The Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) for Northern Ireland has kicked off the new year with the relaunch of its ‘Good Honest Food’ campaign which aims to educate consumers on the benefits of choosing Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured (NIFQA) beef and lamb.

Styled as a travelogue, the campaign which airs on 6 January sees local chef, James Devine journey across Northern Ireland meeting industry experts to uncover the truth about the health, environmental and versatility credentials of NIFQA beef and lamb.

The multi-platform campaign aims to help answer consumers questions about beef and lamb production, health and nutrition, as well as providing mouthwatering recipe ideas to give consumers the inspiration they need to establish beef and lamb as a key element of a balanced diet.

Speaking about the launch, Head of Marketing and Communications at LMC Lauren Patterson said: “Our independent tracking research from last year confirmed that consumers who had seen the campaign were significantly more likely to purchase NIFQA beef and lamb and we are hoping to build on this success over the next 12 weeks.

“The campaign is founded on four key messages: health and nutrition, care for the environment, responsible farming and creating great dishes using a variety of beef and lamb cuts. Lamb and beef, which are excellent sources of natural protein, vitamins and minerals, are essential components of a healthy, balanced diet for many consumers and this campaign aims to showcase their versatility, quality and accessibility as red meat options.”

“We are inviting the public to follow James’ journey as he highlights how our locally produced beef and lamb are farmed sustainably and why the NIFQA logo guarantees world-class levels of responsible farming. What’s more, he’ll share some seriously easy and tasty recipes and top tips too.”

The 12-week campaign will run across TV, radio, outdoor and digital platforms until the end of March 2025. For more information about LMC’s Good Honest Food campaign, visit Love NI Beef | Beef and Lamb Northern Ireland

Portrush-based Irish Black Butter, the producer of a unique sweet/savoury
sauce, has been named Best Artisan Food Production business in Northern
Ireland in an influential global awards for food and drink. The company is a
FoodNI member.
The artisan company, launched by Co Antrim businessman Alastair Bell in 2017
to produce ‘a new taste for Ireland’, gained the important recognition in the
Food and Drink Awards 2024 organised by international lifestyle magazine
LUXlife.
Alastair, commenting on the latest major award for his non-dairy spread that’s
made with Armagh Bramley apples and spices, says: “I am thrilled to have
gained this endorsement of the innovation and quality of my Irish Black Butter
from such an influential publication that circulates worldwide. The award will
help as I continue to promote the product internationally and boost sales ahead
of 2025.
“The awards are designed to showcase a diverse range of companies which
each deliver something different to their customers and clients,” adds Alastair.
Awards coordinator Laura O’Carroll adds: “Recognising greatness across the
food and drink industry has been a tremendous journey, especially as we’ve
seen such dedication, commitment, and innovation across a range of
businesses and individuals. With their devotion to their customers, guests, and
consumers, our winners are set for an exciting new year.”
There were awards too for The Bakery Ballycastle at the Best Traditional
Bakery and for Taste of Enniskillen for its Gourmet Food Trail.
LUXlife is a premium lifestyle publication which was founded in 2015 by the
publishing company AI Global Media Ltd. Shared with a global audience,
LUXlife focuses on a range of topics within the luxury lifestyle industry, featuring
articles on, fashion, beauty, fine dining, travel, luxury real estate and much
more.
In addition to providing readers with regular news and updates on all elements
of luxury lifestyle, it also provides luxury firms with the perfect media platform to
showcase their business to our readership comprised of high net worth
individuals. The awards are now in their eighth year.

Boatyard’s Double Gin from Fermanagh, a FoodNI member, has been named the
number 2 trending gin brand in the world while Boatyard’s vodka has emerged as a
newcomer on the bestselling vodka brands list for 2025.
The Brands Report from Drinks International trending list celebrates brands that are
not necessarily doing huge volumes (just yet) but are brands that customers are
increasingly requesting all over the world, because of word of mouth or a bartender’s
top recommendation. Often the brands that feature highly on the trending list this
year will move onto the bestselling list the following year, as curiosity and excitement
transition to weight of sales. 
 
