters, and convenience store regional distribution centres (RDCs), utilising a single hub strategy.

Mr Greene added: “Oakland have backed up their service to us with live order-picking and stock control reports, so we can react quicker to the needs of our customers. Working with Oakland means we can offer our customers the service they require to sustain and develop the category.”

Established since 1991, Green Farm Fresh Foods has its headquarters at Glenlough in Rathowen, Co Westmeath. A brand leader in premium sliced cooked meats, the company recently augmented its range with Smart snacks, a low-cost selection of chicken snacks.

Oakland International managing director Dean Attwell said: “We are delighted to be working with, and supporting Green Farm Fresh Foods. Their substantial growth in the UK is no surprise — great products coupled with our simplified route to market and an all-inclusive supply chain case cost, their opportunities for further expansion in the UK are significant.

“Utilising our specialist consolidation service model, tailored for suppliers of all sizes within this competitive market arena, Green Farm also derives benefit from our key location which is central to all major retailers’ RDCs, and we are looking forward to further extending our relationship as they further develop their product range.”

A multi-temperature supply chain specialist in logistics, warehousing and distribution, Oakland’s principal partnerships are with Irish, UK, and European food producers.