Innovative Jerk Seasoning and Chilli Fruit Sauces have been developed and launched by artisan entrepreneur Carolyn Stewart, also a well-known radio broadcaster and presenter in Northern Ireland, to her product range. The range also features eye-catching new branding. 

The novel products are the result of development work by Carolyn, a popular presenter on U105 radio, over the past 12 months during the coronavirus lockdown. She has also created an attractive new branding for the innovative products underher new Carolyn Stewart – Turn up the Flavour brand. Carolyn fine-tuned her chili infused fruit sauces along with the latest addition of Jerk Seasoning during the last lockdown.

Carolyn says: “While the restaurants and cafes remained closed during the lockdown, one thing to come out of Covid19 was a desire among consumers for flavoursome food. I was well aware that cooking at home became the new night out. While I was no longer mixing up the tunes on a Saturday night I turned to my kitchen to fine tune my chilli infused fruit sauces and most exciting to perfect my Jerk Seasoning product.”  

The award-winning Caribbean Pickle, along with the Pineapple Chilli products where the first to undergo the new label transformation incorporating Carolyn’s love of music and food infusions under the new brand.

Carolyn continues: “So far everyone is loving the new look label. It’s a bit of retro feel that makes the product stand out a bit more on the shelves, but what I wanted most was for people to turn up the flavour of their everyday food with my easy to add ingredients’ straight from the jar! The new products are ideal for the upcoming BBQ season.”

The new additions to the product range are Blueberry Chilli Sauce, 
Raspberry Chilli Sauce, and Jerk Seasoning.

“The Jerk seasoning makes a great marinade for meats, and plant-based options, enhancing flavour but with a punch of heat to finish.  The fruit sauces can be used in any dessert, cheese board, dipping sauce or mix up a cocktail tocomplement any dinner party,” Carolyn adds.

The Caribbean Pickle has two awards – Great Taste Award 2017 and a Blas Na Eireann Award in 2019. 

Carolyn launched her first range of hot sauces under the Totally Hot NI brand in 2016.
 

Boatyard Distillery in Enniskillen has launched its award-winning double gins in New York State through a deal with established distributor Empire Merchants, a premium wine and spirit’s specialist that has roots going back to the end of Prohibition.

The distillery, based near Enniskillen in county Fermanagh in a transformed boat house overlooking Lough Erne, has also announced the appointment of Michael Smoley as market manager, in New York. 

He joins Boatyard having just enjoyed a much-laudedtenure at New York’s, NoMad Hotel. Michael was one of the key leaders behind the NoMad Bars success, with it consistently featuring in the World’s 50 Best Bars listsamongst other accolades.

Late 2020 saw Boatyard appoint previous director of bars of the Savoy, Declan McGurk as commercial director, and this recent appointment bolsters the distillery’s on trade credentials, as they strive for expansion.

Boatyard was founded by Joe McGirr in 2016 in county Fermanagh and focuses on crafting premium spirits that combine quality with provenance and heritage.

Boatyard Double Gin represents its core expression. This 46% ABV Irish distilled gin contains a locally foraged botanical called Sweet Gale, in an otherwise classic recipe. The double in its name refers to a double contact with juniper during distillation resulting in a juniper forward gin, perfect for Martinis.

Declan McGurk says: “Our US launch is a landmark moment for Boatyard, and we are overjoyed to be partnered with Empire Merchants in New York. To then add the appointment of Michael Smoley, demonstrates our intent within the market. As a business we certainly don’t have limitless resources but securing the services of Michael will allow us to ensure that the Boatyard service attitude crosses over the Atlantic.”

Michael Smoley adds: “I am beyond pleased to start my journey with the Boatyard Distillery. From day one their values have perfectly aligned with mine.  They put their people first, they’re obsessed with quality, and they’re doing it all in a sustainable way ensuring that we are here to stay.

“Launching Boatyard in the US, starting with New York, is a thrilling prospect. New Yorkers constantly see trends come and go. When we find something of genuinequality and truly innovative, we latch on and never let go. My goal is to show New Yorkers, and then the rest of the country, that Boatyard is a brand worth latching on to. The quality, passion, transparency and innovation are there. The stage is set for creating a lasting impact on the industry,” he adds.

