Food NI member Morelli Ice Cream, which is based in Coleraine, has been
listed by Marks and Spencer for its high-end food halls in Northern Ireland and
the Republic of Ireland.
M&S has listed the award-winning ice cream producer’s full range of 950ml
Take Home Tubs.
The tubs from Morelli, Ireland’s oldest and most successful producer of Italian-
style ice cream, available at the following stores:

Northern Ireland
Bangor/ Newtownbreda/ Coleraine Riverside/ Cookstown Simply Food/ Belfast/
Boucher Road, Belfast/ Malone, Lisburn Road, Belfast/ Banbridge Simply Food/
Abbeycentre/ Lisburn, Sprucefield.

Republic of Ireland
Village, Douglas, Cork/ Liffey Valley Dublin/ Cork/ Dundrum, Dublin/
Blanchardstown, Dublin/ Athlone/ Newbridge/ Blackrock.

Renowned for its commitment to innovation and craftmanship, The Copeland
Distillery, a Food NI member, has announced a new exclusive partnership with
Ulster Rugby to develop a unique Ulster Rugby gin and Irish whiskey, as well as
a limited edition ‘Centenary’ 5-year-old Irish whiskey to mark 100 years of rugby
at the club’s home at Ravenhill, now known as Kingspan Stadium.
The Co. Down Distillery, which has taste and innovation as its core values, has
a growing reputation for quality having won a string of international awards for
their gin, whiskey, rum and vodka. The partnership – which will see Copeland
gins, whiskey, and vodka available in all the bars at Kingspan Stadium going
forward- is testament to the distillery’s quality and Ulster Rugby’s support for
locally produced spirits.
The ‘Centenary Cask’, a single cask of 5-year-old Pot Still Irish whiskey, is now
available for pre-purchase from the Copeland Distillery website, with only 280
bottles available. Presented in a bespoke wooden presentation box, this unique,
one-off whiskey is a ‘must-have’ for Ulster Rugby fans and local rugby clubs
alike.
Also available to order on the Copeland Distillery website, and in off-licenses
across the province, is a new special edition Ulster Rugby gin and Ulster Rugby
blended Irish whiskey. Both are bottled at 42% ABV and priced at £40.
Gareth Irvine, Founder and chief executive of Copeland commented, “We are
delighted to have collaborated with Ulster Rugby on a new exclusive range of
Irish whiskeys and gin. As a local distillery, who are also Ulster fans, we have
created a range of whiskeys and gin which are an ideal toast to the heart and
soul of Ulster Rugby.
“In particular, we are excited to release a unique 5-year-old ‘Centenary’ whiskey
for Ulster, to celebrate 100 years of rugby at Ravenhill. Having started to distil
whiskey in Donaghadee in late 2019, this release coincides with the release of
our ‘Founders Cask’ – cask no. 1 – in December. It’s an exciting time for the
distillery and we are delighted to celebrate a major milestone for the distillery
with this partnership with Ulster Rugby.”
Keith Shorten, Head of Commercial at Ulster Rugby said, “We are delighted to
partner with the Copeland team to create a unique range of spirits which
embody the rich history and traditions of rugby. In particular, it’s great to be able
to support a local whiskey distillery at an exciting time in their development. 
The new ‘Centenary’ whiskey is a great way to recognise 100 years of Ulster

Rugby playing at Ravenhill and a fabulous opportunity for fans and sponsors to
celebrate their association with the club. And of course, coming up to
Christmas, the new Ulster Rugby gin and blended Irish whiskey will be a must-
have present for every rugby fan.”
The new ‘Centenary’ 5-year-old whiskey, as well as the Ulster Rugby gin and
blended Irish whiskey are now available to purchase at
www.copelanddistillery.com

Crawford Ewing, a director of smoked salmon specialists Ewing’s Belfast
Fishmongers, is forecasting even better sales this festive period than “the
amazing previous years”.
“Sales are great, especially for our award-winning smoked salmon from
established and new customers for Christmas meals in particular,” says
Crawford. “Demand for smoked salmon and other fish at this time of the year is
crazy,” he adds.
Anchored on the Shankill Road for more than a century, Ewing’s, a Food NI
member, sells a comprehensive range of fresh fish, seafoods and shellfish
sourced daily from trawlers in Kilkeel and Portavogie.
In addition to local shoppers, the company suppliers most of Northern Ireland’s
hotels and restaurants on a daily basis. Sainsbury’s supermarkets and dozens of
delis here also stock the company’s smoked salmon.
Ewing’s has also won a string of UK Great Taste Awards for the quality and
flavours of its premium smoked salmon and three-star winning cod loin
The family business run by brothers Crawford and Warren under the supervision
of father Walter has faced the same challenge of rising costs as other local food
producers. “Costs have increased both in materials and labour,” continues
Crawford. “We have managed, however, to hold the price point just the same as
last year despite the rises,” he says.
“We see that our business has more potential and many more opportunities to
grow. It’s important to us that Ewing’s remains an artisan, hand crafted product.
We don’t want to become a mass production operation.
“We have been curing and smoking Superior grade A salmon and been
producing the world’s finest smoked salmon for more than 100 years. Our
salmon, much of which is sourced from Glenarm in Co Antrim, comes from our
own smoker on the Shankill. We have total control of the entire operation.
“We take extreme care with the whole process that uses recipes for the smoked
salmon passed down from my grandfather. Our process hasn’t changed in over a
century. This experience is one of our best ingredients,” adds Crawford.

