Leading sustainable Irish frozen food processor Glenhaven Foods has signed a major deal with Subway® to supply all 2,400 stores throughout the UK and Ireland with an innovative new product of Cheesy Bites for the Hot Sides Menu. With revenues reaching €55 million and a dedicated workforce of 170 employees, Glenhaven Foods is unwavering in its pursuit of significant growth.
Glenhaven, a long-standing family business in Wicklow, has worked closely with Subway International and utlised Subway’s extensive market knowledge to co-create a unique, delicious premium side dish. The Subway Cheesy Bites are a delicious three-cheese blend of premium Irish cream cheese, Emmental, and a natural Mozzarella that provides a luxurious cheese stretch. Created to perfectly complement Subway’s classic menu, the new cheesy side dish is intended as a side or stand-alone ready-to-eat hot snack, specifically made to meet Subway’s customers’ tastes.
Following a competitive tender process, Glenhaven was awarded the deal due to the exceptional capabilities of their strong and experienced New Product Development (NPD) team, whose track record demonstrated their ability to deliver outstanding results. With over 30 years’ experience of working with quick service restaurants (QSR) to develop products perfect for their customers, this deal further cements Glenhaven’s reputation as a go-to bespoke coated product expert for QSR and the wider foodservice market.
While Glenhaven Foods has long been recognised as Ireland’s largest producer of value-added frozen poultry products, this collaboration marks the company’s first foray into the coated cheese sector. The business remains very much committed to developing its chicken range, however it is now also investing heavily in becoming one of Europe’s premium producers of coated cheese products.
Origin Green verified, Glenhaven Foods’ commitment to sustainability and product excellence has earned them the esteemed rank of third among the top five brands in the Frozen Prepared Poultry Products category of the Checkout Top 100 Brands 2022 publication, produced in association with NielsenIQ. Notably, Glenhaven Foods stands out as the sole Irish producer among the top three brands within the category.
Commenting on the contract win, Emma Cahill, co-owner and brand manager at Glenhaven, said: “Securing a contract with Subway® is a major milestone for Glenhaven Foods, and we are thrilled to be chosen as their supplier for coated cheesy bites in the UK & Ireland. This collaboration marks our entry into the coated cheese market, and we are excited to showcase the quality and taste of our sustainably-produced Irish frozen produce. With our state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated team, we are well-positioned to meet Subway®’s’ customer demand and deliver exceptional products. This contract is a testament to our commitment to growth and innovation, and we look forward to further expanding our dairy product portfolio in the coming year.”
Rusty Warren, senior NPD & innovation manager at Subway®, added: “We find Glenhaven a reliable and efficient supplier and look forward to developing the partnership in the future.”
