A fifth generation family butcher is celebrating a partnership with Dunnes Stores which is the first significant collaboration of its type between an artisan producer and a retailer of this size.
The collaboration between James Whelan Butchers (JWB) and Dunnes Stores is said to be the “future of Irish businesses” whereby the specialist craft and skill of artisan producers is shared with and promoted in large retailers.
The collaboration, which now sees JWB as a large concession within two major Dublin Dunnes Stores - Cornelscourt and the Swan Centre, Rathmines, is a unique and significant innovation in the retail market.
More than 20 new jobs have been immediately created as a result of the collaboration. Dunnes Stores claim they will invest heavily in JWB’s business and its people and plans to expand their JWB outlets to other locations around Ireland in the future.
As part of the deal, customers can enjoy a greater choice within a supermarket environment and an intimate and authentic artisan shopping experience within a dedicated James Whelan butcher shop where they can watch, discuss, sample and choose produce from JWB’s highly-skilled butchers.
Commenting on the deal, Pat Whelan said, "This is business as it’s never been done before. It’s a celebration of opportunity that now sees a major retailer giving a main stage to an artisan producer. We can now share our passion for the art of butchery and our wide range of produce with a much wider audience."
He added, "Of pivotal importance to us is that Dunnes Stores is as passionate as we are in fostering the identity and craft we’ve built over the decades. It is the stuff of dreams and also a win-win for customers who have access to the highest quality produce made with passion and craft. For Dunnes Stores, this collaboration is also about building on the future of Irish food."
Source: www.businessworld.ie