White’s Oats raise the Bar with new soft-baked Oaty snack

White’s new Oaty Bars are the latest product innovation from Co. Armagh based company, White’s Oats.
High in fibre with no additives, flavourings or preservatives, White’s Oaty Bars are made from just five, all-natural ingredients.
Available now in Tesco, Spar and Vivo stores across Northern Ireland and will be available in Bob & Berts coffee shops in early 2025.

Co. Armagh based White’s Oats, Ireland’s largest oat miller and cereal producer, is entering the ambient on the go snack category with a new soft-baked Oaty Bar made from its award-winning, high quality Irish oats.

The new product sees White’s first major launch into the healthy snacking category, catering for the evolving needs of its consumers. Offering a tasty and wholesome snack experience, the bar is ideal for consumers looking for an oats-on-the-go offering.

Speaking on the launch Danielle McBride, Marketing Manager, White’s Oats said:

“At White’s we are committed to providing high quality products that deliver on nutrition and taste and suit our customer’s busy lifestyles. Our new Oaty Bars are made using all-natural Irish butter and contain over 50% wholegrain oats, making it easier than ever to enjoy a great tasting, naturally energising snack that will leave that hungry feeling fading fast.

“Each bar has only five, all-natural ingredients, with no additives, flavourings or preservatives. It’s the perfect choice for those rushed mornings, as a mid-morning boost or an afternoon pick me up.” Danielle continued.

Available in a 45g Bar, containing 196 calories and over 3g of fibre and protein.

Sold in a single pack, White’s Oaty Bars are available now in Tesco, Spar and Vivo stores across Northern Ireland. They will be launching in Bob & Bert coffee shops early 2025.

The distillers of Shortcross Irish Whiskey and Gin are celebrating another award for
their Shortcross Distiller’s Duo Irish Whiskey as it strikes Gold at the Irish Whiskey
Awards. The Shortcross Distiller’s Duo is a blend of Single Malt and Single Pot Still
Irish Whiskey’s, both of which have been distilled at Rademon Estate Distillery, a
Food NI member, in Crossgar.
Co-Founder and Head Distiller David Boyd-Armstrong describes winning the award:
“To see our Shortcross Distiller’s Duo Irish Whiskey win Overall Winner in the
Blended Irish Whiskey (No Age Statement / Over €60) category is a fantastic
reflection of the quality of the whiskey that we distil here at Rademon Estate
Distillery. The quality and quantity of entries in this category means that the bar is
set very high and to be awarded Overall Winner is a very special moment for us.
“This is the second major award this year for the Shortcross Distiller’s Duo Irish
Whiskey after picking up a Gold Medal at this years Global Irish Whiskey Masters
hosted by The Spirits Business magazine.
Managing director Fiona Boyd-Armstrong adds: “Our Shortcross Irish Whiskey is
only ever distilled here at Rademon Estate Distillery, and to see own Irish Whiskey
win awards such is this is a fantastic success.”
Rademon also won a further Gold medal with its new Shortcross 5 year old Peated
Single Malt Irish Whiskey, which won Gold in the Peated Whiskey category at the
2024 year Irish Whiskey Awards.. Rademon is the first distillery in Northern Ireland
to produce peated Irish whiskey in over two generations.

Fiona adds: “Peated Irish Whiskey is at the core of what we do here at Rademon,
and to see this new expression win Gold with an Irish whiskey that has been distilled
by our own hands at the Irish Whiskey Awards is true testament to effort, skill and
patience of our team to craft this fabulous Irish Whiskey”.
Rademon closed out the awards by picking up a second Gold in the Peated Whiskey
category at the Irish Whiskey Awards with its Irish Whiskey Bonding Company –
Chancer Peated Blend.

Experienced chef Bob McDonald is aiming to breathe new life into a skill used in
households across Northern Ireland and worldwide before the advent of fridge
freezers.
Bob, a director of multi-award-winning Burren Balsamics in Richhill, Co Armagh, a
specialist in culinary vinegars, as well as chutneys, jams and relishes, is behind the
creation of new pickling kits in classic and spicy varieties.

“Our new food kits are perfect for home cooks who love experimenting in the kitchen,
explains Bob. “They are crafted with sustainable, local Irish ingredients. It’s foodie-
favourite gift for Christmas that will last well beyond the festive season,” adds Bob.
Multi-award-winning Burren Balsamics, a Food NI member, was founded by Susie
Hamilton Stubber, another chef with experience in top London restaurants, in 2014.
Bob joined later as product development director.

Each kit comes with novel recipes created by Bob, a respected Master Chef
participant with decades of experience within the UK restaurant industry, and is
packed with everything needed including jars, labels, pickling spices and the
innovation-led company’s acclaimed White Condiment.
The handy kits also include peppercorns, sea salt, mustard seeds and bay leaves.
They are vegan friendly and gluten free.
A global leader in vinegars and other innovative culinary products which enhance the
flavours of foods for chefs and home cooks, Burren created its UK Great Taste
winning White Condiment – ideal for salads – from Italian white grapes.
Dating back centuries to Asia and the Middle East, pickling, Bob continues, has long
been recognised as an effective technique for preserving or extending the shelf-life
of foods, especially vegetables, either by fermentation in brine or immersion in
vinegar. The pickling procedure typically affects the food’s texture and especially
flavour.
Burren Balsamics, one of Ireland’s most creative food producers, sells its main range
of vinegars to major retailers such as Marks and Spencer, Harrods and El Palacio de
Hierro in Mexico, as well as hundreds of delis here and in Britain.

