The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) have showed their support for the National Health Service (NHS) by providing locally produced food hampers to frontline workers. Medical professionals have always provided an excellent service to the farming community at times of need and continue to do so throughout this pandemic.

 

UFU deputy president Victor Chestnutt said, “We are delighted to be able to provide these locally produced food hampers as a way of saying thank you to our NHS staff who are working relentlessly on the frontline, battling against COVID-19. We will never be able to repay them for putting our needs before their own, but we wanted to do something that would highlight our appreciation for the incredible service they constantly provide. Members of the farming community who have been affected by the virus or have needed their expertise in the past, have been overwhelmed by the caring nature, commitment and dedication of our NHS staff.”

 

The Northern Ireland produce within the hamper was sourced from Glenarm Castle. Mr Chestnutt said, “Glenarm Castle partnered up with local food producers, supplying homegrown fruit and vegetables, Glenarm Shorthorn beef, Glenarm organic smoked salmon, eggs, fresh sourdough bread and delicious treats and goodies to name a few items. Farmers have overcome numerous challenges since this pandemic began to continue producing quality food for consumers and it’s great to be able to gift this hamper filled with local food that adds a personal touch. Nutritious produce is key for keeping our energy levels high throughout the day and Northern Ireland produce is farmed to some of the highest environmental and animal welfare standards in the world. We hope our delicious homegrown produce is enjoyed by all NHS staff.”

The farming community is intertwined with the NHS in many ways and the UFU have always viewed the medical field as a vital service to the agriculture industry.

 

“Many UFU members and their loved ones work in our health care system. The Farm Families Health Checks Programme provides a valuable service to our farmers at local livestock marts and community events, and the service of the Air Ambulance has been critical to the rural community. We depend so much on our health care service and all those within in it. Their efforts cannot be commended or recognised enough,” said the UFU deputy president.

It’s hard to believe that we expected to be at Balmoral Show this week. It’s always one of the best weeks of my year with plenty of connections made, new products launched and business done. Plus, there are always plenty of laughs, usually involving Paula McIntrye or Brian McDermott our compere chefs, on our cookery theatres. Like many people, all the planning and hard work leading up to Balmoral will just have to be carried forward to next year.

I do try to be a half glass full person and look for the positives in every situation. While I know it’s been difficult at times over the past couple of months, I’ve drawn great hope from the tremendous support from the community for the campaign to save lives by supporting our NHS and care home teams and for the overall battles against coronavirus. I’ve also drawn immense encouragement from the responses of our food and drink and hospitality sectors to the extreme challenges they faced during the lockdown.

And I’ve been inspired by the stories from local companies about lining up new sales, especially outside Northern Ireland,and about innovative food and drink which they’ve developed. As a family we had huge fun making individual pizzas with a kit supplied by the French Village, the innovative bakery ran by Ashley and Amy French provided both a delicious meal and an evenings entertainment.

We’ve seen food and drink producers of all sizes, and across a broad range of categories, rising to the ‘Feed the Nation’ challenge. Investing in original products in the midst of a crisis shows the confidence local firms have in their expertise and a gritty determination to surmount the challenges they are currently facing. These companies are gearing for the post-virus future.

What they are also doing is strengthening Northern Ireland’s position as a prime source of quality and innovative food and drink for consumers and the hospitality sector in Britain.

The crisis has led many to embrace the potential of new digital technologies and this has led to sales in global markets including the US, Australia and New Zealand. Gone are the days when some smaller companies in particular wouldn’t have bothered to respond to such distant inquiries.

They are now drawing encouragement from such responses and keen to deal with them. This may well be because the companies have become familiar with online business paid by card in advance by customers here. It’s inevitable that the companies here will continue to develop online sales in the future.

This important business channel looks certain to grow in both short and long terms. The lockdown has served to push many companies down the digital path faster than might otherwise have been the case. We’ve also used our own digital channels to assist and promote the companies.

Furthermore, our companies, even major processors, have further developed social media channels to increase awareness about and grow sales of products. This is a trend I expect to continue post the pandemic.

In an unexpected twist, more companies have become conscious of the possibilities of doing business outside Northern Ireland. Approaches from individual customers abroad have enhanced the confidence of many companies about the quality and originality of their products and their ability to compete effectively abroad. It has certainly widened horizons.

In Food NI, we see a need to step up marketing activities on-the-ground in Britain and indeed further afield.  We’ve been supporting Invest NI in a range of business promotionalactivities especially in Britain and the Irish Republic of Ireland over the past year. We look forward to continuing to do so and to helping our companies to build on the experience gained over the past few months to translate this into even greater business both here and abroad.

