Calling all Food Businesses - Aramark and Catex Combine for Producer Showcase Event

13 October 2021: Aramark, Ireland’s leading food service and workplace solutions business, is scouting for innovative, fresh, high quality products to supply to its network of sites across Ireland. 

Food producers, distributors, and wholesalers are being invited to showcase and pitch their products to a panel of Aramark’s expert directors, buyers, operations, and culinary teams at Catex 2021. The successful organisations will be in with the chance to agree a supply partnership with one of Ireland’s biggest buyers in the Irish foodservice sector.

The showcase will give companies the opportunity to present their products to a judging panel in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style format. It will also provide producers with the opportunity to network with Aramark contacts and one another; providing a unique opportunity to create and develop long-term relationships.

Previous winners include Le Patissier, Redmond Fine Foods, Goodness Grains, The Penny Loaf Company and Wildberry Bakery.

Stephen Brennan, Supply Chain Director, Aramark Northern Europe said “Showcases like this play a crucial role in the food and drink industry by providing a platform for producers of all sizes and from all categories to display new and innovative products, pitch for new business, and renew existing contacts.

“We believe in supporting Irish food and drink producers, and SME businesses, and we are incredibly proud to have worked, and formed partnerships with, so many over the last number of years. There is no doubt that while it has been a challenging period for the Irish food industry, we have also witnessed some excellent examples of adaptability, flexibility, and resilience.”

Robert Bullock, Owner of La Patissier, lent his support to the format by adding, “In 2015 I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to pitch Le Patissier to the Aramark Producer Showcase panel. I saw a gap in the market to supply high end, handmade bespoke desserts to support the corporate hospitality sector using local Irish ingredients wherever possible. Now several years on our partnership continues to challenge the boundaries of producing high end, high volume bespoke desserts supporting local jobs and local suppliers within the Irish food chain.”

Rocky Redmond, Director, Redmond Fine Foods, said of the showcase “Redmond Fine Foods participated in the Aramark Producer Showcase in 2015. This was a fantastic opportunity for our company commercially and in building our business network. Aramark are a great business partner and customer to work with, being supportive and keenly interested in our success. We highly recommend producers and other food specialists afforded the opportunity to participate in the Producer Showcase and to grab it wholeheartedly.”

-ENDS-

To enter simply head to www.catexexhibition.com. Deadline for entries is Wednesday, 27^th October 2021.

About Aramark NE

Aramark is a leading service provider operating on behalf of clients across the EMEA region, in partnership with some of the world’s best-known brands. Aramark employs over 16,000 people throughout Northern Europe. The Aramark mission to deliver experiences that enrich and nourish lives aligns with a long-standing commitment to advance sustainable practices that minimise impacts to people, animals, and the environment.

Follow Aramark NE on Twitter: @AramarkNE and on Instagram: @aramark_ne