Healthy living enthusiasts across the UK have chosen protein-rich overnight oats
from Armagh-based Linwoods Health Foods, a Food NI member, as the Best New
Product in a major public vote.
Chocolate Protein Overnight Oats, a plant-based blend of gluten-free oats, chia and
soy protein from Linwoods, was chosen for the platinum award for innovation in the
2025 Your Healthy Living magazine’s product awards by its readers.
Linwoods’ unique formula boasts fatigue-fighting magnesium, keeping consumers
energised and ready to conquer the day ahead.
The magazine, which circulates around UK health stores, said readers were asked to
vote for their favourite health products across 12 categories. “The response was
phenomenal – the votes poured in, and we were thrilled by the enthusiasm for
celebrating the very best in natural health.”
The award comes as family-owned Linwoods has become the leader in the UK and
Ireland of a comprehensive range of plant foods such as cold-milled linseed,
flaxseed sunflower, pumpkin, chia seeds, goji berries and hemp over five decades
The company, now under managing director Patrick Woods, is also celebrating two
major ‘wins’ with UK supermarkets Morrisons and Tesco for its overnight oats. It also
supplies leading health stores such as Holland and Barrett.
Exceptional customer demand for the unique overnight oats will see the healthy
products in 750 new stores.
Since the launch of oats last year, the range has contributed to a significant increase
in sales for Linwoods, resulting in 20 percent growth over the last 12 months and a
10 per cent increase in workers to over 90.
The overnights oats are also available in an extensive list of stores including Spar,
Supervalu, Centra, Mace and independent retailers across the island of Ireland and
Wholefoods, Farm Food and Booths in the UK.
Earlier this year, Linwoods started exporting to Spain with stockists CarreFour and
E.C.I, as well as Italy’s Esselunga and Coop Italia.
Patrick Woods says: “In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the demand
for plant-based, functional foods and time-saving options. We are so proud to have
created an innovative breakfast solution to address this need.”

Get into the festive spirit at Long Meadow Farm! 

Drive through the magical orchard, under the stars, to the enchanting Bramley Barn.  The elves will welcome you into Santa’s Grotto with a smile and festive cheer, whilst you sip on hot chocolate, a Christmas story you will hear!

Whilst Santa is checking his list twice, there will be lots of festive fun for the family to experience!

 Make some Reindeer food for Santa’s busy reindeers
 Design your own Christmas plate for when Santa visits on Christmas Eve
 Write your letter to Santa and post it in The Bramley Barn’s post box – ready to be delivered straight to the North Pole!
 Enjoy some hot chocolate or Long Meadow Spiced Apple Juice while listening to a Christmas story
 Have fun with arts & crafts

Last, but not least, sit and chat with Santa himself and receive a Christmas Book made by Santa’s Elves at the North Pole.

One of Santa’s favourite elves will be standing by to take some photos for you and your family so you can cherish this magical moment forever.

Book here: https://www.longmeadowcider.com/product/santa-bramley-barn/

Farmer Robbie Neill, a respected producer of premium hams and bacon, has gained
national recognition ahead of the crucially important festive season.
Owner of FoodNI member Stonebridge Farm, just outside Crossgar, Co Down,
Robbie has been named the UK’s Pedigree Pig Breeder, the industry’s coveted
recognition.
Experts in the National Pig Awards were last week “impressed with the innovative,
sustainable system” that Robbie has developed on his small holding.
“Starting in 2017 with one Oxford Sandy and Black sow, the Stonebridge herd has
grown to over 100 pigs, including British Saddlebacks and Berkshires,” the judges
said.
“This immensely encouraging recognition could scarcely have come at a better time,”
Robbie says. “We are gearing up for the Christmas season that always produces
high volume demand for our quality hams, bacon and pork sausages. It’s really great
news for our small farm and our dry-cured pork products,” he adds.
Pedigree pigs are free to roam the farm, which also rears sheep and poultry, and to
enjoy an exceptional diet, developed by Robbie, that contributes to the outstanding
flavours of his pork products. He sells from his small farm shop and also supplies to
several shops and to top chefs such as award-winning restaurateur Jim Mulholland
of The Georgian House in Comber.
Robbie draws his interest in recycling from growing up on the family beef and sheep
farm, now run by brother Johnny, just down the Derryboye Road from his own farm.
Married to Louise and with three young children, Robbie continues: “Our focus is on
high quality niche and authentic products and not on volume. Quality and taste are
the priority for us. As a result, our business is built on the pillars of quality, local,
integrity and authenticity.”
Another winner at the awards was TV celebrity Jeremy Clarkson, owner of an
Oxfordshire farm, gained the Innovation Award,
The National Pig Awards showcase and celebrate those leading the sector in
excellence and innovation. The awards are the only competition entirely devoted to
the UK pig industry.