Meat processor wins £350k deal with Tesco

The Ballymena-based company will produce a range of ‘Tesco Finest’ and ‘Tesco’ burgers for stores across Northern Ireland, it confirmed this week (April 24). The deal will boost Doherty & Gray’s annual business with Tesco Northern Ireland by about 30%, and allowed it to recruit a further two workers.

Doherty & Gray commercial sales manager Alan McKeown said: “The company has a highly skilled workforce and prides itself on making the highest quality sausages and burgers to be enjoyed by consumers. The Tesco Finest burgers will all be made using locally sourced Northern Ireland beef.

‘A fantastic burger experience’

The business claimed advanced processing techniques had helped it secure the deal.

“Superior production techniques were used to give customers a rustic burger with an open texture for an enhanced eating experience,” said McKeown. “We have used store cupboard fresh ingredients where possible to deliver a fantastic burger experience.”

The meat processor has agreed to produce eight products in total for Tesco Northern Ireland. The range included: Tesco Finest six-ounce beefsteak burgers, Finest four-ounce caramelised onion steak burgers and Tesco four-ounce burgers.

The deal meant Tesco increased its annual spend on Northern Irish products to about £590M, confirmed Britain’s largest retailer.

‘Extremely proud’

Tesco Northern Ireland technical manager Leanne Black said: “At Tesco Northern Ireland, we are extremely proud of this new investment with Doherty & Gray, as it is another step in our commitment to the local farming and agri-food community.

“It also gives Tesco Northern Ireland another opportunity to bring an excellent product to our customers, made with the best ingredients, at an affordable price.”

Doherty & Gray owns the Hull’s, Saints & Scholars and Prima Valley brands. It began trading in 1954, and is now Northern Ireland’s second longest established red meat company.