Get ready to embark on a foodie journey at the first Taste Mid Ulster Restaurant
Week 10 th – 16 th March. This week-long celebration, from Mid Ulster District Council
will shine a spotlight on the people and places behind the vibrant food and hospitality
scene of Mid Ulster, featuring a range of restaurants, each showcasing dishes made
with the finest locally sourced ingredients.
Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, Taste Mid Ulster Restaurant Week offers an
exceptional opportunity to discover the diverse and delicious dishes and places that
make Mid Ulster a must-visit place to dine out. From exciting, curated tasting menu
evenings, hearty comfort food, unique food pairings, cooking demonstrations and
masterclasses – the week will provide unique culinary experiences to satisfy every
palate and budget.
Taste Mid Ulster Restaurant Week participating restaurants include: Ardtara
Country House (Chef Ian Orr), Dawsons Restaurant (Chef Stephen Hope), The
Castledawson Inn (Chef/Joint Owner Ciaran Devlin from Channel Four’s Four in a
bed), Friels Bar & Restaurant (Chef Mark Wilson) , Dorman’s Bar & Restaurant (Chef
Martin Buick), Mary’s Bar and Restaurant (Chef Gerard Donnelly) , Glenavon House
Hotel – Cellar Restaurant (Chef Patrick Mallon), The Tailor’s House (Chef Lauren
Shimmin – Master Chef: The Professionals 2024 contestant), Corick House Hotel &
Spa (Chef Thomas Kiss), The Royal Hotel (Chef/Joint Owner Stephen Thom), The
Old Thatch Inn (Chef Bridie McConomy), The Tap House (Chef William Johnston)

and The Food Doc(Chef Gary Nicholl) – with more to be revealed ahead of the
event.
Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Eugene McConnell said:
“Mid Ulster is full of exceptional talent in chefs and cooks, such as Lauren Shimmin
(contender on MasterChef) and Ciaran Devlin (Channel Four’s Four in a Bed) to
name but a few, and lots of innovative food and drink manufacturers who are hidden
gems. Mid Ulster Restaurant Week is a celebration that is all about exploring and
discovering our district’s rich culinary scene. Our hospitality industry has shown
incredible resilience over the past few years and the local food scene in Mid Ulster is
going from strength to strength. We look forward to collaborating with hospitality
businesses to ensure this event is a success.”
For more information on the Taste Mid Ulster Restaurant Week visit
www.visitmidulster.com and Visit Mid Ulster on Facebook and Instagram

Titanic Distillers in Belfast, a Food NI member, has landed a £5 million equity
investment from Whiterock to expand its sales team, drive growth, and establish
key distribution channels.
Titanic Distillers, Belfast’s first working distillery since Prohibition in the US,
produces premium blended Irish whiskey, pot still Irish whiskey, and Irish vodka
distilled from sugar beet.
The £5m funding package is comprised of equity investment from Whiterock’s
Growth Capital Fund, which makes investments of between £1m and £5m for
minority shareholdings in growth and scaling companies from Northern Ireland.
The investment has already been used to hire two senior drinks industry
executives to help drive the next phase of the brand’s growth.
Colin Green, former commercial director of Diageo Ireland, has joined to
implement the brand’s international sales strategy, while JC Rice, former head
of sales for Tennent’s NI, will manage sales in Great Britain and Ireland. Both
will oversee the growth of Titanic Distillers existing sales team during 2025.
Stephen Symington, chief executive of Titanic Distillers, said: “This equity
investment will help fund the next phase of growth for Titanic Distillers. It has
already enabled us to bring unrivalled expertise into our team in the shape of
Colin and JC, who will drive our sales in new and existing markets.
“Craftsmanship is at the core of Titanic Distillers. We have created a whiskey
that the people of Belfast can be proud of and have a unique brand that we are
excited to now showcase to customers around the world in a modern and
contemporary way. Whiterock is a fantastic partner to have with us as we put
the new strategy into action.”
The business also plans to use the new funding to expand its existing footprint
across the UK and Europe, as well as move into the US and Asia.
The company expects to formally establish its US team in the coming months,
including the appointment of a chief revenue officer, with the initial focus on
New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania – all said to be states with strong Irish
heritage – before targeting the rest of the country.
The company also plans to increase its visibility and sales in the travel retail
segment of the market through new partnerships with duty free specialists, and
to build on existing success in European markets, such as France and
Germany, by targeting neighbouring countries such as Belgium and Poland.

David McCurley, director of Whiterock, said: “We are delighted to invest in
Titanic Distillers as they continue to grow and expand their presence in the
whiskey market. Over the past few years Titanic Distillers has successfully
established its brand in both the drinks and tourism industry here in Belfast,
achieving impressive growth. It is positive to see the hard work and dedication
of the team paying off and we look forward to supporting the company’s plans
to enter new markets.”

