Two Northern Ireland distilleries are showing handcrafted spirits at Imbibe Live 21, the UK’s leading drinks industry event which returns to Olympia London from 12-13 September.

The Northern Ireland participants are:

Mourne Dew at Warrenpoint, Co Down, the first distillery in the iconic Mourne Mountains in over a century and now an award-winning producer of gins, poitin and Irish malt whiskeys for export markets; and

Woodlab in Moy, Co Tyrone, producer of the successful range of Symphonia branded gins and a Caribbean rum, both using apples from Armagh orchards.

Imbibe Live is the innovative and interactive annual event for anyone who sources, buys or serves drinks in the licensed on-trade. 

From sommeliers to buyers and managers to publicans and bartenders, they get together with a community of like-minded professionals in a business-focused environment. 

The colourful two-day event is an opportunity to meet with drinks and snack brands, merchants and distributors and all associated suppliers who want to talk directly to drinks industry buyers and professionals.

It is also an opportunity to discover the latest products to the market and invaluable networking opportunities. Plus, an award-winning content programme is curated by leading industry figures. 

Lidl Northern Ireland has awarded Willowbrook Foods, Newtownards fresh food producer, an expanded supply deal worth £11 million – nearly double its previous contract – to supply 25 new lines of fresh convenience foods across its network of 210 stores throughout Ireland.

Established in 1968 by the McCann family, Willowbrook is Ireland’s largest salad and vegetable processing company, operating from its two sites on the shores of Strangford Lough, and has been supplying Lidl NI with premium bagged salads and fresh deli products since 2011.

The new contract represents an 83 per cent boost on last year, taking the former £6 million annual contract to £11 million, and will see 25 new product lines introduced across its premium range of ready meals, stir fry and deli salads.

Enya Rooney, senior buyer at Lidl Northern Ireland, said: “We have a long-standing partnership with Willowbrook Foods and over the years have seen the company enjoy exponential growth. As a supporter of local agri-food producers, we’re delighted to reaffirm our commitment to the partnership and provide a significant sales boost through this expanded new contract.

“Willowbrook Foods is continually innovating to introduce new lines in response to changing consumer demand. We’ve seen a real increase in demand for our fresh convenience foods range and we’re excited to now launch an expanded line of great tasting, home-grown salads, cold deli foods and stir fry meals to thousands of customers across the island of Ireland.”

Willowbrook Foods opened its £5.5 million state-of-the-art production facility in 2011 to support its ambitious growth plans and enhance production capability.

The site is also home to its dedicated New Product Development (NPD) hub where it operates an innovation centre utilising the latest food production technology. In addition, the company operates a cooking facility at its site in Newtownards where it manufactures ready-meal products.

John McCann, founder and chief executive of Willowbrook Foods, added: “Since our early days we have been a leader in providing premium prepared fresh vegetables and salads, cooked and ready to cook products. Over the last 50 years we’ve focused on mastering our craft of growing the highest quality, great tasting vegetables and continually developing our product offering.

“Key to our success is our established partnership with Lidl Northern Ireland. As the region’s fastest-growing supermarket, we’ve been able to realise our ambitious growth plans, break into new markets, reach new customers and grow our brand exponentially through the partnership.

“Willowbrook Foods is delighted to secure this increased supply deal with Lidl Northern Ireland and embark on a new period of growth whilst providing its 300,000 weekly shoppers in the region with a fantastic new range of locally grown, quality products to enjoy.”

Since the beginning of its relationship with Willowbrook a decade ago, the Lidl supply deal has helped to create 100 new full-time roles, in addition to providing access to sales in the UK and Republic of Ireland markets.

An independent report into the economic impact of Lidl NI’s operations revealed that the retailer spends at least £290 million a year with suppliers across the north while also supporting 3,500 jobs.

Celebrating the announcement are (from left) Enya Rooney, senior buyer at Lidl NI; John McCann, founder and chief executive of Willowbrook Foods; and Tanya Neilson, new product development and hub innovation manager at Willowbrook.

