Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Entrepreneurs team up for pasta empire
Pair scoop top business and hope to expand firm
TWO of Northern Ireland’s most renowned executives have joined together to buy a pasta business in England for an undisclosed sum.
Paul Allen, who was formerly the chief executive of Tandragee crisp manufacturer Tayto, and Michael Blaney, who was owner and Group Chief Executive of Autoline Insurance Group in Northern Ireland, have bought Devon-based Pasta King.
The firm supplies pasta-based meals and sauces to caterers, mostly in the education sector, throughout the UK and employs 55 people at its Newton Abbot base. It has turnover of £8million a year and operates a network of 19 regional distribution centres.
This latest deal follows Mr Allen’s purchase of Genesis Crafty in Magherafelt, Co Derry, last year after its parent company Mcerlain Bakery entered administration. He has since announced plans to invest £750,000 in that business and create 35 jobs. Mr Blaney sold Autoline Insurance last year and said he was pooling his experience with Mr Allen to build on Pasta King’s success. He added: “The
AN IT apprenticeship scheme originally created by nine businesses in the Mid-ulster, North West and North Antrim areas has proven so successful that its founders have launched a Northern Ireland wide scheme for company has been consistently innovating and developing new products to accommodate a wide spectrum of dietary requirements with vegan, vegetarian, coeliac and halal options amongst its offering.
“Pasta King also recently launched an exciting new range of curries and Mexican concepts such as burritos and nachos, which will undoubtedly enhance its appeal to customers.
“In addition, we are currently exploring the production of own-label sauce solutions and ready meals.”
Mr Allen said the pair had a lot of offer the business and added: “There are significant synergies between Pasta King and the many other businesses that Michael and I have worked with.” 2020. Career Encode, which sets out to fill a skills gap in the IT sector, allows school leavers and those wishing to change careers to embark on a career in IT without the financial pressure of paying college fees.