Meehan Cellars eyes latest food venture

MANILA, Philippines - Meehan Cellars Inc. will invest P50 million for latest food venture, Dinelli Gourmet.

In a press briefing, Meehan Cellars owners Kristine and Anthony Meehan said they plan to make the Dinelli Gourmet brand a household name in Metro Manila.

Although initially importing and distributing wines such as the Barking Lizard label, Meehan Cellars (which started in August 2006) has decided to expand to the food business, particularly delicatessen items for hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and wine stores.

It has put up two deli stores, one along Timog Avenue in Quezon City and another in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig as a showroom and retail outlet.

The deli stores also operate a casual restaurant within the stores.

However, the Meehans have a more ambitious plan of establishing their own gourmet butchery line which will produce locally manufactured sausages and smoked hams which they will supply to their growing clientele of hotels, restaurants and supermarkets.

According to Mrs. Meehan, they have already spent over P7 million for the new equipment for their butchery production.

Dinelli, she said, would initially produce sausages such as veal and Hungarian sausages and smoked and country hams.

She pointed out that although most of the delicatessen items are imported from abroad, there is a growing demand for locally made, fresh sausages.

She admitted that while there are already a couple of established firms selling and making local deli items, there is still room in the niche sector.