Marks and Spencer has introduced a new range of Irish pork as part of its ongoing commitment to providing customers with quality products from local farms, as the chain celebrates its 50th year of trading in Northern Ireland.
The new range, produced by local M&S supplier Karro Cookstown, includes some of the most popular fresh pork lines including loin steaks, pork fillets, crackling leg joints, rib racks and belly strips. In addition, a pork minute steak will be available as part of the M&S Eat Well range, due to the very lean cuts of meat. Alongside this are two peppered pork products – a pepper crusted pork loin steak and a belly joint dusted with mixed peppercorns.
Ryan Lemon, M&S Head of Region for Northern Ireland said: “Since M&S opened its first store in Northern Ireland 50 years ago, we have been committed to supporting local farmers and using local produce. We have been working in partnership with Karro and over the past nine months have been working alongside their New Product Development team developing flavour profiles and packaging formats to ensure that we are giving our local customers the best options when it comes to sourcing quality, Irish pork.
“In addition to this, we have also carried out work to ensure that our bacon range is made using only local pig meat. Bacon is a core part of the family shop, and it was crucial for us that the meat is sourced from local farmers and produced in Northern Ireland.
“We are extremely pleased to be introducing these products to our customers, who we’re sure will love them as much as we do.”
M&S’ new bacon range will include traditional cut back bacon, along with thick cut and streaky bacon. The lean cut bacon medallions, which are becoming increasingly popular with customers will complete the range.
KARRO have been supplying gammon and bacon to M&S stores for over 15 years from their factory in Cookstown. All the pork is sourced from farms in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with many of the farmers supplying to the Cookstown factory from generation to generation.
Trevor Mounstephen, Karro’s M&S Account Manager said: “We are very pleased to be working with M&S to introduce this new, locally produced range to stores, as the retailer celebrates a milestone 50 years of trading in Northern Ireland.
“We have enjoyed a long relationship with M&S and admire their consistent dedication to local agriculture and sustainable farming. We look forward to working with them for many years to come.”
