Luxury breakfast cereal, chocolate coated brazil nuts and steak flavoured crispy
onions from three Northern Ireland food manufacturers, all FoodNI members, have
been endorsed by top judges in Britain, the most important external market for local
products.
Six products from three local companies – Kestrel Foods in Craigavon, Mash Direct
in Comber and Coleraine’s Scott’s Crispy Onions – have won recognition in the UK’s
most influential awards for healthy and innovative food and drink.
The local manufacturers came out on top in categories in the influential Freefrom
Food Awards (FFA), the UK’s only awards dedicated to food and drink that is free
from one or more of the top 14 major allergens. All three are family-owned
enterprises with developing sales in Britain.
The successful local companies were listed among many of the UK’s biggest food
producers including supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda, M&S, Lidl and Morrison’s.
Major manufacturers such as Warburtons and Nairns also featured in the prestigious
awards.
Kestrel, the hugely successful Armagh producer of nuts, dried fruits and breakfast
cereals, was the top local performer with four major awards under its Just Live a
Little and Forest Feast Brands. It was listed in Breakfast Cereals for Gluten-free
Apple and Cinnamon Porridge Jumbo Oat Pot, Maple and Toasted Pecan Granola
and Maple Porridge, and in the Confectionery category for its indulgent Peppermint
Cream Dark Chocolate Coated Almonds.
The judges described the coated almonds as “a delicious mix of flavours using a
high quality chocolate. A great after dinner mint alternative that is hard to resist.”
Bronagh Clarke, Kestrel’s marketing director, says: “We are thrilled to have won
three significant awards for products in our Just Live a Little and Forest Feast ranges
in a market that’s immensely important to us and one in which our products are now
selling extremely well. The recognition, of course, will help to raise awareness further
of what we offer in the free from category.”
The innovation-led snack and breakfast specialist, founded and managed by Michael
Hall, has become a trailblazer in the developing sector through a sharp focus on
highly original flavours and attractive packaging.
The family-owned and managed company, based outside Portadown, is now one of
the most innovative and successful producers of breakfast cereals, snack and
energy foods, the latter under the ActiSnack brand, in the UK and Ireland.

Mash Direct, the farm-based business from outside Comber, won in the Sides
category its Potato, Cheese and Onion Croquette, one of its hugely successful
range.
Mash Direct, owned and managed by the Hamilton family, is now among the most
innovative producers of meal sides and veggie products which range from the
original potato mash product that was launched in 2004 by husband and wife team
Martin and Tracy Hamilton as a farm diversification project. Products now include
bother award-winners such as beer battered chips, beer battered onions, prepared
vegetables such as carrots, broccoli and turnips, potato cakes and vegetable
burgers.
Coleraine’s Scott’s Crispy Onions has been successful in the awards for its Gluten-
Free Steak Flavoured Crispy Onions, one of the small company’s popular ready-to-
eat products.
The business was launched by Richard Scott in 2012 on the back of a successful
vegetable operation formed in 1955. It was the first in the UK to cook, package and
retail crispy onions which it now sells here and across Great Britain. It was the
world’s first producer of gluten-free crispy onions.
Richard says: “This recognition in Britain means a lot to our team, as it highlights our
commitment to creating flavour-packed, gluten-free options without compromising on
taste or texture. Our Gluten-Free Steak Flavour has been carefully developed to
deliver the same bold, savoury punch our customers love — just without the gluten.”
All three Northern Ireland winners have significant sales already in Great Britain and
further afield. Mash Direct and Kestrel have exported to markets in the US, Europe
the Middle East and Asia. Scott’s Crispy Onions has extensive business in Scotland
and England.
The Freefrom Food Awards, launched in 2008, celebrate the very best in allergen-
free from food and drink. They are recognised for supporting, promoting and actively
encouraging both existing and new product development.
The awards enable companies to use an eye-catching logo on their packaging to
indicate that a product has been rigorously taste tested and has clear, compliant
labelling.
Since 2008, thousands of free from products have been blind tasted by specialist
judging panels, featuring chefs, developers, manufacturers, nutritionists and allergy
reactors, and many of our judges are well-known figures in the food and allergy
worlds.

