It’s been a time where we’ve all been forced to make changes and adapt. At Food NI, we’ve been blown away by the adaptability, innovation and determination of our agri-food industry in the face of COVID-19. Whenever we needed them the most, they continued to make sure we had food and drink on our tables!

To say thank you, we’re launching a 4-week digital competition to share and celebrate the stories of our local agri-food champions.  Those good news stories will be made into a video highlighting what so many have done. We’re calling it a massive virtual applause, so the more stories the better!

We want to hear your good news stories about those artisans who made your life easier by  delivering to you from a farm shop, who updated their website so you could order your favourites online, who supported the vulnerable or who just put a smile on your face.

“It’s been so heartening to see how so many of our members have just rolled up their sleeves and got on with it. They have made a real difference to so many people and have also highlighted how important our local agri-food industry is” said Food NI CEO Michele Shirlow.

“We really want to hear from the public how their efforts have helped them.  It’s a way of showing our appreciation to those producers and chefs.”

It doesn’t matter how big or small, just email us and you will be in with the chance of winning a local food hamper to the value of £20.

One winner will be chosen at random each week for four weeks.

PM us your stories on social media or email info@nigoodfood.com.

Retailer Launches More Than 160 Summer Products Including Vegetarian and Vegan Options Starting at just £2.50 for a Limited Time

Lidl Northern Ireland’s limited-time summer barbecue range has all the essentials to make your summer at home one your palate, and wallet, won’t forget with mouth-watering build-your-own burgers for less than £4 a head! From succulent 100% Irish beef burgers to alternative vegan options starting from just £2.50, Lidl Northern Ireland has all your barbecue needs covered this summer.

Missing your favourite burger joint’s signature stack? Lidl Northern Ireland has all you need to replicate your favourite one at home. For a classic American-style beef burger, try the Strathvale Skinny Beef Beef Burgers (£1.49) supplied by Northern Ireland based company Dunbia and stack with Butterhead Lettuce (£0.50) from Co. Derry, some juicy Loose Vine Tomatoes (£1.50) and to top it off, some Rathdaragh Mature Cheddar Cheese (£1.40) supplied by NI supplier Dale Farm. Sandwich your burger together with Lidl Northern Ireland’s buttery Deluxe Brioche Burger Buns (£0.79) and add a twist by whipping up Lidl’s Special Secret Burger Sauce with just four ingredients you are likely to have in your cupboard already.

Plant-based options for vegans, vegetarians and everyone in between include Lidl Northern Ireland’s Eden Plant-Based Burgers for just £2.99 and Plant-Based Sausages, £2.50. Bursting with flavour, they can be combined with mix-and-match veggie toppings, creating a mouth-watering restaurant-style vegan burger at home.

Lidl Northern Ireland’s summer range is available now in the retailer’s 39 stores, while supplies last.

Lidl’s Secret Burger Sauce recipe:

Mix together:

• 25g Batts Mayonnaise (£0.83)
• 1 tbsp Batts Ketchup (£0.54)
• 1 tbsp McEnnedy American Mustard (£0.69)
• 1 Freshona pickled gherkin (£0.89), coarsely grated

 

For more information, visit lidl-ni.co.uk 

 

James Street South Cookery School are delighted to be in place where they are making plans for the re-opening of the cookery school.

An Autumn schedule is available online starting in September, with the hope all bookings that have been cancelled can be accommodated. More classes can be added once these are filled.

The cookery school intends to operate whilst adhering to the current guidelines, as hygiene and safety, will always be at the forefront of their plans. The classes have a maximum capacity of 12 people, and with an experienced chef at helm, everyone is able to keep up and work to the pace. Some of the classes may be more adventurous than others like Effortless Entertaining, but when you hear the feedback from the participants everyone leaves with a new skills and confidence in the kitchen as well as all the food that has been cooked.

Mid week classes last for up to 3 hours whilst our Saturday class can last up to 4 hours and includes an apron to take home. The emphasis in all the classes is to use equipment that is easy to use and all produce is local and seasonal and is available in the local shops.

Classes can be found here , if you cannot see the one you want please get in touch with James Street South Cookery School:

028 90 434 310
info@jamesstreetsouth.co.uk

All valid gift vouchers can be used to book classes online.

 

 

 

 

PEPPUP, the Northern Ireland producer of authentic Italian sauces, dips and ketchup, has launched three new products on the back of recent successful growth in sales across Ireland.

The family business is owned and managed by Dr Luca Montorio, a nutritionist originally from Turin, and wife Liz and is now based at Newtownards in county Down.

The company has seen sales in the Republic grow by 10 foldin the past year as a result of a strategic decision to focus resources on family butchery stores, delis and independent grocers throughout the island of Ireland. It is now the market leader in many of these outlets. PEPPUP is a Food NI member company.