A range of authentic South Asian noodles from Portadown are now on sale in
all 37 Iceland stores across Northern Ireland.
The noodles have been developed by Karri Kitchen, the entrepreneurial food
business led by Shera McAloran, originally from Indonesia and now resident in
the Co Armagh town.
The new products – plain noodles, sweet chilli and soy glazed noodles – are the
outcome of ongoing collaboration between Iceland and the Karri Kitchen team,
according to Lee Wortley, sales manager of the hugely successful food
manufacturing business. Karri Kitchen is a Food NI member company.

“Iceland is a mainly frozen product business and so we carried out some
research with the store’s team and identified a significant opportunity for the
three chilled noodle side dishes in their fresh chilled section,” he says.
“Working with major supermarkets and distributors to pinpoint opportunities for
our expertise in South Asian foods is a key element in our business growth
strategy.
 “The noodles are a very convenient way for home cooks to add them to meals.
The noodles are ready to eat and can be used to add unique South Eastern
flavours to various dishes. We are delighted to have been able to bring the tasty
noodles to Iceland stores across Northern Ireland and look forward to
continuing our work to provide other authentic taste options to one of the most
successful chilled food retailers,” he adds.
The business with Iceland is another important development for the company
which is now among the most successful and progressive enterprises here. The
company already supplies a range of award-winning South Asian packaged
meals to major supermarkets, including Tesco and Lidl, and convenience
grocers such as the Henderson Group and its Eurospar and Spar outlets.
Founded by husband and wife team Shera, a talented chef, and Chris
McAloran, an experienced Portadown businessman in 2019, Karri Kitchen,
based at Carn Industrial Estate, has won a host of awards for quality,
outstanding taste and innovation.

Burren Balsamics, the award-winning artisanal producer renowned for its innovative infused vinegars, is delighted to announce its participation in Gulfood 2025, one of the world’s largest food and beverage trade exhibitions. Taking place in Dubai, Gulfood provides the perfect platform for Burren Balsamics to introduce its latest creations, specifically crafted for the Middle Eastern market.

Expanding on its reputation for premium, flavour-infused balsamic vinegars, Burren Balsamics will be unveiling two new exclusive products:

Kashmiri Chilli and Ginger Infused White Balsamic – A vibrant and aromatic infusion that balances the subtle heat of Kashmiri chilli with the warm, zesty notes of ginger, perfect for enhancing marinades, dressings, and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Date, Za’atar, and Cinnamon Infused Balsamic Vinegar of Modena – A rich, complex blend combining the deep sweetness of dates, the earthy, herbaceous character of za’atar, and the warming spice of cinnamon, offering a distinctive depth of flavour ideal for both savoury and sweet applications.

“Our focus has always been on innovation and using the finest ingredients to create truly exceptional pantry staples,” said Bob McDonald, Chef Director of Burren Balsamics. “We are excited to bring these new infusions to Gulfood, showcasing how our products can elevate dishes with authentic and contemporary Middle Eastern flavours.”

Burren Balsamics invites buyers, chefs, and food industry professionals to visit their stand at Gulfood 2025 to experience these unique infusions firsthand and explore opportunities for collaboration in the region.

For more information or to arrange a meeting at Gulfood, please visit the Invest Northern Ireland stand.

Yoghurt lovers in Britain are now able to experience the superb quality and rich
creamy flavours from a multi-award-winning farm-based producer in Bangor, Co
Down of the dairy favourite
A FoodNI member, Clandeboye Estate, the only significant yoghurt producer in
Northern Ireland, will soon be on the shelves of delis, farm shops and
independent grocers across Britain from an important deal with a leading food
distribution business.
Cress Company, which is based in Dunfermline, Scotland, last week began
distributing Clandeboye’s full range of Greek-style yoghurts produced using milk
directly from the historic estate’s pedigree dairy herd.
Patrick Black, Clandeboye’s commercial manager, welcoming the deal for
distribution to England, Scotland and Wales, says: “We are thrilled to be
launching in these important markets with the Cress Company in what is an
important breakthrough into one that we’ve been targeting for some time,
especially with our new range of yoghurts which are already proving hugely
successful in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Clandeboye counts all the main supermarkets and convenience stores in
Northern Ireland and hundreds of delis, farm shops, butchers and independent
retailers among its regular customers. In the Republic, the company supplies
supermarkets such as Aldi, Lidl and Marks and Spencer.
“The Greek-style yoghurts are now included in CressCo’s 2025 chilled
catalogue. First orders left last Monday, and we are excited to get going,’ adds
Patrick.
The agreement gives Clandeboye extensive opportunities across the UK with a
respected and successful food distributor which has been voted the Best UK
Distributor for the past eight years by the influential Guild of Fine Food in
London.
“We look forward to working closely with the experienced CressCo team to grow
business throughout Britain,” adds Patrick.
Clandeboye Yoghurt is among Northern Ireland’s most ‘decorated’ companies
in terms of UK Great Taste, Blas na hEireann Irish National Food and Irish
Quality Food awards for its successful natural, Madagascan vanilla and various
flavoured yoghurts.