Moira’s Ispini Charcuterie, an award-winning producer of cured meats like salami
and chorizo, is set for a major boost in sales of its innovative products throughout
Great Britain.
A FoodNI member, the small business has just gained distribution there with
Rowcliffe, an industry leader with extensive knowledge and experience in the fast
growing charcuterie sector. Rowcliffe has a vast network of customers in Britain.
Now part of the artisan business group run by meat industry leader Peter Hannan,
the Ispini deal follows a visit by the Rowcliffe buying team to Moira, home of multi-
award-winning Hannan Meats. Mr Hannan owns a number of artisan businesses in
Moira including the acclaimed Abernethy Butter.
Based at Tonbridge in Kent, Rowcliffe is Britain’s leading importer and distributor of
quality cheese, charcuterie and other fine foods. The company has been serving
premium supermarkets and independent retailers across Britain since 1967.
The deal in Britain coincides with Ispini’s launch of a striking new red packaging
designed to set the Moira company’s products out from others in a very competitive
marketplace.
Formed in August 2016 by Jonny Cuddy and sister Janice, Ispini is regarded as
among the leading producers of salami and chorizo meats which won a string of UK
Great Taste, the UK Cured Meats, and Blas na hEireann awards for its cured meats.
Jonny describes the agreement with Rowcliffe in Britain as “a massive boost for
Ispini in a target market”.
The small venture was initially based on the Cuddy family farm in Aughnacloy. Jonny
continues to rears pigs there for curing for pork meats. Charcuterie was developed to
help increase income for the farm.
Jonny continues to develop charcuterie and other cured meats by hand and in small
batches, while Peter Hannan, who acquired the business last year, has stepped up
its marketing activities and by lining up distribution deals in Britain and the Republic
of Ireland.

One of the city’s most popular food events is back! The LegenDerry Street Food Festival returns on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th July bringing together local chefs, producers, and food lovers for a weekend of fun and flavours right in the heart of Derry.

Led by the LegenDerry Food Network on behalf of Derry City and Strabane District Council, and sponsored by Tourism NI and Alchemy Technology Services, this two-day culinary celebration will take over Guildhall Street and Harbour Square beside the iconic Guildhall, promising a feast for all the senses.

Visitors can sample the rich flavours of the region, with every bite telling a story of local produce and passionate makers, paired with the very best in local craft beers and spirits, all in a vibrant, open-air setting in the historic heart of the city.

Coinciding with the 153rd Open Championship (British Open) in Portrush, the festival offers visitors and locals the perfect opportunity to enjoy the region’s renowned hospitality and soak up the atmosphere in one of Derry’s most picturesque and historic spaces.

Speaking at the launch, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Ruairí McHugh, said the event captures the vibrant spirit of the region’s food culture. “It’s fantastic to see the LegenDerry Street Food Festival back and shining a spotlight on the dynamic food scene that continues to grow across our city and district. LegenDerry Food has become a real badge of quality and innovation, and this festival is a brilliant platform for our street food creators and producers to showcase their incredible talents.

“The Open Championship is set to draw visitors from all over the world, many of whom will take the opportunity to explore the wider region, so this is a wonderful opportunity to engage with new audiences and fly the flag for the North West.”

This year’s edition is set to be the best yet, creating a fun festival atmosphere with family street entertainment by day and DJ sets by night. Looking ahead to the event, James Huey from the LegenDerry Food Network said: “We’re proud to lead the return of this celebration of local food and drink on behalf of Derry City & Strabane District Council with support from Tourism NI and Alchemy Technology Services.

“The LegenDerry Street Food Festival is a platform to showcase the talent, flavour, and creativity of this region — where every dish reflects the people and produce behind it. At the heart of LegenDerry Food is a shared goal: to champion our local producers, create unforgettable food experiences, and position the North West as a leading, sustainable food destination. This festival brings that vision to life, right in the heart of the city.”

Admission is free all weekend, running from 2.30pm to 11pm each day. Full festival details — including food vendor lineups will be announced soon.

For updates and more information, visit www.legenderryfood.com/events

Three Food NI members have been awarded all of the Speciality Food Magazine
Regional Stars prizes for Northern Ireland. They are Alana McKeever from Long
Meadow Cider, Patrick Black from Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt and Michelle Wilson
from Crawford’s Rock Seaweed.
The project is designed to uncover the businesses most passionate about sharing an
authentic taste of their region with food lovers far and wide. 25 were chosen across
Britain.
Alana McKeever from Long Meadow was singled out for the tree to bottle philosophy
of her family’s apple juice and cider business. Their food tourism experience was
also praised.
Patrick Black from Clandeboye Yoghurt was recognized for the company’s
commitment to sustainable farming and production models and an “honest taste of
County Down”. The brand was founded by Lady Dufferin in 2008 using milk from the
estate’s pedigree herd.
Michelle Wilson’s family have harvested seaweed from the same bay in the Mournes
for more than 300 years. They resolutely stick to wild seaweed, never cultivated, to
retain the quality of their range and the health of the region’s ecology. Visitors can
bathe in the waters and cook and eat the seaweed and local catch.
Well done to all!

Northern Irish independent alcohol brand, Wavey Ice, has announced a new partnership with local distributor, Anzac Drinks, enabling a wider reach across the island of Ireland.