Tempted Cider, the leading Northern Ireland craft cider brand, has secured a listing with prestigious online supermarket Ocado.

The award-winning Armagh range will be available on Ocado – Tempted Dry, Tempted Medium Dry, Tempted Sweet, Tempted Strawberry and Tempted Elderflower.  Produced in Northern Ireland’s orchard county, Co. Armagh, Tempted has racked up an impressive amount of commendations over the years, including a trophy at the International Cider Challenge and a Great Taste Award. 

Inspired by founder Davy Uprichard’s childhood memories of making wine as a hobby with his father, Tempted Cider was established in 2009. Davy, a horticulturist by trade, set up a small cidery at the family home and began pressing apples. This humble hobby kick-started a mission to make the world’s most-loved and enjoyed craft cider and now, Tempted Cider is the most-awarded cider in Ireland with five styles in its full range and Davy’s passion for celebrating and sharing local apples poured into every single drop. 

Davy says; “Craft cider-making is a promising, passionate local industry and to have the range made available to UK consumers with Ocado is hugely rewarding. The listing marks a significant milestone for Tempted Cider, making it available in the UK grocery channel and increasing brand presence nationwide.“

Gary Hyde, senior beer, cider and spirits buyer at Ocado, said:“Irish craft cider is gaining recognition and with the category growing steadily in popularity, it is a great time to add Tempted to our range. Tempted Cider has been highly commended over the years and each of the five styles has its own distinct blend and flavour which will really appeal to Ocado shoppers.” 

Tempted Cider is available from Ocado online with an RRP of £2 for the Tempted Dry, Tempted Medium Dry and Tempted Sweet;£2.35 for the Tempted Strawberry and Tempted Elderflower.

The full Tempted Cider range includes: 

Tempted Dry – showcasing the light and fruity dessert apple. Its refreshing, crisp acidity morphs into a smooth, mature, soft tannin finish of delicate, floral undertones. 

Tempted Medium Dry – calls on the green apple to create a bittersweet, smooth cider with a slight smokiness and complex mouth-feel. 

Tempted Sweet – showcases the sweet red apple for a familiar apple juice experience, with the added experience of subtle vanilla and butterscotch tones.

Tempted Strawberry – a special blend of dessert apple and strawberry wine merged to create a very natural strawberries and cream experience. 

Tempted Elderflower – brings together juicy red apple and fresh elderflower blossom for a delicately sweet cider. 

To meet the growing consumer demand for premium snacks and in-home snacking occasions, Sainsbury’s has brought Forest Feast – the Original Snack Explorers – into its fold, with two of the brand’s new, innovative ranges of nuts now in 480 stores throughout the UK.Forest Feast is a Food NI member company.

The Forest Feast Slow Roasted & Seasoned Nuts range is made using local and artisanal ingredients to season and then slowly roasted in small batches. Three variants from the six-strong range will be stocked in Sainsbury’s stores at RRP £3.00/120g, all of which pack a punch in flavour and are gluten-free:
• Slow Roasted Sea Salt & Black Peppercorn Nut Mix• Slow Roasted Serrano Chilli Honey Almonds & Peanuts• Slow Roasted Heather Honey Peanuts & Cashews

The Forest Feast Signature Chocolate Nuts range marries the nutritional goodness of nuts with the indulgence of Belgian chocolate, offering a clear point of difference in the confectionery category that has seen the brand experience 150-250 percent growth in its chocolate ranges. Handcrafted in-house, each nut is oven-roasted with its skin-on for depth of flavour and combined with a unique flavour twist. One vegan-friendly option of the three innovative variants in the range will join the grocery retailer’s shelves at RRP £3.00/120g:• Sea Salted Dark Chocolate Almonds

Bronagh Clarke, marketing director at Forest Feast, said: “Over the last year the nation has spent more time at home, consumers are looking for snacks that elevate their evenings in and are leaning towards more premium, artisanal products. We’re proud that Forest Feast’s new nut ranges harness innovation and flavour discovery to meet this demand, while showcasing our in-house roasting and seasoning capabilities.”

