Marks and Spencer Expands Local Produce Strategy with Northern Ireland Strawberry Grower Collaboration

Marks and Spencer Expands Local Produce Strategy with Northern Ireland Strawberry Grower Collaboration

(IN BRIEF) Marks and Spencer has partnered with County Armagh grower Tim O’Malley to supply locally grown strawberries to Northern Ireland stores for the first time. The collaboration has enabled significant expansion of O’Malley Berry Co.’s growing operation, including new tunnels and technology supporting a longer growing season from April to November. The strawberries are produced using sustainable farming methods including rainwater harvesting, biological pest control and recyclable cardboard packaging, supporting M&S’s wider Plan A for Farming sustainability initiative.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 15-May-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Marks and Spencer has announced a new partnership with County Armagh grower Tim O’Malley that will bring locally grown strawberries to M&S stores across Northern Ireland for the first time.

Beginning this week, customers across all 22 M&S stores in Northern Ireland will be able to purchase strawberries grown locally by O’Malley Berry Co., marking a significant expansion of regional sourcing within the retailer’s fresh produce supply chain.

The partnership represents a major milestone for both the retailer and the local grower. Tim O’Malley began developing his strawberry-growing operation in 2024 with the construction of a glasshouse facility and has since rapidly expanded production following the collaboration with M&S. The site now includes an additional 20 growing tunnels supporting approximately 100,000 strawberry plants.

The upgraded infrastructure and introduction of new growing technologies now allow the business to produce strawberries from April through November, extending the traditional Irish strawberry growing season by several months.

According to O’Malley, maintaining high quality and freshness remains central to the operation. Strawberries are hand-picked and delivered directly to stores shortly after harvesting in order to preserve flavour and shelf life.

Sustainability also plays a central role in the production process. The strawberries are grown using harvested rainwater collected from glasshouse roofs, while plants are cultivated in coir, a natural growing material produced from coconut husks that helps retain moisture and support root health.

The farm also uses reusable trough systems designed to optimise moisture levels while reducing environmental impact. In addition, biological pest control methods are prioritised to minimise the need for chemical crop treatments and support more sustainable cultivation practices.

Modern monitoring technology is used throughout the site, enabling irrigation and moisture conditions to be tracked remotely and adjusted in real time. However, despite the use of advanced systems, harvesting and packing remain fully manual in order to protect fruit quality and minimise handling damage.

Packaging sustainability was another important aspect of the partnership. O’Malley said he was committed to continuing the use of cardboard punnets rather than plastic alternatives, an approach supported by M&S as part of the rollout.

The project also received support from Dole Ireland, which is helping distribute the strawberries to M&S stores throughout the region.

Shaun Doherty said increasing the availability of locally sourced fresh produce remains a key priority for the retailer in Northern Ireland. He noted that until now, M&S berries sold in the region had been sourced from outside Northern Ireland, making the partnership an important development for both local agriculture and supply chain sustainability.

The retailer also linked the initiative to its broader Plan A for Farming strategy, which focuses on helping growers adopt more resilient, sustainable and innovative farming methods while improving the quality and traceability of produce supplied to customers.

The locally grown strawberries will be available throughout the extended growing season from April to November, with visitors attending this year’s Balmoral Show among the first consumers to sample the new products.

For more information on M&S Plan A for Farming, visit corporate.marksandspencer.com/plan-farming.

ENDS

For further information, please contact: 
Naomi Finnegan at ASG
Tel: 07467 547492
Email: naomi@asgcomms.com

SOURCE: Marks and Spencer