Retail News|October 2013|www.retailnews.ie|17
Poultry plains. “I developed my passion for food at a young age - watching Delia Smith on TV - and made a decision from early on that I would pursue a career within the food industry,” he notes. “I was classically trained and have now been a fully qualified chef for almost 25 years. “I have been fortunate to have worked in some of the top restaurants and hotels across Northern Ireland, as well as the award-winning Waterfront in the Isle of Man. As a result of being exposed to such a wide variety of culinary experiences, my interest in different flavours and passion for food from all areas has grown and developed over the years.” Creating New Recipes So what exactly is involved in being Group Executive Chef at Moy Park? Quite a lot, it transpires. “As a company, Moy Park supplies leading supermarkets and convenience stores throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe with a range of high-quality chicken products,” explains Aaron. “I am responsible for ensuring that my team and I continue to create new and exciting recipes in response to consumer demand. “We spend a great deal of time preparing, trialling and tasting dishes and engaging with people to assess what products they want to see on shelves,” he continues. “We also work closely with our colleagues in production who really help to bring our culinary vision to life. The pace and ever-changing nature of the industry, and indeed of my job, means that no two days are the same and I am still being challenged and learning new things every day.” Career Highlights Aaron has found his role very rewarding, with a host of career highlights. “Since I joined Moy Park, my team and I have focused on building the Moy Park brand and developing an extensive range of delicious products and dishes for our shoppers. 50% of Irish households now buy the Moy Park brand – and we were delighted to play a part in this process,” he says proudly. His role with Moy Park has also brought him into contact with some very famous faces, he reveals. “Working with Moy Park has given me the opportunity to work with some of the best and most inspirational people in the food industry. I have had the pleasure of working with Jamie Oliver and his team to develop a range of higher welfare chicken products that are produced by Moy Park and sold under the Jamie Oliver brand. It is a huge thrill to work with Jamie and his team, especially
Aaron Dixon, Group Executive Chef, Moy Park.
since these products marked the Jamie Oliver brand’s debut in chicken,” Aaron says. This partnership with the famous TV chef also produced a top food award for Aaron and his team. “At the 2013 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards, my team and I took home the top accolade of the night, winning the Best New Product Award for the Jamie Oliver Masala Chicken Casserole,” he explains. “This was a real high point in my career and we were delighted to receive recognition at such a prestigious event.” Innovation & Product Development Not content to rest on his laurels, however, Aaron and the Moy Park brand are constantly looking to introduce new products and flavours to excite their growing consumer base. So what can the public expect from Moy Park in the future? “At Moy Park, we are always looking at ways to adapt and grow in line with what shoppers want,” Aaron stresses. “Research is at the core of our strategy, which drives our innovation and product development. For example,
we know there is a strong preference for locally sourced food and food that is healthy and quick to cook. Based on this, we have invested in new product development and our team has just launched our ‘Ready to Cook’ range under the Moy Park brand – made with 100% Irish chicken and available in three delicious varieties – ‘Cheese and Bacon’, ‘Pesto’ and ‘Garlic and Herb’.” Heavyweight Advertising Campaign Moy Park have just launched a new advertising campaign, including a TV ad and new look packaging for all their products, but that’s not the only way that consumers can engage with the Moy Park brand, as Aaron explains. “We have also launched a new recipe section on our website moyparkchicken.com, so people can create their own culinary masterpieces at home,” he says. The recipe selection is vast, but it’s also explained extremely well, so consumers can make their own Spanish Chicken & Chorizo Stew, Tasty Chicken & Mushroom Pie and Chicken Saltimbocca, amongst others. For more information, see www.moyparkchicken.com.