Eat 17 own label

Spar retailer Eat 17 has launched a range of own-label ready meals.

The range, made in small batches by chefs, retails between £3.50 and £5 and was created in response to a lack of choice in the convenience premium ready meal category.

“The response so far has been amazing,” Eat 17 co-owner Chris O’Connor said. “It’s great to be able to supply our customers with ready meals made by us.”

Eat 17 has also begun supplying the meals to other businesses, and O’Connor said he was expecting demand to grow. “We plan to grow organically, staying true to achieving restaurant-quality ready meals made in small batches by chefs filling with spoons and not machine pipes.”

Currently, the menu includes curried lentils with coconut and aubergine, slow-cooked chicken with chickpeas and tarragon, and a beef and local ale stew. The meals will be refreshed with new recipes as often as possible.