Mariani introduces premium Australian beef jerky to UK retail market
Mariani Foods will be launching its premium beef jerky to the UK retail market in August, with confirmed listings in petrol forecourt multiples, food service customers and wholesale groups. The ‘soft’ texture jerky is already available in the UK through a recognised club store chain and is generating a lot of interest in its 255g ‘family size’ format.
Adrian Plant, European sales director of Mariani, notes, “Exports are an important part of our business and we are the exclusive supplier to the prestigious Bullet Train in Japan. Asia, including Japan, Taiwan and Singapore, are important markets for us although we are now beginning to make headway into New Zealand, the Middle East and the US too. Meat snacks are a rapidly growing category in the UK and Europe so these markets are an immediate priority. Solid competition will make our entry a challenge, however initial sales in the UK are encouraging and the feedback is that our ‘soft’ texture and Halal status make us stand out from the other players”.
Differently to other UK jerky brands, Mariani manufactures its own jerky. Shipments are sent to the UK ‘in bulk’ where they can be packed into the required format. This means that the company can offer flexible bag sizes, shorter order lead-times and a ‘just in time’ delivery service.
Elite athletes have long known of the power enhancing properties of beef jerky and the British Army have chosen to use beef jerky in its rations packs. “Beef jerky is high in protein and doesn’t raise your level of insulin. It makes an ideal ‘between-meals’ snack, especially when you are trying to lose weight,” explains Jeff Volek, Ph.D, University of Connecticut.
