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Northern Ireland business entrepreneurs purchase Pasta King

22 Oct 2019
Two business entrepreneurs from Northern Ireland have acquired Pasta King, provider of nutritious pasta meals to schools in the UK.

Established in 1994, Past King employs 55 staff at its headquarters in Newton Abbot, Devon.

The two business entrepreneurs who purchased Past Kings are Paul Allen and Michael Blaney. 

Pasta King supplies over 13 million nutritious ‘grab and go’ meals to primary and secondary schools across the UK. Last year, Past King was recognised as LACA’s (The School Food People) Outstanding Supplier of the Year 2018 within the education sector.

Allen, new joint owner of Pasta King, said: “Pasta King provides a quick, convenient, freshly made to order solution for caterers faced with an ever-narrowing choice of menu options to offer students.

“In addition to its leading position in the UK’s education sector, Pasta King has a growing presence in universities, business and industry, the leisure sector and healthcare establishments. 

“The company is in a strong position and there are a wide range of expansion opportunities to explore such as our recent trialling of a range of single serve café meal boxes for the retail and healthcare sectors.”

Pasta King has a sales turnover of £8 million and operates through a network of 19 regional distribution centres to deliver chilled sauces on a daily basis.

Blaney, new joint owner of Pasta King, commented: “Pasta King is committed to providing nutritious food and in terms of food audit and accreditation standards it has a BRC rating as well as the Food for Life Catering Mark. 

“Sustainability in non-food areas is also important to both consumers and operators. Pasta King has met these needs with the introduction of a new 100% plastic-free, fully compostable pot. The manufacturing kitchens in Newton Abbot in Devon operate under a zero-to-landfill policy with all of the electricity coming from sustainable sources.”

Recently Pasta King launched a new range of curries and Mexican concepts including burritos and nachos.