A spokesperson at Sainsbury’s added: “Over the past year, we’ve seen significant growth in customers looking for great tasting snacks, and there is a clear trend of consumers looking for more special and crafted products too – which makes Forest Feast’s proposition really strong. We look forward to being able to offer shoppers even more options to trade-up and enjoy at home.”

Three Food NI member companies have won top awards in the annual Scottish Retail Food and Drink, the results of which have just been announced. Three of the winners are Food NI member companies.

The local winners in the influential competition which recognises and rewards outstanding branded and own label products in the £14 billion a year Scottish retail food and drink marketplace are: 

Food NI members –

Thompson’s Family Teas of Belfast in the UK Producer category in Teas and Tissanes for its Thompson’s Scottish Blend, a tea crafted specially for this market;

Hellbent Chakalata South African style boerewors sausagesfrom Belfast in the Meat – Burgers and Sausages category from a UK Producer: and

Wilson’s Country, Portadown county Armagh for You Say Potato Fresh Cut Chips in UK Producer in Ready Meals and Accompaniments.

Food NI chief executive Michele Shirlow said: “I am delighted to see Northern Ireland companies achieving such outstanding recognition in a market which is among the most important and successful in Britain for our producers. Their achievements there highlight how vitally important it is to keep the trade channels open and unfettered between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.”

There was also a top award for:

McColgan’s Quality Foods, Strabane, county Tyrone for its goat’s cheese and caramalised red onion tart in UK Producer in Quiches and Pies; and Big Pot in Cookstown had two soups shortlisted.

The successful products, which are subjected by rigorous sampling by a panel of food experts, highlight the importance of the Scottish market to Northern Ireland food companies and also reflect the growing achievements of local food producers there . 

Invest NI, the Northern Ireland business development agency, was among the high profile sponsors of the awards which were organised by a separate company with sponsorship from major manufacturers and other bodies.

The Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards were open to products available for sale in Scottish retail outlets, from the smallest farm shop or deli through Scotland’s 5,000 convenience and symbol stores to the largest supermarkets and discounters.

The food and drink industry in Scotland accounts for one in five manufacturing jobs with more than 18,850 food and drink businesses operating there, employing more than 115,400 people.

The Echlinville Distillery (Co. Down, Northern Ireland) has won five awards at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – one of the drinks industry’s most prestigious and influential contests. Echlinville is home to the iconic Dunville’s Irish Whiskey portfolio, which scooped four awards including Double Gold Medals for Dunville’s Three Crowns and Dunville’s PX 12 Year Old Single Malt. The Double Gold Medal is awarded only to those spirits rated as exceptional by every member of the competition’s esteemed judging panel. Double Gold Medal winners are considered to be among the finest spirits in the world. Dunville’s Three Crowns Peated and Weavers Gin were both awarded a Gold Medal, meaning they are ‘near the pinnacle of achievement’ and set the standard for spirits in their category. Dunville’s 1808 Blended Irish Whiskey was awarded a Silver Medal reserved for ‘outstanding spirits that show refinement, finesse and complexity’.

Speaking about Echlinville’s latest awards success, distillery owner Shane Braniff said: “The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is held in high esteem throughout the global drinks industry. A San Francisco medal is a recognised indicator of exceptional quality and craftmanship, so to win five medals is a huge honour for all of us here at Echlinville. “We pride ourselves in the quality and integrity of our products and the passion and professionalism of our team, so it is wonderful to see this recognised by the competition’s judging panel, which includes some of the spirits industry’s most respected and experienced experts. “These medals bring our tally of global awards and accolades to 45, which is quite an achievement for an independent family-run distillery. Each award is an indication of the high esteem in which Echlinville is held in the global spirits industry, which has traditionally been dominated by big multi-national brands. “As we seek to increase our international presence – particularly in the Irish Whiskey sector, which is the world’s fastest growing spirits category – these awards will further strengthen our brands at home in Ireland and across key export markets. We are delighted with this latest awards success and hope it will help us to introduce The Echlinville Distillery and Dunville’s Irish Whiskey to new followers and spirits enthusiasts around the world.”