Export Success for Irish Food Producer Green Farm

From their Glenlough premises in Rathowen and known for producing the finest quality cooked meats, Irish family food producer Green Farm Fresh Foods is enjoying significant export growth, with support of specialist UK and Irish distribution partner, Oakland International. Distributing Green Farm's premium product to the UK since March 2012, Oakland International’s expertise and ability to deliver to all UK retailers, discounters and convenience store RDC’s, utilising a single hub strategy, has helped deliver growth partnership success, quadrupling Green Farm’s exports in just six months, from initially supplying one, to three retailers. Managing Director of Green Farm, Kenneth Greene, commented: “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. Through their knowledge and professional attitude to business and taking our concerns on board, Oakland were willing to take Green Farm Foods on as a customer even though initial volumes were small. 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.” With ‘nothing but natural’ a business mantra, Green Farm, established since 1991, is a brand leader in the premium sliced cooked meats market, recently adding to their range by launching Smart snacks, a low cost selection of tasty chicken snacks, Green Farm products are available in all major retailers and independent stores throughout Ireland, and are gaining in popularity with UK retailers and consumers. Managing Director of Oakland International, Dean Attwell, commented: “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.” An innovative multi temperature supply chain specialist in logistics, warehousing and distribution, Oakland International is maintaining business expansion; increasing and further developing growth partnerships with other Irish, UK and European food producers. <Ends> Editor’s Notes: With distribution depots in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, Ireland and Redditch, Worcestershire in the UK, Oakland International is a multi temperature supply chain specialist in warehousing, distribution and logistics, and encompasses Oakland Distribution, is well placed to identify and assist with the distribution plans of aspiring producers looking to grow their businesses across both retail sectors. Multi-award wins include 2012 winners of the Environmental Contribution Award at the European Supply Chain Excellence Awards in the category of Contribution to Environmental Improvement: Climate Change, Business in the Community Award for Carbon Reduction and finalists in the IGD Food Industry Awards. 2011 winners of the award for Best Logistics at Ireland’s Checkout National FMCG Awards as well as the UK Business Initiative of the Year award at The Grocer Gold Awards 2011. Key industry associations include; British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF), Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), Road Hauliers Association (RHA), Food Storage and Distribution Federation (FSDF), Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and a member of the Chamber of Commerce for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and accredited by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Company details:        Oakland International Limited Ireland: +353 (0) 1835 4855 UK: +44 (0) 1527 596 222 e: sales@oakland-international.com  www.oakland-international.com Twitter: @OaklandIntUK For all Oakland International press and media enquiries, in the first instance please contact: Kathryn Watts +353 (0) 1835 4855 e: Ireland@oakland-international.com