Norwegian group buys Northern Ireland ice cream ingredients supplier

Norwegian company Orkla Food Ingredients, part of the Orkla Group, has agreed to acquire an Omagh, county Tyrone-based supplier of ice cream ingredients and accessories to customers in the UK and Ireland.

Orkl, which is headquartered in Oslo, has acquired Gortrush Trading which specialises in soft serve ice cream, gelato, mixes for crepes, waffles and milkshakes, as well as spreads, fillings and equipment.

Gortrush traces its roots back to 1968 when Vincent Howe built his own ice cream van, before buying a cone making machine in the 1980s. It is now owned by local businessman Kieran Howe.

Orkla Food Ingredients struck the deal through subsidiary NIC Enterprises in Britain.

Tor Osmundsen, chief executive of NIC Group, said: "We already hold a strong position in ice cream ingredients and accessories in the UK market.

"The acquisition of Gortrush is strategically right for increasing our foothold in Northern Ireland and gaining better access to the Irish market. Gortrush’s product assortment is a good match to that of NIC UK, and the businesses complement each other well."

Orkla is a leading distributor of branded consumer goods in the Nordic and Baltic regions for customers in Europe.