12 April 2012

New Export Success At Ditty's Castledawson Announced

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced that Ditty’s Bakery has won a listing from Dean & DeLuca, the US gourmet and speciality food retailer.

The Minister announced the food industry’s latest export success during a visit to the award winning bakery in Castledawson, where she met Robert Ditty, the Managing Director, who was named UK Baker of the Year in 2011.

Ditty’s has won a listing for three of its products in Dean & DeLuca’s popular summer catalogue. The three products are: Irish Traditional Oatcake, Celery and Pepper Oatcake and Oatmeal Biscuit.

Arlene Foster said: “This is an immensely important listing for this enterprising and quality-focused bakery in the huge US marketplace with one of the nation’s most prestigious gourmet food retailers. The listing gives the company a solid platform for growth and is a marvellous endorsement of the three premium products that have now been selected.

“The listing is also an extremely encouraging follow-on from the company’s success in winning business in Dubai last December, another quality conscious and affluent international market that offers great business potential for Northern Ireland food companies.”

Ditty’s has an extensive range of sweet and savoury biscuits and a longstanding commitment to innovation and new product development. The company has won a series of national awards for innovative products such as its smoked oatcakes. It also works closely with other artisan producers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

(CD)