Northern Ireland’s multi-award winning Long Meadow Cider has begun supplying customers in many parts of Britain.

 

The first business in Britain for the family business, which is based at Loughgall in county Armagh, is an outcome of the company’s link-up with Shortcross Gin in Crossgar, county Down to market its ciders and apple juice on its e-commerce shop.

 

This collaboration has led to sales in Scotland, Lancashire and Hertfordshire, according to Long Meadow director Catherine McKeever.  “The platform provided by Shortcross has enabled up to gain a foothold in the marketplace in Great Britain,” says Mrs McKeever. “Britain has proved a difficult marketplace for us the crack in the past. We can now build on our customer base and promote our craft ciders there,” she adds.

 

Long Meadow is among Ireland’s most successful producers of original and fruit ciders as well as natural apple juice and apple cider vinegar.

 

The progressive company, based at the heart of Northern Ireland’s orchard county, has also won a series of Great Taste and Blas na hEireann awards for the quality and outstanding flavours of ciders processed from apples from the farm’s own orchards.

 

The company, which has SALSA food safety accreditation, is run by husband and wife team Patrick and Catherine McKeever with son Peter and was established in 2013.

 

Long Meadow has a heritage in apple growing stretching back three generations in county Armagh and has already won business from delis, independent retailers, restaurants and bars in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland.

 

The enterprising family grows and harvests apples from upwards of 120 acres of orchards, 30 of which are on the home farm. Native Bramley apples, which have EU PGI status, and other locally grown apples from a network of trusted growers are used.

Long Meadow ciders and juices are processed exclusively using pure pressed apple juice. The company does not use concentrates, chemicals, or added water. Small batches are produced using a unique slow fermentation process for greater flavour.

 

In addition, the company also runs farm tours to showcase its products and processes through Grand Circle Travel American tours.

 

Long Meadow is listed on the Shortcross Gin e-commerce shop following an offer from the award winning gin distillery to offer a digital platform to other craft drink business without such a market access. Long Meadow is unable to sell through its own website because of Northern Ireland’s strict licensing rules.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

French Village Bakery, a leading Northern Ireland bakery, wholesaler of breads and cakes, caterer, and restaurant operator, has just launched Bake, a unique kit for making sourdough-style pizzas at home.

 

The new Fry Pan Pizza Box Kit is the outcome of months of research and new product development led by Ashley French, French Village managing director, a pizza enthusiast. The novel kit is aimed at a family of four and also includes illustrated instructions on how to make the delicious pizza at home. A pizza kit for two is also planned.

 

In addition, there’s a video link explaining how best to create an enjoyable and authentic Neapolitan-style pizza quickly and easily at home.

 

The original fry pan kit, which sells at £20 makes four freshly made pizzas and is available on a call and collect and delivery basis from the bakery in Belfast. The kit comprises four French Village sourdough balls, fermented for two days, the company’s own pizza sauce, flour, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses as well as pepperoni and olive oil.

 

Mr French explaining the new product, says: “While I’ve been working on the development of the new fry pan pizza for many months, the current lockdown and especially the growing trend towards cooking fresh meals and snacks at home has created a significant market opportunity for delicious pizza that could be made easily and enjoyed by everyone.

 

“Our pizza kit can be ready to enjoy in around 10 minutes. Furthermore, it’s an ideal family product which children, in particular, can enjoy helping to make and eat. We’ve tested the pizza extensively to ensure that it is both easy to make at home and offers outstanding taste. Feedback from everyone we asked to make and experience the pizza has been extremely encouraging,” adds Mr French.

 

The company operates from a state-of-the-art bakery and has become a major wholesaler of breads and cakes throughout Northern Ireland. In addition to the bakery and restaurants, the company has a successful catering operation for various events including weddings.

 

It responded quickly to the close of many wholesale customers such as cafes, canteens and restaurants by creating innovative provision and family food boxes for doorstep deliveries in Belfast. The lockdown meant the company had to close its two restaurants in Belfast until the end of the crisis and halted its catering business.

 

“We’ve created food boxes especially for families and individuals who are self-isolating due to the lockdown. They’re also ideal for those seeking a tasty and quality treat for main meals and snacks,” Mr French continues.

 

As well as featuring a range of freshly baked goods, such as soda bread, potato farls, wheaten bread, pancakes and brioche baps and cakes, French Village has teamed up with other local producers to include products such as buttermilk, milk from Drayne’s Farm, Lisburn and butter from Ballyrashane in Coleraine, tea from Suki Tea Makers, Bailie’s coffee, both based in Belfast, and free range eggs from Springmount Farm in Castleregh.

