McCarthys launches Fine Foods range bringing together local producers

McCarthys, East Anglia’s leading wholesaler of fresh fruit and vegetables, has last week launched a new Fine Foods range, offering a selection of goods from small, artisan food and drink producers from Norfolk and Suffolk.

The family business, with over 145 years of experience in the market and supplying a wide range of shops, delis, farm shops, restaurants, and hotels, said the new Fine Food range will champion the goods from over 30 suppliers offering a range of 350 lines.

Working alongside the Broadland Food Innovation Centre Project, McCarthys managing director Sam McCarthy saw that many the local producers he met through the Food Innovation Cluster events, were without a route to market – without distribution.

“It soon became clear that there were dozens of local producers who are creating really special wares yet had little reach in the marketplace. After a few conversations and being asked if we would be interested in stocking ‘the odd product’, we realised that we could launch the Fine Foods initiative. To support the work of the Broadland Food Innovation Centre Project and build the region’s food community benefits everyone involved,” he said.

The showcase event at the Norwich head office of McCarthys on 13 April was hosted to be a platform for the producers to showcase their products all over East Anglia and was attended by over 100 buyers.

Sam McCarthy said: “There are some well-known names in our range, but there should also be several which are new to a lot of people, and which we are extremely excited to promote.”

Producers from Norfolk included: Old Rectory Preserves, awarding winning makers of jams, chutneys, and marmalades – who have been loyal customers of McCarthys for the fruits and vegetables they use in their preserves. Norfolk Spirits Company produces Norfolk Rum, a triple distilled spirit using 100% pure molasses and other local ingredients and botanicals including Norfolk honey.

Producers from Suffolk included well-known names such as Hillfarm Oils and Tosier Chocolates to smaller, newer businesses including Humber Doucy Brewing Co and Mallard Moat Farm, a supplier of quail eggs and pickled quail eggs.

Helen Adshead, founder of gluten and dairy free cakes and bakes brand Weddell & Turner said: “This event is so valuable for small businesses like us, we have reached so many people it would have taken us years to meet and frees up so much time.”