New products launched in the past year include a vanilla with honey and rich
flavours such as Bramley apple with granola and raspberry with white chocolate
pieces.

Tandragee, Co Amagh couple Andrew and Nicky Jackson of Jackson Roze, a
successful producer of a unique ginger wine, has launched new ginger and
turmeric ‘shots’ as an aide to health.
Nicky, founding director of the family business, describes the small company’s
new ginger and turmeric shot as “a powerhouse of natural wellness, combining
two of the most potent anti-inflammatory ingredients—ginger and turmeric”.
She continues that the innovative drink from Armagh is “designed to support
overall health, digestion, and immunity” and that “this shot is the perfect daily
boost for a balanced and energized lifestyle”.
“Our ginger and turmeric shots are gaining momentum as people are realising
the difference it is making. We have at least 20g of ginger and 17g of turmeric in
our shots. We use a base of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar instead of apple
juice which brings in gut health as well as anti -inflammatory benefits of the
ginger and turmeric,” adds Nicky.
The couple use existing experience gained from the development of the hugely
successful traditional ginger wine that was launched two years ago. The
company is a Food NI member.
“The new drink is based on our ginger compound with a base of apple cider
vinegar and added turmeric. We are, as far as I am aware, the only locally
produced ginger shot producer using apple cider vinegar instead of apple juice
as a base with minimal ginger,” she explains:
Key health benefits from the ginger and turmeric shot, Nicky continues, include
powerful anti-inflammatory support – turmeric contains curcumin, a well-known
compound that helps reduce inflammation, support joint health, and promote
overall well-being; immune-boosting properties – ginger and turmeric are
packed with antioxidants, helping to strengthen the immune system and protect
against illness; and supports digestion and gut health – ginger aids digestion,
reduces bloating, and relieves nausea, while turmeric promotes a healthy gut
microbiome.
She says the shot, in addition, provides natural detox and liver support –
turmeric and ginger help the body flush out toxins, supporting liver function and
overall detoxification; heart and brain health – curcumin in turmeric is known for
its role in supporting heart health and cognitive function, helping to maintain
overall wellness; Energizes and revitalizes– the natural properties of ginger and

turmeric provide a refreshing, non-caffeinated energy boost to keep users
feeling their best.
The drink is made with “raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar from Armagh
apples”, she explains, that provides “a delicious and natural way to fuel the
body, support health, and to enjoy the benefits of two ancient superfoods”.
Jackson Roze began as another local ‘kitchen table enterprise’ to produce
traditional, non-alcoholic ginger wine based on a recipe from their great
grandparents.
The artisan enterprise successfully revived non-alcoholic ginger wine, one of
the most popular flavours of generations gone by.
A recipe from more than a century ago was harnessed to regenerate traditional
non-alcoholic ginger wine for sale in local delis, farm shops and food markets
such as Saintfield and Balmoral.
Nicky continues: “Our ginger wine is a heritage product that has won multiple
awards which include Great Taste, Great British Food, Blas na h’Eireann and
Irish Quality Food and Drink.
“It is completely allergen-free and homemade in Northern Ireland. Our fourth
generation recipe uses only the highest quality ingredients, as used by health
practitioners. 
“We believe that the use of real ginger, extracted in the old-fashioned way,
makes our ginger wine authentic and unique.
“This gives our products their unique and full flavour. Customers can choose
from our Regular Strength, Extra Strength, Reduced Sugar, with Clove and
Vegan options,” Nicky says.
This non-alcoholic ginger wine is made in the Jackson’s kitchen in Tandragee in
small batches. The Roze comes from the initials of the couple’s two children.
The 100 year-old recipe is soothingly sweet, warm and gluten-free.
Ginger has many reputed health benefits, including aiding digestion, boosting
the immune system and circulation and reducing motion sickness. The
Jacksons make their own tincture with ginger and capsicum which goes into this
artisan non-alcoholic ginger wine.
Awards for the ginger wine are impressive and include: Extra Strength – Great
Taste 1 star 2024; Irish Quality Food and Drink – Silver 2023; 2024 Blas – finalist
2023; Great British food – silver 2023; Ginger and Clove Great Taste – 1 star;
2024 Blas – Gold 2024; Great British Food – Bronze 2024; Reduced Sugar Blas

• finalist 2024 Ginger & Elderberry Shot Blas – Silver award 2024 Ginger &
  Turmeric shot; Great British Food finalist 2024 Ginger and rhubarb shot Great
  British Food finalist 2024; Jackson Roze named as Best in County Armagh at
  the Blas awards. Finalist in 2023 for family business of the year at Irish Family

Business Awards; Finalist for Great British Entrepreneurs Awards for Family
Business of the Year 2023. Finalist for Great British Entrepreneur Awards for
Retail Business of the year 2024; and winner of the Women in Business Pitch
competition in 2023.