 

The new pizza kit has developed essentially as a weekend meal.

 

Contents of the boxes for delivery can be ordered and paid for through the company’s website to be collected on Friday and for delivery within many parts of Belfast on Saturday. In addition, the kits are available from a number of food retailers such as Carnbrooke Meats in Lisburn and Coleraine-based Lynas Foods.

The family-owned business opened in 1981 as a producer of artisan breads, cakes and buns. The company established an impressive and successful reputation for creating high quality bakery products. In 2014, it moved to a purpose-built bakery in east Belfast and then diversified into wholesale and catering. The pizza kits represent another important diversification strengthening its retail options.

Cloughbane Farm Foods, a leading Northern Ireland producer of fresh meats and award-winning ready meals, has gained online orders for its quality products from the US and Australia.

The company, based on a family farm near Pomeroy in Tyrone, has seen local and export business blossom during the current lockdown from the Covid-19 outbreak as a result of its farm to doorstep delivery service, free for orders over £45.

The new export orders are different in that they have been placed on its website (www.cloughbanefarm.com) by people in the US and Australia wishing to send Cloughbane’s quality products to family members in Northern Ireland, according to Cloughbane Farm managing director Lorna Robinson, who founded the company with husband Sam in 2002. Sam runs the family’s 180-acre livestock farm.

Mrs Robinson continues: “We are very excited to have had orders coming in from Australia and North America from family members wishing to send a parcel of our meat and ready meals to their loved ones here at this very difficult time.

“We are delighted that we are able to help out and support families who are missing one another and ensuring that everyone gets a taste of home!

“Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak we have seen our online sales soar with lots of customers availing of our special offers including a £45 meal parcel and our Sirloin Steak Special which enables customers to enjoy our delicious steaks at a discount,” she adds.

Cloughbane Farm Foods was established by Lorna and Sam Robinson and their sons in 2002. The progressive business is now among the most successful and progressive farm diversifications in Northern Ireland. It draws its meat from beef cattle raised on the farm’s180 acres of rich pasture in Tyrone.

 

“Our award winning range of fresh meat and ready meals can be ordered through our website and delivered direct to any home in Northern Ireland, it’s free delivery on any orders over £45. We also offer a completely contactless service with orders placed and paid for online and left on the doorstep to collect,” adds Mrs Robinson.

As well as beef, the farm raises lamb and free-range eggs. It also rears its own poultry.

Ain addition to fresh beef, lamb, and poultry, Cloughbane Farm produces an extensive portfolio of ready meals which have been listed by leading retailers throughout the UK and Ireland. It has also won string of national awards for its premium meals.

 

Boatyard Distillery in Northern Ireland has gained additional investment of £600,000 for the development of award winning double gin, vodka and forthcoming Irish malt whiskey especially in export markets

The craft distillery, based near Enniskillen in county Fermanagh, has currently been producing hand sanitiser in response to the coronavirus pandemic and has just won a listing from Tesco in Northern Ireland for the product. It’s the first local distillery to win business from Tesco Northern Ireland.

Boatyard Distillery, founded and owned by Joe McGirr, secured the investment through the Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN) from private investors and Co-Fund II.

The distillery and visitor centre was set up by Mr McGirr in 2016 on the back of his extensive experience in spirits production and marketing. It currently produces Boatyard Double Gin, Old Tom Gin and vodka. The company is a Food NI member.

“We are really pleased to secure this investment and excited about the unique experience our new investors will bring, particularly when it comes to growing our presence overseas,” says Mr McGirr.

“The gin market remains highly competitive but we offer something different, with some botanicals grown on the family farm.

“Right now, Covid-19 has interrupted some of our immediate plans but we have responded to the situation by being innovative and using our expertise to produce a product that is not only in high demand but which our health service and key workers desperately need. We are pleased to play our part in the fight against Covid-19 by donating supplies to help those people on the frontline doing great work for everyone in the Fermanagh region.”

The company has secured deals with supermarket chains M&S and Waitrose to stock their products across the UK and Ireland. The double gin uses a blend of botanicals including Fermanagh Sweet Gaei.

In response to the coronavirus crisis, the distillery diversified and started production of hand sanitiser, to World Health Organisation specifications.

Boatyard Distillery has given away more than 1,200 litres of sanitiser to front line services in Fermanagh including to NHS key workers and supermarket staff and is now selling the product to customers in other industries, both locally and internationally.

The sanitiser will be stocked in Tesco stores in Northern Ireland from this week.