The first Irish Whiskey from the Tyrone and Derry/Londonderry region in more
than a century has made history when it was launched on December 21 st . The
opening of the inaugural cask of The IslandMen fittingly named the 1921
Release comes over a century after the closure of the region’s Watt Distillery in
Derry in 1921. 
The IslandMen 1921 is the first whiskey release from award-winning Wild
Atlantic Distillery, a Food NI member, based in Aghyaran, Castlederg. The
exclusive release of the single malt Irish whiskey will see approximately 350
bottles drawn from Cask 001.  
Following the bottling on December 21 st , a lottery will take place for 195 bottles
being made available to the public. Those interested in their chance to secure
one of the historic bottles can register up to 20 th  December. The remaining
bottles are reserved for members of 1921 Whiskey Club, Wild Atlantic
Distillery’s whiskey club. 
December 21st, 2021 was chosen to distil the first IslandMen as a nod to Watt
Distillery’s closure in 1921. Three years later to the day, the cask was opened
and bottling began.  Only then, will the exact bottle count be determined. 
Co-founder of the Wild Atlantic Distillery, Jim Nash says December 21 st  marked
a momentous occasion for the Northwest.
“Over one hundred years after the last bottle of whiskey was distilled in the
Tyrone/Derry region, we bottled IslandMen for the first time. We are immensely
proud to revive the rich tradition of Irish Whiskey making in the Northwest.
IslandMen pays homage to the past, but we will be certain to raise a glass to
the future. It’s a new beginning!”  
Established in 2019, Wild Atlantic Distillers has won international awards for its
Wild Atlantic gin and vodka. It has built a strong reputation for quality and a
deep connection with place and heritage.

An American living in Londonderry cooking BBQ, and bringing the concept of
slow cooking to a wider audience with sustainable and regenerative products
has been named ‘Person of the Year’ in a major UK awards.

Winning the top accolade in the prestigious UK Slow Food Awards is Emily
McCorkell, the founder of Low and Slow, a Food NI member and a widely
respected artisan enterprise specialising in BBQ grilling and producer of an
award-winning range of BBQ sauces.

Other Food NI members successful in the awards were: Basalt Distillery Gin
from Bushmills – Drink Producer of the Year; and Robbie Neill of Stonebridge
Cottage Farm of Crossgar – Environmental and Diversity Award.
Originally from Philadelphia, Emily also cooks at a cookery school in Derry,
operates a successful food truck specialising in BBQ foods, and is ahead of the
game in sustainability.

Emily, who came to Derry on a community project to work with children affected
by the violence… and stayed, says: “It’s a tremendous honour to win this
important recognition for my longstanding commitment to promoting grilling as a
healthier option. Derry people have been very supportive over the years and
have embraced BBQ cooking techniques and products such as my range of
original sauces.

“I grew up in Philadelphia loving BBQ foods and grilling a range of meats in
particular,” she continues. “I’ve sought to bring this passion for cooking with fire
to Northern Ireland through a range of activities that includes a unique Wild and
Fired BBQ school at Brook Hall Estate outside Derry.
Created 11 years ago in the UK to promote Slow Food’s strategic focus on local
products that are “good, clean and fair food for all” as an alternative to fast food.
Now a global network, Slow Food was launched in Turin, Italy Carlo Petrini in 1986

It was essentially a reaction from good food lovers in the era of burgers
and fries. The movement is now active in over 150 countries including Northern Ireland,
where celebrity chef Paula McIntyre is the local chairman.

Awards winners are nominated annually by the public. Each winner is a
champion of good, clean and fair food and represents the very best of their
craft. In addition to the public vote, each national director chooses their Person of the
Year, someone who embodies Slow Food values.

UK Winner indicates overall winner for the UK in addition to the nation award.

