Top UK discounter lists drinks from Northern Ireland’s Clarke Millar Foods

Clarke Millar Foods in Northern Ireland is supplying UK discounter Poundland with two premium and original soft drink products.

The company, which is based at Dunmurry in county Antrim, is supplying its Millar Moo, a flavoured milk drink in banana, chocolate and strawberry flavours, and Zumi, an orange juice drink.

The two products, both developed by Clarke Millar, the founder of Clarke Millar Foods, are available initially from Poundland stores in England. They are already in the chillers at the discounter’s eight stores in Northern Ireland including four in Belfast.

Millar Moo drinks are available in glass bottles for easy recycling.

Mr Millar, who has been in the food business for nearly 30 years, established the company in 2012 initially to produce and distribute chilled and ambient products for the retail and foodservice sectors. It also offers a range of meat products such as burgers, sausage rolls and hot dogs under the Mulligan’s brand.

Commenting on the new business with Poundland, Mr Millar says: “This is a very significant contract for us in Britain with an ambitious retailer which has a developing network of 800 stores. The lead came from our contact in the retailer’s Northern Ireland operation.

“I followed the lead up quickly, presented samples for tasting and won the initial business there for centres in Britain. Buyers there were impressed by the quality and taste of Millar Moo and Zumi and the popularity with both with shoppers across Northern Ireland.

“As a result, I am working closely with buyers there to grow sales for both products in this hugely important market for us,” he adds.

Mr Millar brought to the business a successful track record in food sales with the original family bakery business and as a commercial director in the industry which involved working closely with leading retailers and convenience stored in the UK and Republic of Ireland before setting up his own production and distribution operation at Dunmurry, near Belfast.

Clarke Millar Foods, which now has extensive business in Northern Ireland with leading retailers such as Spar/Eurospar, Nisa and the Musgrave Group, produces premium products from a purpose built site under strict hygiene standard. It also offers own label services for its retail partners.

Poundland has opened more than more than 800 stores in the UK since 1990 – and over 60 in the Republic of Ireland. It offers top brands and quality own brand products.

Nominated by Retail Week as Value Discounter of the Year 2018, the retailer employs more than 17,000 people serving over seven million customers every week.