http://kerrysmallbusiness.com/2010/02/kerry-businesswomans-hot-pepper-jellies-going-down-a-treat/
When Kerry-born Melanie Harty lived in the USA, she dreamed of making and selling her Harty’s hot pepper jellies back in her home town of Tralee. That dream came true in 2009 and Harty’s Foods was awarded Best Grocery Product at SHOP 2009 and commended in the Best Irish category at the show – the major event in the Irish food and drink retail industry.
Melanie was already well known in Tralee as owner-manager of The Cookery restaurant for ten years and used her wide experience of the food industry to develop, test and launch her range of four jellies. They are all made in Ireland from the highest quality natural ingredients and are suitable for vegetarians and coeliacs. They can be used as a dip, spread, sauce, marinade, seasoning or glaze or to add zing to sandwiches and stir-fries. Melanie describes them as “spicy, sweet and peppery” and gives added value with her recipe leaflet and serving suggestions for the four varieties: Ginger, Jalapeno, Chargrilled and Hot Pepper.
Melanie explains:
“While working in Washington D.C. and South Carolina I became passionate about the melting pot of ethnic cuisine synonymous with North American cooking. I was struck by the great taste and versatility of pepper jelly – a condiment that is increasingly popular Stateside and has its roots in the spicy rustic home-cooked food of Texas and its surrounding southern states”.
Through Kerry County Enterprise Board’s Advance Food Programme, Melanie was able to develop her branding, design and production to bring her products to market. In January 2010, Melanie was delighted to be one of the panel of speakers at the Young Enterpreneurs Bootcamp in Tralee.
Since winning the awards, Melanie has been kept busy supplying many gourmet food halls and food retail shops and the products are selling well. The most popular so far is the Jalapeno Jelly with an extra kick and a lingering finish. Details of stockists can be obtained by contacting Harty’s Foods at info@hartysfoods.com.
For further information, visit www.hartysfoods.com
Enquiries can also be made to Anne Kiely of Kiely & Associates PR on 085 7163762 or kielyassocs@gmail.com