For 2025 gin is still very much in when it comes to its popularity in bars across the
world. The Drinks International Brands Report found the spirit the most popular for
the ninth consecutive year, primarily driven by the G&T serve while the Dry Martini
continues its renaissance. 
 
Declan McGurk, commercial director at The Boatyard Distillery, said: “it’s thrilling to
me and the team that Boatyard’s Double Gin, born and made in Fermanagh, is being
chosen by bar professionals internationally as the number 2 trending gin in the world.
“The senior management team at Boatyard have all worked behind some incredible,
award-winning bars and we have always believed that a premium spirit needs to
have approval from the bartending community – they need to feel confident
recommending it to their customers, using it in cocktails and know their drinks
offering is bolstered by simply having it behind the bar. To gain this seal of approval
on a global scale is a wonderful way to start the year.”
 
The Drinks International Brands Report surveys 100 top-level bars across 33
countries (from Europe, Asia and Mexico to Canada, the USA, Africa, Australia, and
the Middle East) who have featured in recent editions of The World’s 50 Best Bars
and Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards, plus regional and national awards such
as the Class Bar awards. 
 
The report is now in its 16 th  year and is the most anticipated piece of research of the
year by Drinks International. Each year, as well as adapting the geographical spread
of those bars surveyed, Drinks International ensures a percentile of the participants
is rotated to ensure they obtain as fair and accurate a portrait of the global bar scene
as possible, and the brands it’s selling.

An innovative energy snack developed by a small family enterprise in Larne, Co
Antrim has won significant business from one of the biggest retail operations in the
UK and Republic of Ireland.
Salted date caramel energy ball snack packs from the Green Fingers Family
business of entrepreneurial husband and wife team Andrea and Zsolt Bohar are now
on sale in 45 selected Marks and Spencer (M&S) upmarket food halls in Great
Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The retailer’s network across
the UK and Ireland extends to more than 1,000 stores.
Originally from Hungary, the couple has won widespread acclaim and a host of taste
awards for a range of energy snack balls and natural granolas that are made without
additives, preservatives and processed sugars.
Zsolt continues: “We are thrilled to have won this immensely important business with
M&S. It’s tremendously encouraging for us to have gained first-time sales to such a
respected food retailer especially in Great Britain and the Irish Republic, two markets
outside Northern Ireland that we are targeting for faster growth.
“The listing is a marvellous boost for us as we head into 2025, a year during which
we hope to build on the achievements of the past few years in Northern Ireland.
“Our unique energy balls are plant-based, gluten-free and high in fibre. They are
perfect for on-the-go snacking, or for just a little moment of indulgence that’s both
healthy and delicious,” he adds.
The listing by M&S is the most recent in a series of business deals with local artisan
producers by the premium retailer. Another recent M&S deal involved Coleraine’s
Morelli Ice Cream supplying the retailer with flavoured one litre tubs. As a result of
the deals, M&S is now stocking more local foods than ever before. The retailer has
lined up Moira’s Abernethy Butter, Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt of Bangor, Burren
Balsamics from Richhill and Corndale Farm Charcuterie of Limavady during 2024 for
its shelves.
The deals with artisan producers like Green Fingers Family follow the retailer’s
longstanding relationships with major meat processors here such as ABP Linden
Foods of Dungannon and Kettyle Irish Meats of Lisnaskea.
Everything produced by Green Fingers Family is handmade in small batches and
supplied in innovative packaging that’s now environmentally friendly.

The small business has also gained UK Great Taste, Blas na hEireann and Irish
Quality Awards for its energy balls and granola.
 