Until now, Wavey Ice has primarily led with an e-commerce approach via their online store, shipping to homes across the UK, Ireland and Europe. Due to phenomenal growth in the past year, the company has decided to embark on its first official route to retail
distribution at scale with this new deal.

Based in Ballycastle, Anzac Drinks is a family-owned business which has been supplying trade across NI for over 30 years.

Laura Davis, CEO of Wavey Ice commented, “With a strong focus on innovation, quality, and local production, we’re committed to growing the brand from our base in NI and bringing Wavey Ice to more retailers, bars, and fridges across the island of Ireland and
beyond. Anzac Drinks’ strong track record, retailer relationships, and market knowledge made them the ideal partner for our next phase of growth, and we’re excited to see Wavey Ice in more locations across the country, bringing a fresh twist to the drinks
industry on the island.”

Built by a passionate, local team and developed in Hillsborough, County Down, Wavey Ice has quickly grown into one of Northern Ireland’s most exciting independent alcohol brands. As a bold and fresh product range, which continues to expand, the range includes
nostalgic alcoholic ice pops, ready-to-drink cocktails with sought-after flavours, and two non-alcoholic premium options.

The brand also offers a range of ‘Melted?’ vegan gummies, packed with vitamins and antioxidants designed to clear brain fog and boost recovery.

In March this year, Wavey Ice also launched their new tropical and vibrant Pineapple Vodka, made with premium Irish vodka.

Wavey Ice’s core, flavour-packed alcoholic ‘Sips’ range will now be more widely available, with Anzac Drinks initially stocking their most popular flavours; Pornstar Martini, Strawberry Daiquiri, Tropical Rum Punch, Espresso Martini and Orange & Vodka, available
for both on and off-trade outlets.

As well as bold and playful products, the brand does not cut any corners on quality. From their HQ and production facility in Hillsborough, the team has developed two award-winning Sips since launching in 2022.

In 2023, the non-alcoholic Mango & Pineapple Mojito was awarded Silver at the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards. Whilst, just last month, the Pornstar Martini Sip was awarded Bronze at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in the RTD & Pre-Mixed Cocktail
category, being the only RTD or mixed spirit drink from the island of Ireland to be awarded this year.

Karen O’Neill from Anzac Drinks added, “It’s fantastic to be the new distributor of Wavey Ice, such a fun and innovative brand with premium products, who are also passionate about being locally run. We look forward to distributing their products to many locations
across NI thanks to the new partnership.”

Food NI member RL Produce Limited, one of Northern Ireland’s leading fresh
produce growers, is delighted to announce the launch of its new baby leaf
brand, Lyttle Leaves, now available across Northern Ireland in selected Tesco and
Spar stores. This exciting new brand represents a bold new step for the Lyttle family

Rooted in decades of farming expertise and inspired by changing consumer food
habits and the demand for fresher, more sustainable produce.
The concept for Lyttle Leaves was developed by Alexander Lyttle, son of Roy and
Sheila Lyttle, founders of RL Produce Limited. Alexander’s vision was supported by
his sister, Lindsay Curran, who brings more than 15 years of experience as an
Industry Manager for Food NI, promoting and supporting Northern Ireland’s vibrant
food industry.
Grown on the fertile soil on the shores of Strangford Lough, just two miles from
Tesco Extra in Newtownards, Lyttle Leaves offers a range of premium baby leaf
salads – Spinach, Rocket, and Baby Leaf Mix. The leaves are gently harvested daily
during peak season and packed unwashed, preserving their natural crispness,
flavour, and ensuring they last much longer than washed leaves in the customers
fridge.
Unwashed leaves not only help extend shelf life, keeping salads fresher for longer,
but also have significant environmental benefits – reducing water usage and cutting
down on food waste both during production and in consumers’ homes.
“Today’s shoppers want more than just fresh produce – they want produce that’s
grown responsibly, tastes great, and supports a healthier planet,” said Alexander
Lyttle. “With Lyttle Leaves, we’re proud to offer a product that delivers all of that while
staying true to the values our family farm was built on.”
RL Produce Limited has been a trusted supplier to retail and food service in NI for
almost 30 years, providing fresh leeks and scallions to customers across the region.
Over the decades, the business has grown steadily, earning a reputation for quality
and reliability. RL Produce holds all the relevant industry accreditations to the highest
standards, ensuring that every product meets stringent requirements for food safety,
sustainability, and ethical farming practices.
Lyttle Leaves builds on the strong foundation laid by RL Produce Limited, which has
experienced continued growth and investment in the Northern Ireland agri-food
sector. The launch of Lyttle Leaves marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter
for the family business, blending tradition with innovation to meet the needs of
today’s consumers.

Lyttle Leaves products are now listed with North Down Group for food service
customers.
For more information about the range, the farm, recipes, and their commitment to
sustainability, visit www.lyttleleaves.com