As Culture Night Belfast immerses the city in nature with The City Garden, CastleCourt will be joining the movement to offer a plant-based experience like no other on Saturday 18^th September.

 CastleCourt’s CityScape Belfast will host The NI Vegan Festival, a joint venture alongside Urban Events NI and Truffleupagus Vegan Yums, bringing together a feast of plant-based foodies, restauranteurs and businesses who are committed to helping people on their vegan journeys.

 The day-long festival will deliver wellbeing workshops, cookery demonstrations, entertainment and a chance to taste some delicious samples from vegan foodie producers alongside a vegan food court to whet appetites and satisfy curiosities.

 With four times as many families choosing to opt for a vegan lifestyle than there were four years ago, CastleCourt Centre manager Leona Barr says this is a prominent time to welcome the Festival to their rooftop, especially during Culture Night Belfast which will transform the centre’s surrounding areas into a tranquil garden to reconnect visitors with nature.

 Leona added; “What we consume is a huge part of the chain that has an effect on Climate Change, and as a responsible business, we are committed to doing all we can to relieve pressures on the climate emergency we are experiencing.

 “As a destination, our visitors are seeking alternative days out, experiences that have meaning and will impact their lives in a positive way. We have had many changes and upgrades at CastleCourt in recent months and we’re very excited to host the NI Vegan Festival on our CityScape Belfast rooftop.”

 Thomas Ferris from Urban Events NI continued; “NI vegan businesses work tirelessly to produce innovative and accessible products and services to make the vegan lifestyle available to all who want to consume more mindfully, whether that be through a plant-based diet or making more sustainable decisions in their everyday life from cosmetics to clothing.

 “The past 18 months have allowed people to reflect on their lifestyles and take the first steps to making changes on their impact to the planet and we’re here to show them just how easy that can be, and doesn’t have to cost the earth – literally!”

 The NI Vegan Festival takes place on Saturday 18^th September, 10am – 5pm at CityScape Belfast, CastleCourt. Tickets are £3.50 per person, and can be purchased online via NIVeganFestival.com.

Pic caption: Pic caption: CastleCourt Centre Manager Leona Barr (left) is pictured with organisers of the NI Vegan Festival, Thomas Ferris and Sheena Bleakney. CastleCourt’s CityScape Belfast venue will host its first NI Vegan Festival on Saturday 18 September.

Peter Hannan, the managing director of multi-award winning Hannan Meats in Northern Ireland, has been awarded an MBE by the Queen for his outstanding contribution to Economic Development.

Mr Hannan, commenting on the prestigious award, said: “It is a tremendous honour for me to announce that I have been awarded an MBE from the Queen for my contribution to Economic Development in Northern Ireland.

“Whilst this is a humbling personal recognition of my role in Hannan Meats and contributions to the wider food industry, I see it as a recognition of the very many people who have supported and encouraged me over the years.

“In addition to my family, I have received incredible support from very many people including the management and staff at Hannan Meats, our customers in both retail and foodservice throughout the UK and Ireland, industry bodies here and other local food companies.

“It really has been a team effort. Surround yourself with good people, and they’ll make you look great.

“Thank you sincerely to those who endure and surround me.

“I look forward to continuing to build on these friendships in the years ahead and playing a part in the continuing success of our wonderful and highly innovative food and drink industry.

“It’s an industry that’s well positioned in terms of enterprising and innovative people with superb products,” adds Mr Hannan.

Hannan Meats Ltd was founded in Moira, Co Armagh in 1989 by Mr Hannan on the back of a successful career in managing meats processing plants in the UK, Ireland and US.  It started as a catering butchery business for hotels and restaurants here.

Hannan Meats, which employs around 30 people, has since become a major supplier of premium quality beef, pork and lamb to restaurants and hotels throughout the UK and Ireland and further afield.

The company pioneered the use of Himalayan salt-aging meat to enhance flavours and textures.

It currently operates the world’s biggest Himalayan salt chambers and has won a series of international awards for the quality and taste of its beef, bacon and lamb.

