Entries now being accepted for the 2020 Lidl Northern Ireland Kick Start programme

Northern Ireland’s fastest growing retailer, Lidl, is serving up a taste of home this September as 11 new products from four local producers have been selected to go on sale across all 200 Lidl stores throughout the island of Ireland from September 2^nd for a limited period, while stocks last.

From fiery chocolate to succulent pulled meats, the locally made artisan products crafted in Northern Ireland have been selected as winners in this year’s Lidl Kick Start Supplier Development Programme.

The Kick Start Programme is designed to help small and medium size local food and drink producers grow their brand, build their supply network and reach new customer audiences.

Earlier this year, Lidl called on local producers to enter the programme and pitch their product to be stocked across all its stores. Producers across right the island of Ireland applied for the programme, with 11 new and exciting products from Northern Ireland passing the taste test and earning their place on the shelves this month.

This year’s winning range includes Erne Larder Marmalade with Whiskey from Fermanagh, Little Meat Co’s pulled meat range (chicken, turkey and pork), Oh So Lean ready meals (chicken curry, chilli chicken and spicy vegetable noodles), Oh So Lean smoked burgers (turkey and steak) and Wee ChoCo chocolate bars (honeycomb and chilli and lime) – all produced in County Down.

Speaking about the importance of Kick Start, chocolatier and Director of Wee ChoCo, Steph Fulton, said:

“The Lidl Kick Start programme is an unrivalled platform for a small company like ours to boost our business and achieve a higher level of exposure for our products and brand. We are delighted that one of Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing retailers has given its endorsement to our products for great taste and quality and we look forward to utilising its expertise to help make us export success story. We can’t wait to see where this programme takes us.”

Since taking part in the inaugural Lidl Kick Start Northern Ireland scheme last year, local producers have been enjoying the benefits that a boost from a major retailer can provide to smaller businesses.

As well as the limited edition in-store promotion, Kick Start also provides the ambitious companies with free business development seminars delivered by a panel of Lidl and wider industry experts, covering key disciplines such as quality control, packaging, communications and brand building.

Representing a major investment by Lidl into its local supplier network, the Kick Start programme is now open for applications for its 2020 scheme.

Northern Irish food and drink producers interested in applying can find out more information and submit their applications by visiting www.lidl-ni.co.uk/kickstart

Over 150 gastronomic experiences to tickle the taste buds

A 12-week celebration of Northern Ireland’s finest food and drink, tasty experiences and scrumptious adventures kicks off this week, encouraging people to ‘Taste the Island’ with an extensive range of events taking place throughout September, October and November.

‘Taste the Island’ is a three-year initiative developed in partnership between Tourism NI, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland that gives people a chance to savour and truly experience the world-class, mouth-watering food and drink offering in all corners of Northern Ireland.

The programme of events includes a number of regions with Armagh Food and Cider Festival from 19th September, Festival Lough Erne from 21 st September, the Taste Causeway Festival and Slow Food Festival Derry~Londonderry in October and Belfast’s Twilight Market in November.

Experiences across the autumn include a gourmet weekend of island delights on Rathlin, discovering the magic that goes into beer-making at the Whitewater Brewery Tour in Castlewellan, trying your hand at gin distilling at Hughes Craft Distillery in Moira or experiencing a live cookery demonstration with Niall McKenna at James Street Cookery School.

Tourism NI’s Food and Drink Development Officer Gary Quate is encouraging everyone to enjoy what’s on offer across Northern Ireland.

“We are running an extensive programme of events and experiences as part of Taste the Island, including everything from visits to food producers, food trails and food festivals, hands-on workshops and the chance to sit back and enjoy the best of modern local cuisine
in traditional pubs, restaurants and cafes,” said Gary.

“Tourism NI has been working with the food and drink industry on this initiative to showcase the best of our award-winning food and drink. We want to provide local and international visitors with experiences and events that will encourage them to discover our exciting local food scene and create lasting memories which will make them want to return,” he added.

Tourism NI is also offering those who try the local food and drink offering the chance to win some unique foodie experiences by sharing their experience on Instagram. To enter, simply post your #TastetheIsland experiences and tag @discoverNI, with an exciting weekly prize up for grabs, from cooking up a storm at Forestside Cookery School to gin tasting with the Shortcross Experience tour.

For the full programme and to book a Taste the Island experience this September, October
and November visit: www.discovernorthernireland.com/tastetheisland or follow #TastetheIsland

To learn more about the Tourism NI Instagram competition and for terms and conditions, visit: https://discovernorthernireland.com/about-northern-ireland/taste-the-island/taste-the-island-competition/terms-and-conditions/

A choice of 600 mouthwatering dishes will be on offer in 40 City Centre restaurants during Belfast Restaurant Week which runs from 23 to 29 September. A joint venture between Belfast One and Destination CQ, the initiative will tickle the taste buds of diners seeking scrumptious
steaks, Vegan feasts and delicious dining experiences with Asian, Italian and Mediterranean influences.

Diners will be encouraged to explore the number one shopping and leisure destination in Northern Ireland and stop off for lunch, dinner or the now famous Big Belfast Brunch – available in participating restaurants on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September.

Julie McCullagh, Marketing Manager, Belfast One, said: “Belfast Restaurant Week has fast become one of the most exciting and busiest weeks for restaurants in the Belfast City Centre events calendar. We first brought the joint initiative to our local restaurants in February and we had more than 30 sign up, generating more than £150,000 for the local economy and driving an almost 20% increase in midweek evening footfall year on year in just seven days. This autumn we’re excited to further develop Belfast Restaurant Week to include a Taste The City
Producers Market where local chefs will demonstrate their culinary skills for foodies to recreate at home.”

Gareth Neill of Destination CQ welcomed the return of Belfast Restaurant Week and said: “Belfast Restaurant Week provides an opportunity to dine out in style, try new venues and support our fantastic independent restaurant scene in Belfast. Our expanded lunch and brunch offerings will have something for everyone.”

As well as dining out at some of Belfast’s finest restaurants from as little as £10 per person, those who crave creating their own instagrammable recipes at home can go along to the Taste The Island supported Taste The City Producers Market on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September in Writer’s Square where they will be inspired with demos by chefs from Belfast restaurants before stocking up on locally sourced and grown produce to take home, as well as live music and family fun from 10.00am to 4.00pm each day.

Gareth added: “We are delighted to be working with Tourism NI on the Taste The Island standout event ;Taste The City’ on 28   and 29 September as part of Belfast Restaurant Week, where the city's best chefs will be cooking alongside some of Northern Ireland’s most formidable food and beverage producers.”

Aine Kearney, Business Support and Events Director, Tourism NI said: “We are delighted to offer support to Belfast Restaurant Week which was funded through Tourism NI’s Taste the Island Events Scheme. The scheme was developed for festivals and events to enable them to
motivate both local and international visitors to enjoy the high quality produce available here.

Belfast Restaurant Week offers an exciting programme of events and experiences and I would encourage everyone to taste the finest food and drink our local chefs and producers have to offer.”

Belfast Restaurant Week, 23 to 29 September. Lunch from 12 noon to 2.00pm, Monday to Friday, is priced at £10.00 per person, dinner from 5.00pm to 7.00pm, Monday to Thursday, is priced at £15.00 per person and advance booking is essential. Participating restaurants and
menus can be found at www.belfastrestaurantweek.org. Follow Belfast Restaurant Week on Instagram at @BelfastRestaurantWeek19