Musgrave has announced that it has signed an exclusive partnership agreement across the island of Ireland with vegetarian and vegan food brand The Happy Pear.
'Under the terms of the agreement, Musgrave will have exclusive rights to the production, distribution and marketing of all Happy Pear retail products – i.e. packaged products sold in nationwide retail channels,' the wholesaler said.
"People are becoming more health-conscious and as Ireland’s leading retail group we have a driving commitment to support healthier lives," said Noel Keeley, CEO Musgrave.
"The Happy Pear is an excellent strategic fit for Musgrave and will strengthen our existing vegetarian and vegan offer to the market."
The agreement also includes a framework for both companies to co-operate in developing and activating international markets for Happy Pear retail products.
"This agreement also supports our Growing Good Business strategy of partnering with brands to deliver long term sustainable growth,” Keeley.
Food Academy Programme
The Happy Pear joined SuperValu’s Food Academy Programme in 2013. The Happy Pear range of retail food products has been available in SuperValu, Centra and in other leading independent retailers and health food stores across Ireland.
“After starting out fifteen years ago with a small veg shop we have grown The Happy Pear to four cafes, a farm, a coffee roastery, an online health education courses provider and a supplier of an amazing range of healthy food products. Musgrave has been a big part of this story," said Dave and Steve Flynn of The Happy Pear.
"We want more people to experience our healthy foods and we want to develop and offer new products. Musgrave gives us the scale we need and is a like-minded partner with a team of retailers who believe in helping people to live healthier lives”.
The Happy Pear will continue to operate its cafés, foodservice franchise partnerships, production facilities plus educational courses and related services, which are excluded from the partnership.
© 2020 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
