Food Stories, the Northern Ireland producer of popcorn and fruit crisps, has launched with Germany’s upmarket department store chain Galeria Kaufhof. Food Stories is a Food Ni member company.

Based in Cologne, Galeria Kaufhof began selling Cloud Corn popcorn and Pinkfinch fruit and veggie crisps last month in the first retail business in Germany for Belfast’s Food Stories. The deal followed contacts made by Food Stories at a major European trade exhibition.

Michael Heaslip, founder and managing director of Food Stories, commenting on the initial business with Galeria Kaufhof, says: “Winning business with such a respected and quality conscious department store as Galeria Kaufhof is a marvellous opportunity for our popcorn and fruit snacks in one of Europe’s most dynamic markets.

“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to pitch for the business from contacts made in our European marketing drive. We are investing extensive resources in developing sales there and have already been successful in several key markets including the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as in Scandinavia,” he adds.

Galeria Kaufhof is often described as Germany’s Marks and Spencer because of its focus on quality products.

Mr Heaslip, who founded Food Stories in 2014, continues: “We’ve been keen on penetrating the food market in Germany because of the strength of consumer demand there for healthier food, especially snacks, which provides a great opportunity for our Cloud Corn popcorn and particularly Pinkfinch fruit crisps which can form part of five-a-day for health conscious individuals and families.”

He founded the company initially to provide marketing and distribution services to smaller food companies in Northern Ireland and subsequently developed the recipes for and launched a number of his own brand products.

Founded in 1879, Galeria Kaufhof has 93 department storesthroughout Germany in prime shopping locations. The retailer is characterised by quality, service, advice and innovations. It also offers online services and stocks a broad range of quality products including fashion, shoes, handbags, beauty on home to sports and toys as well as food and drink.

Irish seafood takes centre stage on the newly released Autumn menu from award-winning The Catalina Restaurant.

McMeel’s lauded seasonal menus for the Lough Erne Resort’s flagship restaurant have become synonymous with provenance; a celebration of Ireland’s best produce from Fermanagh’s famous pork, Armagh’s apples to the honey grown in the Executive Chef’s own garden.

All feature on the Autumn menu but it’s Ireland’s seafood delights that really stand out.

Starters include Keenan’s Irish Stout Cured Salmon, accompanied with fresh beetroot, spiced tomato gel and Goatsbridge Trout Roe and a light yet luxurious Chicken & Lobster Ravioli, served with seared Prawns, in a Prawn & Coconut Bisque.

A seared Irish Fillet of Halibut should attract the attention of fish lovers for the main course. The firm, sweet tasting fish is enhanced with a caramelised parsnip puree, baked Armagh apple, sour grape jus with dill infusion, indulgently topped with caviar.

Regulars to The Catalina will delight to see some of McMeel’s signature dishes feature on this season’s menu including the Smoked Lough Neagh Eel, Comber Potato and Armagh Bramley Apple starter, Lisdergan Fillet of Beef with Crispy Beef Cheek, Roasted Onion, Whipped Potato and Chive Puree, finished off with a red wine jus.

The Catalina Restaurant under Noel McMeel has 3 AA Rosettes and has also been named one of six amazing restaurants across Ireland.

For further information or reservations visit www.lougherneresort.com or call +44(0)2866323230.

 

Food NI member Alastair Bell, founder and managing director of Portrush-based Irish Black Butter, has appeared on BBC Two’s popular Dragons’ Den programme.

Mr Bell, commenting on his appearance, says: “I was thrilled to have an opportunity to present my unique Irish Black Butter sweet/savoury spread. It was a marvellous experience to be part of such a successful and, of course, challenging business programme from BBC Two.

“It followed our recent achievement of three gold stars in the Great Taste Awards 2019, the competition run by the UK Guild of Fine Food to find products with outstanding flavours and authenticity.”

The edition is due for transmission on 11 August 2019.

Businessman Alastair Bell launched Irish Black Butter, a unique sweet/savoury spread, in 2017. He came up with the idea to harness the potential of Armagh Bramley Apples, which have EU protected status, and approached leading chef Paul Clarke, who also runs En-Place Foods in Cookstown, a company producing a range of culinary products for chefs, for advice and guidance in developing the recipe.

In addition to Bramley apples, Irish Black Butter includes treacle, cider, a touch of brandy and spices for a cross between sweet and savoury.

Mr Bell describes the spread as “A New Taste of Ireland” and has been successful in developing sales for the original product in the UK and Ireland. It has also attracted interest from retailers in the US and Germany. The product has won UK Great Taste and Blas na hEireann awards.

As well as the original black butter, Mr Bell has recently launched an Irish Black Butter Peanut Spread and has also worked with other local producers in the development of Irish Black Butter Ice Cream and Irish Black Butter Fudge.

For more, please contact Alastair Bell on 07732 266502

 

Henderson Group, owners of the SPAR, EUROSPAR, VIVO, VIVOXTRA and VIVO Essentials brands in Northern Ireland is celebrating their biggest success yet in the highly prestigious Great Taste Awards for 2019.

Five of the group’s fresh, locally created own brand desserts appear on this year’s list, with two gaining 2-star status, and three gaining 1-star. They are:

 The Kitchen Sticky Toffee Pudding: 2 stars
 The Kitchen Bread & Butter Pudding: 2 stars
 The Kitchen Chocolate Sponge Pudding: 1 star
 The Kitchen Bramley Apple Crumble: 1 star
 The Kitchen Rhubarb Crumble: 1 star

Each of the products was created in collaboration with Henderson’s Fresh Team and Davison’s Puds, based in Portadown.
Fresh Foods Director, Neal Kelly, says these are exceptional accolades and says the proof is literally in the pudding; “Our range of fresh, local own-brand products are a credit to the time, tasting and delivery that goes in to creating them. We set our standards incredibly high, and ensure we are meeting and beating the highest tests for quality and taste.

“Provenance is a huge ingredient for our fresh products, which is why we collaborate with companies such as Davison’s Puds who can help us take this quality and taste to the next level.

“The entire team is honoured to have our biggest and best year yet at the Great Taste Awards.”

Judges of the 2019 Great Taste Awards described the products as “… a very good example of a sticky toffee pudding”, “hugely appealing…”, and “very decadent… truly delicious”.

The award-winning products are part of the ‘Desserts by The Kitchen’ range which was launched in November 2018 in partnership with local bakeries, an extension of The Kitchen range of fresh and convenient meals.
The Kitchen brand has grown extensively in the past three years since its launch, and now carries over 70 products made by nine of the best local suppliers especially for Henderson Wholesale.

The ‘Desserts by The Kitchen’ products join a list of local products available in all SPAR, EUROSPAR and VIVO branded stores including Irwin’s Bakery breads and Dale Farm’s Dromona cheese and butter.

Neal concluded; “Northern Ireland has once again proven its foodie credentials and we’re delighted to be among the best in the business.”

Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, is the acknowledged benchmark for fine food and drink. Over 500 judges from all corners of the world blind-taste in teams to ensure the best balance of expertise.