Sir Reg visits top NI dairy produce exporter

Enterprise Minister, Sir Reg Empey, MLA, recently visited an Invest NI Export Winner who is developing products in Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone and exporting across the world.

Fivemiletown Creamery is a recent winner of Invest Northern Ireland’s Small Business Exporter of the Year Award for its achievements in markets from the Republic of Ireland to the US.

Following a tour of the company’s factory Sir Reg said: “Fivemiletown Creamery is a first rate example of how a small company can prosper and bring wealth to a rural community through the development of innovative products and by broadening its capability within a clearly defined niche marketing strategy that also includes superior customer services.

“The success of this approach is seen in the growing popularity of its range of attractively packaged soft cheeses in speciality food outlets on the US eastern seaboard. In addition to the cheeses, Fivemiletown has enhanced its capability and diversified into the catering and bakery sectors through the production of curd and cheese-based ingredients.

“This enterprising company has successfully added value to its business by its involvement in a series of Invest NI trade initiatives and business improvement programmes. As a result, it now sells more than 50% of its output in export markets. Fivemiletown Creamery has also won recognition from the Food from Britain organisation and a Silver Award in the World Cheese Championships.”

Fivemiletown Creamery employs 50 people and produces a range of processed milk products including speciality cheeses such as blue cheese, oak smoked cheddar and goats milk brie.

The company has received support through Invest NI’s trade missions and fairs, company development (focusing on developing staff and managerial skills) and e-business programmes.

(SP)