The company, in addition, gained a Silver Level Innovator Award from Mid and East
Antrim Borough Council for the commitment to eco-friendly packaging.
The quality and creativity of its products have also won important business from
Odaois Foods in Dublin, one of Ireland’s leading food distributors. Discounter Lidl
has listed the energy balls.
“In addition, we are directly supplying local independent food stores and farm shops
across Northern Ireland as well as selling online via our e-commerce website,”
continues Andrea, a mother of three.
 Based outside the Co Antrim town, Green Fingers Family is pursuing a vision of “a
world where delicious food experiences seamlessly intertwine with environmental
sustainability”.
“We are responding positively to environmental concerns now growing in the local
food industry by embracing innovative, eco-friendly practices in our production and
packaging, supporting moves to create a healthier planet,” she explains. “We both
care deeply about our environment. It was a challenge, in particular, to find plastic-
free packaging alternatives that were airtight to keep the granolas fresh.”
This focus on sustainability led to Green Fingers being named joint winner of the
Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association Environmental Sustainability Award in
2022, celebrating the company’s commitment to efforts in using environmental
friendly, compostable packaging for its premium granola.
Resident in Larne for almost 20 years, the couple’s decision to start a small
enterprise was influenced by Andrea’s wish to address health concerns by taking
charge of her own health and wellbeing. Encouraged by Zsolt, she started growing
vegetables on a small plot of land at their home and making her own natural
granolas.
Andrea was convinced that with “the right food, right exercise and the right mentality,
my body would do what it’s meant to do itself…. heal. It wasn’t only my body that
needed healing, but my thinking and attitude too,” she explains.
It was Andrea’s sweet tooth that was to lead her to start developing her own range of
granolas. “I had to change the way I made and baked sweet snacks at home. I
replaced sugar with natural ingredients. My favourite snack is granola. I was shocked
to read that the ingredients in some of the brands available were bulked up in
different forms, and full of sugar and artificial flavourings,” she adds.

White’s Oats, Ireland’s largest oat miller and Northern Ireland’s market leading porridge and oat cereal brand, has, for a record 16th year, been recognised for its exemplary food safety and quality standards as it is awarded the prestigious BRC AA+ – the highest BRC standard set by the British Standards Industry.

The Co. Armagh company has held BRC accreditation since 2008, however this year’s accreditation was particularly significant as it marked just the second year since adopting the BRC unannounced audit which, as well as being recognised by all major customers, reduces the need for annual retailer audits.

In addition, White’s has, for the second-year running been awarded the ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest compliance with occupational health and safety management and Environmental Management and Sustainability.

These accolades are testament to the hard work and engagement of White’s quality and occupational health and safety team reaffirming their commitment to a proactive food safety, quality and safety culture throughout the site and reaffirms Whites strong food safety, environmental and health and safety program for its employees. Achievements included exceptional knowledge of staff on food safety, health and safety and environmental practices, comprehensive management reviews, detailed audit and record documentation and overall responsiveness.

Commenting on the accreditations, Sharon Leathem, White’s Oats Technical and Innovation Manager, said: “BRC Grade AA* Unannounced, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 accreditations are internationally recognised as the leading standard in food safety, occupational health and safety and environmental practices. Being awarded these accreditations and in particular retaining BRC Grade A/AA for a 16th year heralds a significant achievement. It’s a justified reward for the hard work and discipline of the entire White’s team and recognises the positive culture we instil to achieve such high levels of engagement.’’

James Mathers, Managing Director of White’s said: ‘’We are delighted to have been awarded the BRC AA* and ISO accreditations once again. These great achievements underpin our unwavering commitment to excellence, demonstrating our position as a market leader, working collaboratively to not only maintain but set a high precedent internally around health, safety and well-being for our employees, which in turn benefits our long-term partners and trading relationships in both the domestic and international markets we serve.”

White’s Oats has been milling on its original site since 1841, supplying a range of organic and conventional oats, instant oats, granolas and toasted oats into retailers across Ireland, UK and into many export markets.

