Farm Week – Michele Shirlow 7.12.23
One of the most important Food NI roles is to promote the local food and drink industry and especially the achievements of our member companies. One of the most important elements in our promotional activities is our extensive website (www.nigoodfood.com)
The mission of the website is to record everything relevant about the local industry including the much positive work undertaken by organisations and councils across Northern Ireland. We believe that it has become the first port of call for all those keen to find out more about what is happening in the industry, the outstanding achievements of our member companies and the innovative food and drink being developed all the time by entrepreneurial and creative people.
We endeavour to offer a platform for all those involved in what is Northern Ireland’s single biggest manufacturing industry and a vitally important exporter. We record all the many successes on our companies in international competitions for quality and taste. These range from the UK Great Taste and Blas na hEireann awards to the UK Quality Awards and the International Spirits Awards.
Our companies have an impressive track record of success in such awards. They can hold their own in quality, taste and innovation with the world’s very best.
And it’s important to remember that our food is now sold in over 60 countries worldwide, from the US to China and Sweden to South American. Our food today is to be found on the shelves of most of the biggest international supermarkets. We look to the companies to tell us about their achievements as soon as practicable. This will enable us to reinforce their marketing endeavours.
We also support the website with a proactive and ongoing promotional campaign through several social media channels.
Our website is also constructed around our carefully developed around Our Food: the Power of Good marketing/promotional messages for the entire industry. We’ve invested heavily in this platform – with generous support from the Department of Agriculture, Enterprise and Rural Affairs Rural Food Development Programme.
Our extensive work with local councils and other bodies in sectors such as vegetables is also important to us. We are focused on strengthening the province-wide support eco-system for the food and drink industry.
This involves support for initiatives, the most recent being an imaginative programme by Ards and North Down Council to develop the local food and drink industry and help to enhance its existing contribution to the local economy. We’ve already support similar initiatives by other councils such Mid and East Antrim. Focusing on food and drink is a great way to assist start-up and established small food and drink enterprises in areas such as marketing, new product development, employee training and new jobs.
Our website is also an important reference point for national and international retailers seeking data on local companies and their products.
As I mentioned earlier, Food NI website has become an essential reference point for those interested in the local food and drink industry. It’s open to all our member companies and relevant organisations keen to see this important industry progress. We welcome success stories and other information from all.
