COUNTY Armagh based Mackle Petfoods has signed an export deal worth £1.5 million.
The firm will supply its Naturo pet food product to Dutch supermarket giant Albert Heijn.
The family-run pet food manufacturer based outside Moy was founded in 1972 and makes wet products for dogs and cats.
It also has a packing facility in Moygashel.
The firm makes a range of branded and own label products including Brandy and Jessie.
Managing director John Mackle said the venture in the Netherlands came after extensive market research.
"We quickly realised through intensive market research, store checks and market visits that there was nothing quite like Naturo on the Dutch supermarket shelves," he said.
"In a pet loving country like the Netherlands, with 4.5 million cats and dogs, we saw an opportunity for Naturo, especially as the Dutch prefer quality natural products.
“We also did our homework before entering the Dutch market and realised that there are some differences between the Netherlands and our domestic market.
"This helped us to ensure our product offering was exactly what the market wanted and included determining that we needed to launch the product in full colour Dutch language sleeves."
Enterprise minister Jonathan Bell welcomed the deal which will see the products on the shelves of 200 Albert Heijn outlets.
“One of my core priorities is to help local businesses grow and develop through export success and innovation," he said.
"Local companies are continuing to broaden their horizons and explore new horizons. Mackle Petfoods is an excellent example of a home grown family business which takes export as seriously as its domestic business, and is building on its success to date by exploring and grasping the opportunities out there to develop its business abroad.
"I'm pleased Invest NI’s trade advisory service were able to support the company enabling them to carry out essential market research and identify and set up meetings with key buyers in the Netherlands."