Two Stacks Irish Whiskey in Newry, a FoodNI member company, has won
significant export business in Finland for its products.
The company, Ireland’s leading blender and bottler of premium Irish whiskeys,
has just been listed across 150 stores in Finland through an agreement with
Alko, the organisation which regulates sales of alcohol there.
The important agreement is for the Northern Ireland company’s single malt
double barrel whiskey.
Alko is the national alcoholic retailing monopoly in Finland and is the only store
in the country which sells beer, spirits and wine and spirits there. Alcoholic
beverages are also sold in licensed restaurants and bars but only for
consumption on the premises. Listed suppliers must meet rigorous
requirements.
Another substantial boost for Two Stacks came in the recent World Spirits
Report on Irish whiskey which listed the Newry brand as one of just two whiskey
producers to watch in the year ahead.
The report said: “The Northern Irish brand partnered with California-based Foley
Family Wines and Spirits success in May with its 100ml Dram in a Can in duty
frees. Despite being a tough market to crack, the US could soon become a
major revenue driver for Two Stacks.”
Shane McCarthy, one of the three founding directors of Two Stacks, is
justifiably delighted by the new export sales and the recognition in the World
Spirits survey. “What a marvellous boost for us as an immensely successful
2024 draws to a close and as we continue planning for even faster growth in
2025.
“Our whiskey brands are now firmly established in key international markets
especially the US, the single most important market for Irish whiskey. Dram in a
Can, our award-winning innovation, continues to grow strongly especially in
duty-free retail outlets there and in other important markets such as the United
Arab Emirates. We expect it will continue to be a key driver of our international
sales in the year ahead. We also intend, of course, to introduce more innovative
products in 2025,” he adds.
The magazine, the industry’s most important publication, also picked out Dublin-
based Flatley Irish Whiskey as the other brand to watch in 2025, saying “While
many celebrities have tapped into tequila, world‐famous performer Michael
Flatley embraced his Irish‐dancing roots and delved into whiskey this year. His
debut five‐year‐old release has already entered the US, with plans to launch
globally in 2025. The team also includes a wealth of industry experience,

including chief executive Jim Clerkin (ex‐Moët Hennessy) and master blender
Noel Sweeney.”
The magazine, looking at the wider horizon, continues: “After dominating its
homeland and the US, Irish whiskey is seeing pockets of growth in emerging
markets such as Nigeria and Poland.
Global volumes of Irish whiskey have continued to grow, with the category
reporting a rise of 2.6 percent to 15.6 million cases in 2023, according to Drinks
Ireland, the body which represents the industry. However, value fell by 14
percent to €875 million (US$922m), described as a “short‐term decline” by
Drinks Ireland, especially when compared with 2022, when the sector reached
almost €1bn in value year on year (up by 25 percent).
This decline “reflects a change in consumer habits, as people grapple with
inflation and have less spending money, suggesting a move towards staying in
and buying less, or cheaper, alcohol”.
The Drinks Ireland report notes that the US continues to be the leading export
market for Irish whiskey by far, accounting for 36 percent of total global sales
volumes. The Irish Whiskey Association and Drinks Ireland are advocating for
further protections for the category in the US to protect against copycat brands.
Together, they have submitted a petition to the Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and
Tax Bureau, which is currently under review.
Irish whiskey also remains the second most‐popular spirits category in Ireland,
with a 26 percent share, behind vodka (30 percent share), and far ahead of gin
(13 percent share). One challenge affecting alcohol in the country is tax, with
Ireland having the third‐highest excise tax for spirits in the EU, after Finland and
Sweden.
Beyond the US, the category is growing worldwide. For the first time, Poland
became the second‐largest market for Irish whiskey in 2023, after a 16 percent
growth rate. It was previously the fourth biggest, in 2022. Germany also soared
by double digits in 2023.
According to Bord Bia, the Irish export board, emerging markets reported
double-digit growth for Irish whiskey exports, including Nigeria (up by 59
percent), Poland (up by 21 percent), Singapore (up by 55 percent) and South
Korea (up by 11 percent).
Shane McCarthy adds: “These figures are very encouraging and cover markets
we have already targeted for growth in 2025.”