Oliver Carty Pork & Bacon
We spoke to Ted Carty, Supervalu’s Pork and Bacon supplier, about his company and it’s relationship with SuperValu.
Family run for over half a decade, the Oliver Carty Pork & Bacon business typifies the sort of supplier that SuperValu seeks to engage with as part of our philosophy of supporting Irish companies.
Recently it was announced that a new 2½-year deal has been agreed with Oliver Carty Limited to supply 100% Irish bacon and ham for SuperValu’s nationwide network of stores. The contract is of such size that it is a major boost to pig farming in Ireland.
Based in the heart of the country in Athlone, Oliver Carty supplies both bacon for the butcher counters as well as our in-store favourites such as SuperValu Own Brand pre-packed bacon joints and rashers. Established in 1960 by Oliver Carty, it is now the second generation of Cartys managing the business. Son of Oliver Carty and managing director Ted, puts the firm’s success down to quality produce and hard work. “It’s our best in class products, underpinned by a reputation of hard work, attention to detail and the championing of the notion of 100% Irish Quality Assured Pork & Bacon” Ted says.
“We would put our success down to a strong work ethic amongst our 150 strong staff and our desire to continuously improve on our core range of products”
Like many local based suppliers, the firm started out on a small scale with just 10 employees and has grown to a workforce of 150 as demand grew. The workforce is expected to grow further now to meet the ongoing needs of SuperValu contracts.
The firm’s focus on cutting out the fat and focusing on the lean is what lies behind its ties with SuperValu and it’s what has helped the family business survive and prosper despite tough economic times. “Like all food companies we have had to adapt as a business in order to survive in tough trading times. Stripping out inefficiencies was a major factor in this. A review project was undertaken across all departments to see where we could improve on the process and get our people to work leaner and more efficiently” Carty says.
Both a shoulder to the grindstone and a keen eye on evolving customer tastes are essential. “We would put our success down to a strong work ethic amongst our 150 strong staff and our desire to continuously improve on our core range of products” Ted says. This, and strong focus on innovation and new product development has enabled the business to adapt and quickly respond to changing consumer needs and habits.
SuperValu has played the biggest role in the firm’s growth since they started supplying SuperValu in 1995. Ted describes his firm growing in tandem with SuperValu’s expansion as “the epitome of a truly mutually beneficial partnership”.
The relationship has shaped Oliver Carty as a business, and has helped them grow as a direct result of their close working links with SuperValu over the years – to the extent that they now supply all of our Own Brand bacon & rasher products to all 192 SuperValu stores in Ireland.
So what does the SuperValu relationship mean in figures? Since the partnership began in 1995 Oliver Carty’s has grown from a turnover of €792k with 11 employees, to €44 million with 130 employees.
However, Ted quickly adds that the relationship with SuperValu is about more than just numbers. SuperValu never forgot that there were “faces behind the figures” and they were always encouraging and helpful as the Carty family firm strived to meet the chain’s ever growing demands. “We felt like we weren’t just a number to SuperValu and that they genuinely wanted us to grow as a business. Thankfully we are working with a very professional retail outfit that genuinely cares about its suppliers”.
“We felt like we weren’t just a number to SuperValu and that they genuinely wanted us to grow as a business. Thankfully we are working with a very professional retail outfit that genuinely cares about its suppliers”
The SuperValu belief that business is not only about good value but also good community relationships reflects the value system of Carty’s own company, Ted explains. “We’ve always been actively involved in the community where we are based” he says, adding his business gives significant support to the local hospice and also sponsors Athlone’s Buccaneers Rugby Club and the GAA team St. Bridgit’s.
Ted sums up by saying that while his firm may be growing that he never loses sight of the important fact that it’s a family business based on family values – just like SuperValu.