Food NI Chief executive congratulates NIFDA award winning producers
Food NI chief executive Michele Shirlow has congratulated local food companies which were successful in last week’s NIFDA food and drink awards
Among the winners of a series were a number Food NI companies, both large and small and across many sectors, at the forefront of developing innovative food for consumers at home and abroad.
“The awards were a tremendous showcase of the quality, innovation and great taste now being developed right across what remains our biggest single manufacturing industry that’s now worth more than £5 billion annually to the local economy,” says Michele.
“Furthermore, the bi-annual awards highlighted the inspiring innovation of local people driving the food and drink forward faster than ever before. And the awards showed that food and drink is a sunrise industry with immense potential for even greater growth in key markets such as the UK, Ireland and further afield. Food NI is committed to support that growth and to encourage, in particular, artisan and smaller companies to explore and exploit opportunities both here and abroad,” adds the Food NI chief executive. “Our support includes working alongside the smaller companies to prepare for exporting.”
Successful Food NI companies in the awards were Dale Farm, Belfast; Moy Park, Craigavon; Finnebrogue Artisan, Downpatrick; Genesis Bakery, Magherafelt; Karri Kitchen, Portadown; and Green Fingers Family, Larne.
“I was delighted, in particular, to see the huge contribution of the late Denis Lynn, the founder of Finnebrogue and an active Food NI member, recognised justifiably for his Outstanding Contribution to the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Industry. He had tremendous vision and energy in developing his business and the wider industry,” Michele adds.
Finnebrogue Artisan, Downpatrick, county Down, a UK market leader in free-from and plant-foods, has won the Invest Northern Ireland sponsored award for the Best International /GB launch Award for its highly innovative Better Naked Bacon without the Oink.
The family business, which operates one of the biggest plant-based food operations in the UK, gained the prestigious Invest NI sponsored title for the successful launch of its Better Naked Bacon without the Oink in the awards.
The winners in the awards were:
Large Company Product Award – Dale Farm, Belfast for Dromona Lactose Free Cheese
Medium Company Award – Genesis Bakery, Magherafelt, county Derry for Meringue a Tang Biscake
Small Company Award – Hinch Distillery, Ballynahinch, county Down for its whiskey. Highly commended was Karri Kitchen, Portadown for its mango chicken curry
Micro Company Award – Big Pot, Cookstown, county Tyrone for its soups and other convenience foods
(All above awards sponsored by Firmus Energy)
Service Sector Award – Brunch Box Sandwich Co, Belfast for mango and cranberry overnight oats
(Sponsored by NIFDA)
Outstanding Contribution to Northern Ireland Food and Drink – the late Denis Lynn, founder of Finnebrogue Artisan in Downpatrick, county Down
Outstanding Leadership in NI Food and Drink – Ursula Lavery of Moy Park, Craigavon, county Armagh for her role in coordinating industry Covid-19 guidance
Best International /GB launch Award – Finnebrogue Artisan, Downpatrick, county Down for Bacon without the Oink
(Sponsored by Invest NI)
Sustainable Agri-Food Supply Chain Award – Linden Foods, Dungannon, county Tyrone – for NI Wagyu Supply Chain
(Sponsored by DAERA)
Food Safety Champion Award – Dr Gerry McMahon, Moy Park, county Armagh
(Sponsored by Safefood)
Food and Drink Sector Skills Award – Moy Park, Craigavon, county Armagh
Highly commended – Johnson’s Coffee, Lisburn
Healthier Product Innovation Award – Karri Kitchen, Portadown
(Sponsored by Food Standards Agency)
Environmental Sustainability Award– Dunbia, Dungannon, county Tyrone and Green Fingers Family, Larne, county Antrim
(Sponsored by Re Gen Waste, Newry)
