Superchip Sauces Scoops Business In The RoI

Superchip Sauces in Lisburn has received assistance from Invest Northern Ireland that has led to the pinpointing of its first franchise business in the Republic of Ireland as part of a new growth strategy.

The company is now preparing for the growth that will come in providing its range of quality sauces to a franchise operation in Donegal and is targeting similar operations throughout Britain and the Republic of Ireland. It also has plans to develop franchises in other parts of Europe.

Olive Hill, Invest NI's Director of Innovation and Technology Solutions, visited the company's manufacturing base, known as BJ Sauces, where the sauces for the Superchip franchise operation are produced.

Mrs Hill said: "Our assistance to the new business has focused on advice on intellectual property (IP) issues such as trade marks, guidance on branding and on franchising. We have extensive in-house experience and knowledge in European trade mark requirements.

"Superchip is an excellent example of how a smaller company can take steps to protect its intellectual property. It demonstrates that IP is just as relevant to smaller companies as it is to bigger firms.

"In addition, we've assisted the company in setting up a management information system to help in developing the network of franchisees."

Speaking about the company's export growth strategy Brian Agnew, Managing Director of Superchip Sauces, said: "Superchip Sauces is based on the experience that we've gained with BJ Sauces, providing sauces to foodservice operations in Northern Ireland over the past 20 years. We have a strong business base in Northern Ireland and recognised some time ago that we'd have to look at neighbouring markets for growth."

(CD/JP)