Two Food NI member companies are among three local producers to have won seven medals in the prestigious International Cider Challenge (ICC) 2025, the global industry’s principal annual competition.

The successful FoodNI members are Long Meadow Cider from Loughgall and Tempted Cider, Armagh. Kilmegan Cider in Dundrum was also a medal winner.

ICC aims to reward and promote excellent ciders from around the globe, providing the perfect platform for producers to express their ciders to both trade and consumers. 

Backed by a rigorous blind tasting system and with an international panel of experts to taste, assess and award your ciders, it’s the competition that counts. Judges are drawn from across the global cider industry and include producers, flavour analysts, experienced cider journalists, independent retailers and buyers from supermarkets.

In total, ciders from 16 different countries were entered into this year’s awards. Nine gold medals were awarded across the taste and design and packaging awards. 

The big Northern Ireland winner was Tempted with two silver and two bronze medals for its Dry, Strawberry, Low Alcohol and Session ciders. The Dry and Strawberry ciders each won silver for founder and cider maker Davy Uprichard, who set up the business at the family home near Lisburn with wife Janet in 1982, and two bronze medals.

Long Meadow, another family business run by husband and wife team Pat and Catherine McKeever with son Peter and daughter Alanna, was awarded silver for its Rhubarb and Honey and bronze for its Wood-aged ciders.  The company is based on the extensive family orchards near Loughgall and has won a host of medals for its ciders, apple juices and apple cider vinegar. It has also won awards for its orchard tours.

Kilmegan, which was founded by cider maker Andrew Boyd in 2013, gained bronze for its Tannin-led Dry Cider. The small business was set up by Andrew and wife Karen on the family orchard in 2009 and was registered for cider production in 2013.

The awards were judged by a senior judging panel, led by cider writer and ICC chair Adam Wells.

Aldi Ireland has announced 30 finalists for Grow With Aldi 2025, following a call-out for Ireland’s most ambitious food and drink entrepreneurs.

Food NI members who have made it through to this stage include Drayne’s Farm’s Honeycomb and Cookies and Cream Ice Creams; Slims Healthy Kitchen Sticky Chicken and Chilli Beef Wedges meals; Melting Pot Fudge’s Traditional Fudge Bar, Vanilla Fudge Bar and Salted Caramel Fudge Bar; Poco Picante’s Squeezy Salsa Roja and Squeezy Salsa Chipotle; Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur, Golden Sister (Long Meadow Cider) Apple Cider Vinegar, and  Whoosh’s Thai Red Curry Rice Noodles and Thai Tom Yum Rice Noodles

The suppliers will see their products go on sale from 11^th September in 164 Aldi stores across Ireland, for a trial period of two weeks. Following the trial period, Aldi will award contracts to a select few winners.

Tyrone farm entrepreneur Meryyn Kennedy has created a new taste experience using the bacon that has won him a host of awards here and in Britain.

Meryyn, who rears pigs near Omagh and runs the successful Kennedy Bacon artisan business, has just launched an innovative ‘Smashed Bacon Grill’ that’s already in the running for a prestigious Blas na hEireann, Irish Food Award, the results of which will announced at the big food and drink festival at Dingle, Co Kerry in October.

The innovative product, influenced by the growing success of smashed burgers, is the latest innovation from Kennedy Bacon, a small business known for the taste and quality of its dry-cure rashers, ham and pork sausages.

“Our new bacon grills are based on a new recipe using our popular bacon and sausages. We’ve flattened them for greater convenience, especially for BBQs,” explains Mervyn, who has developed a successful business at Northern Ireland food markets including Causeway Coast in Coleraine, Omagh, Comber, Antrim and leading agricultural shows such as the Food NI pavilion at the RUAS at Balmoral Park.

“We were thrilled when the expert judges at Blas na hEireann shortlisted the grills for the final stages of this year’s important event in Dingle. We’ve won a number of awards there in the past, as well as UK Great Taste Awards for our popular dry-cure bacon,” adds Mervyn. “We’ve everything crossed for October.”

Mervyn started Kennedy Bacon in 2013 to produce high quality products from the family farm on the back of his extensive experience and skills in dry curing pork. All his bacon and pork products are carefully cured by hand. He has developed an extensive range of artisan products which are also now sold in delis and convenience stores in Northern Ireland and Donegal.

“We do not over-process our products. We add less salt and no phosphate or water, ensuring our product is the healthiest it can be. Our aim, as a company, is to produce premium and tasty products at competitive prices,” he says.

Heat-to-eat meal innovator Go Pig , a FoodNI member in Belfast, has created a range of healthy, nutritious foods for convenience stores, gyms, and for home delivery across Northern Ireland. In addition to its growing sales here, Go Pig is making a significant impact with health conscious shoppers in the Republic.

Based in Titanic Quarter, the company, owned by experienced businessman James Hutchinson, the managing director, and food creator chef Gary Milligan, has developed an extensive range of convenience meals featuring locally sourced ingredients, the most recent being a ‘guilt-free’, high protein and low sugar chicken carbonara.

Now operating from a 16,000 sq. ft. unit at Channel Commercial Park, the innovation-led business was launched in 2016 and now supplies the likes of Eurospar, Centra, SuperValu, NISA and Mace here and leading convenience stores in the Republic through a distribution deal with S&W in Newry.

The ambitious enterprise, which was started by James in his home kitchen, has just appointed an experienced commercial manager, Heather McCracken, to drive sales faster in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Go Pig, which employs 28 people, made a substantial investment in the new premises and a state-of-the-art kitchen facility, where they plan to develop innovative new products to add to its existing range.  Later this month, the business plans to introduce a range of burritos.

