Crossgar Food boosts its trade with hospitality and retail
In 2010, Crossgar Food Services Limited, Co Down, was awarded the €800,000 per-year contract for the supply of meat products to the defence forces, which will run to December 31, 2011. The contract provides for the supply of a wide range of meat products, including beef and bacon, to all major military installations.
Defence Minister Alan Shatter said that the meat products supplied by Crossgar are traceable, quality-assured and certified in all respects, meeting all Irish and EU requirements.
A significant proportion of the meat supplied by Crossgar, 90%, is sourced on the island of Ireland. Predominantly, all of the beef is sourced from farms in the Republic of Ireland. This means the rearing of animals and their slaughtering takes place in the Republic of Ireland, with the processing taking place in Northern Ireland.
The Co Down company has grown from the establishment, in 1959 by Gerald Bell, of Crossgar Poultry, and establishment in 1986 of Crossgar Meats.
It is Crossgar Meats which has stepped up production of grass-fed, dry-aged Dexter beef from farms across Ireland. Rising sales to up-market, high-end hotels, restaurants and retailers across Britain and Ireland have left the company operating at full capacity to meet demand.
Dexter, which is one of the smallest breeds, produces naturally-marbled beef with a unique flavour. The meat is matured for 21 days and then hand-processed.
Crossgar Meats launched its Dexter beef range in January, 2009. Customers include Tesco, Sodexo, Compass, Hilton and public bodies throughout Ireland.
Procurement contracts in the Republic account for about 30% of Crossgar Food Services’ annual sales of more than €50m, with annual growth of 25% in recent years.
Sales include a €1.25m contract to supply poultry, pork and bacon to the HSE in Dublin over three years.
