LCP Secures Largest Irish Food Importer

The largest dedicated importer of Irish foods into the UK has moved to a new facility in London to help it grow its online business.

O'Kane Irish Foods has signed a 10-year lease for unit 2, Phoenix Trading Estate, Perivale, Ealing, after agreeing terms with LCP, which owns and manages the estate.

The move follows a three-year search for suitable premises that could house the company's online division, YourIrishshop.com.

Eddie O'Kane, who founded Wembley-headquartered O'Kane Irish Foods in 2003, said the 8,101 sq ft unit at Ealing was ideal to house its online division. The unit will also have an in-house photographic studio and a training facility for the other businesses within the group.

"I have been looking around for a suitable facility for about three years now and whilst a few came up I didn't feel that the landlords were quite right for me," he said.

"With LCP I've found the partner that will allow the business to grow over the next 10 years. That was evident in the flexibility shown from early in the negotiations. I got the impression right from the start that they also believe in long-term progressive relationships rather than the bog standard tenant/landlord relationship.

"Of course, it helps that the location is absolutely ideal for us and the enclosed estate provides peace of mind in terms of security."

Julian Diamond, LCP retail director, said: "We pride ourselves on working very closely with clients to ensure they find the right premises for their business and I'm very pleased to have secured the lease for O'Kane Irish Foods at Phoenix Trading Estate. We wish the company every success as it sets its sights on further growth over the next few years."

YourIrishshop.com was launched in 2006 and is a fully-owned subsidiary of O'Kane Irish Foods, which supplies Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and ASDA.