Our History

For 35 years, North Down Group has been at the forefront of delivering fresh fruit, vegetables and fine foods to the province’s retail and food service businesses. The combined experience of our key team is measured in decades rather than years and this collective expertise combined with our unequalled buying power is what sets us apart. We have a strong family ethos and are easy to do business with.

The company started in September 1989 and was headed up by our current MD Ashley Megarry who still leads the business.

In 1992, expansion led to the opening of an additional wholesale store in Balmoral Fruit Market. In 1996, further growth and expansion saw the business moving to our present location at Kennedy Way Industrial Estate, and it is from here that our three divisions operate.

  • May's Market, Belfast

    In the 1930s all the fresh produce came into May's Market on Oxford Street on the site which now houses the Hilton Hotel.

  • James McVeigh & Sons

    James McVeigh was the great grandfather of our current MD, Ashley Megarry. This vintage Model T lorry from 1921 is still in existence.

  • James McVeigh Building

    The James McVeigh building in May’s Market circa 1950.

  • Perry Donaldson

    Perry Donaldson’s Balmoral fruit market building on Boucher Road in the early 1980s.

  • Perry Donaldson

    Perry Donaldson at a launch of a previous branding, crica 1998.

  • Michael Bell & Nick Price

    Michael Bell, NIFDA and Nick Price restaurateur and forerunner to today’s ‘celebrity chefs’.

  • Sponsorship

    North Down sponsored our customer Brian Durnien from Lisnaskea, who was a prominent rally driver in the 1990s.

  • Sponsorship

    A North Down employee, Kenny Smith who rode in races at Bishopscourt etc. in the 1990s.

  • Food Prep Factory

    Ridgeway Street Stramillis, where North Down had a food prep factory in the mid 1990s prior to outsourcing.

  • Fine Foods

    One of our trucks that preceeded the current modern livery.

  • Our Current Branding

    Our 15 trucks cover the province for food service and wholesale deliveries.

  • Additions to the fleet with updated livery.

    Additions to the Fleet

    As our new trucks are phased in we have updated the livery.

Fresh fruit and veg was our foundation and it remains central to our continued success. Over the years, our many loyal customers encouraged us to expand our portfolio of produce to meet their developing needs and this led to us embracing Dairy, Charcuterie, Breads and Beverages.