Member Profile

Irwin's Bakery is Northern Ireland's largest independent bakery. Based in Co. Armagh, it was formed in 1912 by the grandfather of today's company owners and currently employs 450 people in its 100,000 sq. feet production site.

Irwin's specialises in the production and distribution of quality breads across Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.

The company manufactures a range of large breads, rolls, muffins and traditional Irish breads such as soda bread, hot plate products and fruited breads and also produces a range of cakes and biscuits.

5 brands live under the Irwin's Bakery umbrella:

• Irwin's Brand specialising in traditional and Irish breads. The company holds no. 1 brand in Muffins and no. 2 in Rolls category in Northern Ireland (AC Nielsen Aug 07).

• Nutty Krust, Northern Ireland's best loved batch bread brand.

• Rankin Selection, Ireland's first celebrity chef brand, launched in February 2002. The range has now extended to comprise of 9 products and recently includes a range of indulgent cakes and biscuits.

• Howell House, a cakes & biscuits company purchased by Irwin's in 2006.

• Guinness Wholegrain Bread, made with 17% real Guinness beer.

Also, the company manufactures own label products for a number of leading retailers.

Irwins' bakery prides itself in its constant innovation and excellent product development. All Irwin's standard white large bread is fortified with folic acid and extra calcium. In 2006 the company launched Northern Ireland's first Low Glycaemic Index range of bread. A range of white bread and rolls with the high fibre content of brown bread.