Marks & Spencer (M&S) has today, Thursday 8th August, launched the final phase of its Farm to Foodhall campaign showcasing Monaghan, a 43-year-old family-run mushroom farm based in Tyholland, County Monaghan.
The campaign captures M&S Food Ambassador Mark Moriarty’s visit to the family business, which employs 820 people across Ireland and has been supplying M&S with top-quality mushrooms for over 25 years.
The Monaghan farm is renowned for its commitment to quality mushrooms. Supply Chain and Procurement Director Adam Wilson reveals to Mark that the secret to producing their delicious mushrooms lies in a unique substrate mix, crafted with the perfect balance of nutrients and moisture. This process ensures the mushrooms are packed with health-boosting vitamins.
Adam also explains the ‘one-touch’ principle that his team operates by to ensure freshness for customers: once the mushrooms are hand-picked at the farm, they are not touched again until they are in the hands of M&S customers. Adam says they want customers to know that their mushrooms are not only fresh and high-quality, but they are produced in the correct way: the M&S way.
Sustainability is a core focus shared by both M&S and Monaghan. The mushroom farm pioneered the use of eco-friendly cardboard punnets, making this sustainable packaging mainstream in March 2021. They aim to reduce their carbon footprint by over 50% by 2030 and have committed alongside M&S to achieving Net Zero by 2040. As verified members of Bord Bia’s Origin Green programme, they are dedicated to producing nutritious food sustainably while protecting the environment for future generations.
The Farm to Foodhall campaign highlights some of the exceptional farmers and producers across Ireland who supply trusted, high-quality Irish food to M&S customers, as well as the ongoing efforts at M&S to expand its range of products sourced from Ireland.
Whether its premium meats and artisan cheeses from Irish farms, or fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Irish soil, customers can enjoy the very best of what Ireland has to offer, all sourced to M&S’s highest quality standards.
Commenting on the campaign, Laura Harper, Trading Director for M&S Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “Our Farm to Foodhall campaign continues to champion the incredible work of our M&S Select Farms and producers in Ireland. Previously we have visited our Dublin-based bakery which spends 30 hours on each loaf of sourdough, our farmers in County Mayo who supply the best-in-season lamb, and our brilliant Dublin berry supplier.
“Now we’re heading to County Monaghan for the final phase of our Farm to Foodhall campaign to show our customers the quality work behind our locally sourced Irish products. M&S mushrooms are produced with nutrition, taste and freshness, our Vitamin D and B6 Chestnut Mushrooms are not only tasty but also contain four times the level of B6 than regular mushrooms. For ingredients that taste delicious, promote nutrition and support local producers, head to your local M&S.”
M&S ambassador Mark Moriarty added: "It was incredible to explore Adam’s family farm in Monaghan and see the hard work and dedication that goes into their produce. M&S is my go-to store for purchasing ingredients and it’s brilliant to know that shopping there supports top-quality Irish producers.”
For more information about Farm to Foodhall, visit:
https://www.marksandspencer.com/ie/c/food/from-farm-to-foodhall