Retailer of the Year   UK WINNER            Slemish Market Garden
Producer of the Year                                 Counter Culture Real Bread
Cook of the Year                                         David Holden, Middletown
Newcomer (under two years)  Award      Coan Coffee Kircubbin Farm        
Food Product of the Year                          Sourdough focaccia. Counter Culture

FoodNI member Longbridge Drinks has won business with one of the country’s biggest distributor of a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

The business collaboration, described by Wayne Adair, founder of east Belfast- based Longbridge, as “an exciting breakthrough” for the small producer, has seen Tennent’s NI adding Belfast Ginger Ale to its extensive portfolio for local hospitality and retail clients.

Longbridge has also seen sales of its Belfast ginger ale in Britain spiral upwards following the beverage being featured on television by Andy Clarke, the popular food and drink writer and broadcaster, in a special on old ‘wartime drinks’.

“The tremendous coverage on television has increased awareness in Britain, a
market we are keen to grow sales in, of our ginger ale and has led to a significant
rise in our online orders. It came as a very pleasant surprise and one we really do
appreciate,” says Wayne.

Wayne continues: “We revived Belfast ginger ale almost a decade ago and it’s
proved an outstandingly successful mixer with whiskey, especially Irish whiskey, and
other spirits.

“The ale was invented in Belfast in the 1800s by a Canadian pharmacist named John
McLaughlin. He was in the city on summer work experience with Grattan & Co, one
of the largest producers of mineral waters for both home and international markets.
Belfast had a thriving industry producing premium minerals back then.

McLaughlin subsequently returned to his homeland to form ‘Canada Dry’, a ginger
ale which became the global market leader,” he adds.

Belfast companies, Wayne explains, “continued to develop and export ginger ale
particularly to the US during the 1920s, selling millions of gallons of the drink during
the controversial Prohibition of alcohol”.

“The end of the US constitutional ban on alcohol in 1933 saw a sharp decline in
sales for these companies, and most of them went out of business,” he says.
“Our Belfast Ginger Ale has been a tremendous success with smaller stores and at
markets such as St George’s in Belfast, where we’ve had a stall at weekends since
the redevelopment and reopening of the food and drink venue in May 1999. The
agreement with Tennent’s NI is another stage, albeit a hugely important one, in the
rejuvenation of Belfast Ginger Ale,” he adds.

The leading supplier of premium drinks in Northern Ireland, Tennent’s NI has a
comprehensive range of drinks for bars, hotels, restaurants and off-licences.
The line-up includes major brands such as Tennent’s, Magner’s Irish Cider,
Heverlee, Estrella, Corona, Budweiser, and Bud Light. A local beer producer,
Whitewater Brewery in Castlewellan, also features in the list.
The ginger ale is made from carbonated water, sugar, lime juice, extract of ginger,
natural ginger flavour, natural caramel, and ascorbic acid. It is ready to drink by itself
or as a mixer with a tipple of gin or whiskey. 
As well as Belfast Ginger Ale, Tennent’s is also embracing other Longbridge
premium mixers such as its unique Belfast Raspberry and Rose, described by
Wayne as a “liquid version of Turkish Delight”, and Belfast Tonic Water.
Raspberry and Rose is made in small batches from natural botanical flavours and
pure rose oil. It is the perfect balance of fruity and floral.
A superb match with gin or vodka, it also stands on its own as a delicious non-
alcoholic drink. Belfast Tonic Water was developed and launched in response to
customer requests for a premium local tonic to drink with gin, vodka or on its own. It
proved to be an outstanding success for the small company.
Longbridge Drinks was formed in 2017 by Wayne, an experienced producer of craft
minerals under the successful Papas Minerals brand. Belfast Ginger Ale, its first
product, was launched a year later.
Wayne brought his knowledge of and passion for historic minerals – under the Papas
brand – such as Original Ginger Wine, Dark Clove Cordial, Cloudy Lemonade, and
Traditional Elderflower to the development of Longbridge Drinks as a Papas
subsidiary.

Fascinated by the history of the city and the production of soft drinks in particular,
Wayne researched the development of Belfast Ginger Ale and decided to breathe
new life into the lost local beverage that disappeared around a century ago.
A further example of his love of local history, Wayne, who grew up in Bangor, took
the Longbridge identity from a huge bridge spanning the river Lagan from 1688 to

1841. Almost a mile in length, Long Bridge was once the longest on the British Isles.
      “The old Long Bridge was an awesome structure,” he continues. “It had 24 arches,
      was very narrow, and had no footways. Weakened by artillery fire, part of the bridge
      collapsed into the Lagan. That was in 1692,” he adds. It was eventually replaced by
      the Queen’s Bridge in January 1843, named in honour of Queen Victoria who
      opened it.