About Tom & Ollie ….

Created in 2014 by Seamus Mullan, Hugh Cushnan and Fergal McGrainne, their motive was to ensure the continuity of fresh locally produced Irish and European Mezze products.

They have strong links to St George’s market Belfast and have put down further roots in Broughshane, Co Antrim. The company was among the first to take a stall in the revamped St George’s Market in Belfast and is now the biggest presentation there.

The Food NI members are specialists in Mediterranean foods such as olives, pastes, pesto and hummus, has won business with Sheridan’s, one of the Republic of Ireland’s most successful gourmet retailers.

With over 15 years experience as Delicatessens, the Tom & Ollie team are well known as thee experts in their field.

The Northern Ireland company selects olives from growers in the Mediterranean and packs them at its production plant in Broughshane. It also makes its own pastes, pesto and hummus at the plant.

The founders chose the Tom & Ollie corporate identity and product branding to reflect their focus on tomatoes and olives, two mainstays of the Mediterranean diet.

Tom & Ollie is the agent for the brand MezzeMagic, and has extensive European contacts for all things olive, pesto, tapenade, and hummus, with over 65 lines handmade in Broughshane.

 

The Business Boost …

Tom and Ollie, have won business with Sheridan’s – one of the Republic of Ireland’s most successful gourmet retailers.

They will now be supplying Sheridan’s with their packed olives and smoked tomato pesto, a product which gained a silver award in the recent Blas na hEireann Awards at Dingle in Co Kerry.

Tom and Ollie’s Tracey O’Boyle says:

“We were thrilled to receive an order from such a prestigious and respected retailer as Sheridan’s. It’s a further significant step forward as we seek to grow business for our retail lines in the Republic. Sheridan’s is a great company to work with in developing our innovative products in this hugely important marketplace.”

 

 

Tom and Ollie have become a regular supporter of markets across Northern Ireland.

As well as olives, pastes and other Mediterranean products, the company has invested in its production operation and delivery services from its on-line website.

It also offers a very wide selection of Irish artisan cheeses.

Other significant retail customers include Pallas Foods, the leading Irish food wholesaler, to which they supply 30 different products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copeland Spirits

Launched by Gareth Irvine in 2015 in County Down – Copeland Gin was released to market.

County Down’s local fruit is a key element to their range of Gins.

Packing a punch at 37.8% alcohol, their gins aren’t to be missed.

Available in 2 key offerings, Raspberry & Mint & Rhuberry, a mix of rhubarb & blackberry; Copeland Gin has further expanded into in-seasonal, small batch runs.

Spiced Apple and Blackcurrant

The Food NI member, has launched its Christmas-inspired ‘Spiced Apple and Blackcurrant’ gin for the festive season. The limited-edition, fruit-infused gin was an instant success with consumers in 2017, with over 2500 units sold.

Unlike liqueurs, which are sweetened with syrup and lower in strength, Copeland Spirits’ range carries full strength gins all at 37.8 percent volume. The ‘Spiced Apple and Blackcurrant’ flavour features only the finest fruits, all grown locally in Northern Ireland.

In total, Copeland Gin sourced over 90kg of blackcurrants and over 90kg of apples from local farmers and producers to create the three batches of ‘Spiced Apple and Blackcurrant’ available.

The infusion process began in September with the bottled result delivering a deep berry colour and an intensely familiar festive flavour layered with sweetness and carrying a kick of cinnamon, everyone’s favourite Christmas spice.

Founder of Copeland Spirits, Gareth Irvine said:

“Last year we were blown away by the response to our Christmas gin so we knew it had to make a return for 2018. One of our most surprising flavours, ‘Spiced Apple and Blackcurrant’ is intensely sweet and carries that special kick of cinnamon delivering an authentic festive taste.

 Having worked on this flavour since September, it’s really exciting to see it on-shelf, particularly with the addition of the consumer-friendly QR code which we hope will inspire at-home mixologists to try something new this Christmas.

 Gin continues to be the most-saturated spirit category and so our approach sees us sharing limited-edition flavours alongside our flagships gins to excite and surprise gin-lovers with something different to the norm.

 As we move into 2019, we are gearing up for our busiest year to date as export activity increases and we continue to support both local farmers by creating more unique infusions.”

 

 

This year, just 2,000 bottles of the flavoured gin are available in Northern Ireland, exclusively from independent retailers and Belfast International Airport. Selected bottles will be packaged in a luxurious gift bag featuring a scannable QR code, taking consumers to a dedicated section on the website filled with cocktail inspiration and more.

 

For more information about Copeland Spirits – click here : https://www.nigoodfood.com/producers/copeland-spirits/

 

 

 

Morelli’s Ice Cream, a Food NI member, has completed the final phase of a three-year investment programme with support from Ulster Bank.

The family-run business has invested £350,000 to expand its Coleraine base, including expanding its production and storage facilities, adding 3,300 sq ft to the now 10,000 sq ft north coast factory, and modernising its head offices.

The latest phase forms part of a £700,000 investment drive launched by Morelli’s in 2015.

Arnaldo Morelli said: “Following an extensive three-year investment programme, our newly expanded Coleraine facility is now fully operational. We were operating near to full capacity, producing 700,000 litres annually. The investment has enabled us to almost treble production capacity to two million litres per year.”

The company is now looking to expand into new export markets.

Arnaldo added: “As well as our own family stores, we supply supermarkets and hundreds of independent retailers across Northern Ireland.  This investment will enable us to increase exports to ROI and explore new markets in GB, safe in the knowledge that we have the capacity to fulfil growing consumer demand.”

Rhonda McClelland, business development manager at Ulster Bank, said: “The Morelli brand is steeped in tradition and a shining example of Northern Ireland’s growing list of quality food and drink producers.

“We’re extremely proud to support the Morelli family as they expand their business and explore export opportunities to new markets.”

The Morelli family has been making ice cream in Northern Ireland since 1911.