In addition, the company pioneered the development of a novel sugar-pit process for enhancing the flavour of pork, ham and bacon.

This pioneering work has led to unrivalled success in the UK Great Taste Awards organised by the influential Guild of Fine Food.

Hannan Meats has won the Supreme Championship twice and more Great Taste Awards than any other producer in the UK. The progressive company works closely with local farms especially Glenarm in Co. Antrim on the development of the shorthorn herd.

Hannan Meats also operates the hugely successful Meat Merchant wholesale outlet in Moira Co. Armagh, which opened to shoppers in 2011.

In addition, the company through subsidiaries En Place Foods in Cookstown and Craic Foods in Craigavon has developed a range of sauces, relishes and vinegars to accompany its meats.

Hannan Meats, En Place and Craic Foods also work with other smaller food companies on the development of innovative products.

The Horticulture Forum and the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) have recently launched the Healthy Horticulture section as part of the 2021 Show.

This popular display highlights the importance of horticulture in Northern Ireland and showcases the range of benefits that it brings, from improving both your physical and mental health and welling as well as highlighting the importance of protecting our planet and the environment around us.

This year, Healthy Horticulture are delighted to welcome Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and Rural Support-Social Farming to join them at the Show.

Exciting developments this year include the launch of Parful Produce promoting the best of local produce in NI as well as the creation of a new centre piece exhibit that is set to engage, inspire and educate visitors to the Show. 

As always there is something for everyone in the popular Horticulture marquee. Attractions returning this year include the competitive Fill Your Boots competition, the fun filled Kids Knowledge Trail as well as the Popular Mighty Spud. Furthermore, NI’s top horticulture producers and trade association’s representatives will be on hand to promote the benefits of horticulture from the green fingered hobby grower to the large scale producers.

Denise Kelso, Chair of the Horticulture Committee commented, “This year’s Show will run from Wednesday 22^nd September to Saturday 25^th September, that’s four action packed days of family fun.  Come along and visit us this year, whether you’re from the city or countryside, a first time visitor or repeat show-goer, we hope to see you there.  Tickets are now available to purchase online at www.balmoralshow.co.uk. Please note this year tickets are day specific only and must be purchased prior to the Show. Conditions of entry can be found online at www.balmoralshow.co.uk.”

The beautiful harbour village of Portavogie will host a celebration of delicious local produce as well as the Borough’s finest food and drink on Saturday 11 September (12pm-5pm) with the Tide and Turf themed seafood festival!

Running as part of Ards and North Down Borough Council’s ‘Taste Ards and North Down Autumn Food Festival’, your foodie dreams will come true as you savour the seasonal tide and turf produce, with a chance to pick up delicious treats and meet great chefs.

There will be live cookery demonstrations in the Tide and Turf kitchens from our local Great British Menu competitors and South Eastern Regional College chefs. They will compete to win the coveted ‘Great Peninsula Menu’ title, and will demonstrate the best way to combine seasonal ingredients with fresh local produce to make some mouth-watering dishes that you can recreate at home.

Judging the chefs’ delicious dishes will be Great British Menu judge, Oliver Peyton, as well as chef Alex Greene, who scored a double win on the show in 2020. It will be a hotly contested affair!

If you fancy joining in with a foodie-based competition, why not sign-up on the day for the oyster eating competition? Just you, the clock, and six oysters – will you be able to set the fastest time?

There will also be an artisan food market and fantastic entertainment with music and lots of fun kids activities, including vintage funfair rides and Punch and Judy shows.

A free bus service will run from both Bangor and Newtownards to Portavogie during the afternoon. So take the stress out of travel, catch the bus and enjoy a food-filled day out for all the family!

Autumn Food Festival

Tide and Turf forms part of the wider Taste Ards and North Down Autumn Food Festival that includes weekly markets and delicious foodie experiences. The Festival runs from 4 September to 21 October, with Tide and Turf taking place on Saturday 11 September.

For more information, including a bus timetable, go to visitardsandnorthdown.com.