James says: “We develop nutritionally balanced, low calorie, high protein meals for health conscious consumers that are ready to eat in minutes.

“Our ethos is to provide customers with affordable and delicious products from the best quality ingredients.

“Our meals are all chef prepared and high quality ready to eat that are designed for convenience without compromise. They are made fresh in Belfast and delivered chilled, not frozen – offering a premium alternative to traditional ready meals.

We work with various food agencies to discover latest trends to stay ahead of our competitors in terms of tasty meal experiences.”

Go Pig has a strong community focus and donates around 1,500 meals every year to various local charities.

Cushendall-based potato crisp producer Glens of Antrim could benefit from a developing trend in Britain that loads the popular snack in flavoured toppings.

FoodNI member Glens of Antrim, a family business that began as a potato processor and packer, produces a range of award-winning and hand-cooked crisps under its own brand and the innovative Shindigs, boxed packs with unique flavours such as Whiskey Smoked Bacon that’s ideal, in particular, for a coat of melting cheese and ideal for sharing.

Influenced by the remarkable success of loaded fries, younger snackers, especially in Britain have been covering crisps with various flavours including spicy chilli.

Crisps have long been big business in the UK, continuing to lead the snacking sector due to their relatively low price and nostalgic memories from school days. Most recently crisps have moved from their traditional popularity in picnics and packed lunches to dinner parties.

Glens of Antrim director Mary McNulty says: “Our award-winning Shindigs are a very versatile product that’s perfect for a range of social events. We’ve heard of snackers enjoying them in different ways including as snacks for dinner parties and other functions.

“We have seen customers responding positively to our focus on innovative tastes like Whiskey Smoked Bacon and Mature Irish Cheddar and Sweet Onion.

“Shindigs Whiskey Smoked Bacon crisps combines the rich, smoky taste of bacon with the complex, smooth flavour of Irish whiskey. These crisps are made with premium potatoes and then seasoned with a blend of Irish bacon and subtle notes of Irish whiskey,” adds Mary, who is also a director of UK Great Taste ‘star’ Lir Irish Whiskey, another successful initiative by Glens of Antrim led by visionary managing director Michael McKillop.

Major supermarkets in Britain have latched onto the idea and are sharing crisp-topping ideas aimed at a growing base of younger consumers.

The Whiskey Smoked Bacon has already been pinpointed by Speciality Food magazine, among the most influential publications in Britain for foodies, as being ideal for loading with a good Irish or French cheese.

Shindig’s uniquely boxed for sharing crisps are now being distributed to hundreds of grocery stores, delis, farm shops, butchers and other food outlets there.

All the crisps, Mary continues, are “gluten free and use only the finest locally sourced products, including our potatoes, and ingredients to ensure a great taste from home”.

Freshly dug Queens potatoes have arrived on Marks & Spencer (M&S) shelves – all
22 stores in Northern Ireland and 16 stores in the Republic of Ireland – thanks to a
Crossgar farmer
M&S has partnered with AM Farming, a family-run business based in Crossgar, to
bring customers here the freshest, best-tasting local new season Queens potatoes.
AM Farming is run by Richard and Sharon Glover-Orr, alongside their children Alfie
(7) and Mia (4) – after whom the business is named. Richard is a fifth-generation
potato farmer, with family roots in potato farming stretching back to the townland of
Greyabbey.
The Queens variety has a long and proud history on the island of Ireland, known for
its unique dry matter quality, producing a fluffy, floury potato bursting with flavour.
Richard explained: “We want to feed people quality local produce. Queens should
never be washed as the goodness is in the skin – just brush off any excess soil,
power boil them, and roast them for the ultimate serve.”
Unlike some others who rush early harvests, M&S works with Richard to wait until
the optimal harvest window to ensure each potato delivers the signature floury
texture and light, fluffy taste that Queens are famous for.
Shaun Doherty, senior agronomist at M&S, added: “This is the ideal location to grow
Queens, and Richard’s generational knowledge makes him an expert. Queens come
into season three months earlier than other varieties, and their light fluffiness makes
them so special.”
The farm also grows oats, wheat, and beans as part of its sustainable approach to
soil health.
Richard is committed to protecting and enriching his land, explaining: “When I came
home to farm, we changed our approach to reduce cultivation. We brought in a
machine that prepares the soil in one pass instead of four, reducing carbon
emissions and protecting soil structure. We also grow cover crops over winter to hold
nutrients for the following crops. This helps protect the environment and keeps the
soil healthy for generations to come.”
Queens are harvested and handled entirely on Richard’s farm. He harvests the
potatoes himself, gently brushes them to remove excess soil, and packs them
directly on site before they are delivered to M&S stores – meaning no one else
touches the potatoes before the customer does.

Shaun added: “Richard’s produce impressed us from the outset – his ethos, passion,
and knowledge are clear. We encourage customers to try these Queens and follow
the cooking instructions on the pack to experience their ultimate flavour.”
The launch of AM Farming’s new season Queens potatoes is the result of a
successful supplier pitch at last year’s Balmoral Show, facilitated by FoodNI.
For Richard, it’s a proud family moment: “The realisation that this is going to be my
product on the shelf, with my picture on the bag, is really special. AM stands for Alfie
and Mia, so it’s something for my children too. We want M&S customers to lift their
first bag of Queens and say wow.”