The new products just launched expand the company’s existing and successful portfolio. They are an original bolognese and a smooth bolognese, both in 480g jars, and a 330g chilli dip.

“The new products have also been influenced by feedbackfrom retailers and customers. Our new bolognese sauces are a response to those in both Northern Ireland and the Republic seeking original and smoother in addition to our existing basil and chilli bologneses. The Irish market seems to have a preference for original and a smoother bologneses, the latter similar to passata,” he adds.

“I’ve drawn on the very positive feedback from retailers and customers I’ve received during my many marketing trips to existing and potential outlets throughout Ireland. I’ve spent much of my time visiting butchers and smaller grocers in the Republic over the past year and it’s now paying dividends in terms of increasing business. PEPPUP is now the preferred Italian sauce in many butchers,” he adds.

All PEPPUP products feature premium roasted red peppers and tomatoes and are based on original recipes developed by Dr Montorio and influenced by his upbringing in Turin, where his parents still live.

The portfolio includes two ketchups – original and mild chilli, two pasta sauces – original and mild chilli – a Mediterranean cooking sauce – two dips and the four bologneses. Several of the products have won multiple UK Great Taste and Free From awards.

PEPPUP’s bolognese and dips use only natural ingredients, are gluten free, dairy free, fat free, and with no added sugar. They are also unique in not having onion and garlic and so are IBS friendly.

“This gives a fresh taste, free of allergens and preservatives and suitable for vegans, reflecting the strength of ourcommitment to nutritional and tasty food,” Mr Montorio adds. “They reflect our commitment to clean food.”

The company, in addition, has introduced a PEPPUP channel on You Tube with recipe ideas and guidance on how to use its range of Italian products. “The channel is influenced by the growing trend towards cooking at home especially of popular Italian dishes such as lasagne, spaghetti Bolognese and meatballs,” Dr Montorio explains.

The company, in addition, has introduced a PEPPUP channel on You Tube with recipe ideas and guidance on how to use its range of Italian products. “The channel is influenced by the growing trend towards cooking at home especially of popular Italian dishes such as lasagne, spaghetti bolognese and meatballs,” Dr Montorio explains.

PEPPUP was formed by Dr Montorio and wife Liz in 2014. The initial products were ketchup and pasta sauce, which are now on sale in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The company has received assistance from Invest NI towards development of its products and marketing.

 

If you have any queries or would like more info contact Brand Bureau.

North Down businessman Michael Heaslip has completely transformed his business from manufacturing his own brands of healthy snacks to importing and distributing medical grade PPE, helping support essential workers in Northern Ireland.

The owner of Food Stories watched with horror as the extent of the crisis in PPE supplies for the healthcare sector began to unfold in early March. Aware that food manufacturers in Northern Ireland were also desperately looking for essential PPE for their employees, Michael decided to source the supplies.

He found the two major challenges were: sourcing a reputable factory manufacturing quality PPE and getting the products out of China, quickly.

“One of Food Stories’ own brands is manufactured in Asia, so with existing contacts in there, I began researching the market and quickly established a stable supply chain and distribution to bring in Type 1 medical-grade face masks and other items of PPE to Northern Ireland,” he explains.

He continues: “Once a reliable source was found, getting the products out of China quickly, proved to be an even greater task. Instead of shipping product in containers, I found myself navigating the unknown logistics of tracking individual boxes, arranging airfreight in massively reduced numbers of passenger aircraft, and dealing with continually changing international regulations and cargo capacity restrictions.

“However, the result has been a regular supply of face masks and essential PPE to health providers and businesses in Northern Ireland,” he adds. He has now set up a new company – Sia PPE – specifically for these products and is currently holding a rolling stock of 500,000 face masks for immediate delivery.

In just a few short weeks, he has now imported millions of items for healthcare and other essential workers. As many companies prepare to return to the workplace in coming weeks, his supply chain could be one part of the solution to ensuring workplace safety for employees.

For members of the public also struggling to access high quality face masks as lockdown gradually starts to lift, a retail pack has been developed and will be available in Northern Ireland supermarkets by the end of May or can be ordered from the website at www.siappe.co.

Before starting on this new venture, he took action to ensure the supply chain was ethical, responsible. “We engaged Intertek, the worldwide inspection agency to visit the facilities within our supply chain, so everything has been thoroughly checked and quality assured. It was critical to me that the working conditions and quality of the materials we were proposing to bring in were unimpeachable. The face masks we’re supplying are 3-ply, medical-grade and tested to EN 14683:2019. It’s very difficult to source reputable manufacturing partners and the market is confusing. We hope that our regular supply will help companies source quality PPE so they can focus on ‘getting back to business’.

He set up Food Stories in 2014, developing premium snack brands Pink Finch and Cloud Corn and supplying retailers such as Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Tesco and a range of independents, as well as exporting to 13 countries.