Food NI members strike gold in Great Taste Awards 2018

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Almost 60 Food NI member companies won over 200 gold stars in this year’s Great Taste Awards.

Six companies achieved the coveted three gold stars in what has become the most important endorsement of taste from food and drink companies in the UK, Ireland and other parts of Europe. Three gold stars are awarded to a product judged by a panel of food experts to be extraordinarily tasty.

The three gold star winners which will now be in the running for the Supreme Champion Award and the Northern Ireland Gold Fork are:

Burren Balsamics, Richill, Hannan Meats, Moira, Lacada Brewing Company, Portrush, Maud’s Ice Cream, Carrickfergus, The Cookie Jar, Newcastle, Thompson’s Family Teas, Belfast.

Hannan Meats won three gold stars each for four separate products and Thompson’s Family Teas three gold stars each for two products.

Burren Balsamics, Hannan Meats and Thompson’s Family Teas also won a series of two and one gold stars.

Michele Shirlow, Food NI Chief Executive, congratulating the winning companies, said: “This is another outstanding year for Northern Ireland in the most important event for the food and drink industry in the UK, Ireland and other parts of Europe. Overall, 2,010 products from Northern Ireland companies were successful in this year’s awards.

“The awards are an important showcase of quality, innovation and outstanding taste from Northern Ireland companies, both large and small. It’s immensely encouraging to see our companies winning so many gold stars. It highlights the skills, expertise and enterprise of local processors especially the smaller companies which are the backbone of the local food and drink industry.

“Two of our member companies, Hannan Meats and Thompson’s Family Teas, are now among the most successful in the UK and Ireland in the Great Taste Awards,” added Mrs Shirlow.

The results of the world’s most coveted food awards followed judging over 65 days. Out of a record breaking 12,634 products to be judged in 2018, 4,653 were awarded a highly prized Great Taste accolade and a remarkable 210 are based in Northern Ireland.

Great Taste is widely acknowledged as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers.

A record breaking 12,634 different products were entered in 2018. Over 500 of the most demanding palates, belonging to food critics, chefs, restaurateurs, cooks, producers and a host of food writers, journalists and social media influencers, blind taste each product. The judges awarded 3,254 1-stars, 1,207 2-stars and just 192 3 stars.

Other Food NI member companies collecting either 2 or 1 gold stars were:

Abernethy Butter, Dromara

Amberline Preserves, Dungannon

Andrew’s Flour Mills, Belfast

Ann’s Pantry, Larne

Baked in Belfast, Enniskillen

Balloo Inns/Poacher’s Pocket, Lisbane

Brambleberry Jams, Lisburn

Cavanagh Free Range Eggs, Newtownbutler

Carnbrooke Meats, Dromara

Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt, Bangor

Corndale Farm Free Range Charcuterie, Limavady

Dale Farm, Belfast

Davison Canners, Dungannon

Deli-Lites, Warrenpoint

Deli-Muru, Belfast

Draynes Farm Ice Cream, Lisburn

En-Place Foods, Cookstown

Erin Grove Preserves, Enniskillen

Food Stories, Crawfordsburn

Gracehill Fine Foods, Ballymena

Glastry Farm Ice Cream, Kircubbin

Hercules Brewing Company, Belfast

Hillstown Farm Shop, Randalstown

Holmes Bakery, Portadown

Irwin’s Bakery, Portadown

Ispini Charcuterie, Aughnacloy

Johnson Brothers, Lisburn

Kennedy Bacon, Omagh

Ke Nako Biltong, Ballyclare

Kettyle Irish Foods, Lisnaskea

Kilmegan Cider, Newcastle

L’Artisan Foods, Portadown

Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative, Toome

Mange Tout Bakery and Deli, Downpatrick

Mash Direct, Comber

McKee’s Farm Shop, Newtownards

Morelli’s Ice Cream, Coleraine

North Coast Smokehouse, Ballycastle

Prep House Sauces, Crossgar

Ocean Veg, Rathlin

Quail’s Fine Foods, Banbridge

Whitewater Brewery, Castlewellan

Yellow Door Bakery and Deli, Portadown

Rich Sauces, Newtownards

Rooney Fish, Kilkeel

SD Bell’s, Belfast

Sea Sugar, Whitehead

Springmount Farm Free Range Eggs, Ballygowan

Tayto Group, Tandragee

William Baird Butchers

 

Hastings Hotel secures supply deal with Hannan Meats

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HASTINGS Hotels has announced that it is now sourcing all of its beef exclusively from leading meat supplier, Hannan Meats.

The group, which opened the 300-bedroom Grand Central Hotel in June has been working the Moira based company for 20 years and the new deal will see it exclusively supply all the seven Hastings Hotels with its Himalayan salt-aged beef, steaks, Sunday roasts and Glenarm Shorthorn burgers.

Howard Hastings, managing director of Hastings Hotels said: “We are delighted to announce that we are now sourcing all of our beef exclusively from Hannan Meats. Food provenance is of major importance to us as a group and it is well-known that we are dedicated to supporting local producers. It is no secret that we only work with the very best local suppliers and have developed a fabulous relationship with Peter Hannan and his award-winning team over the years and have every confidence in the quality of their produce.”

Peter Hannan from Hannan Meats added: “Whilst we have huge demand for our produce from the top London restaurants, we are delighted we can also showcase what we can produce in the restaurants run by Hastings Hotels. We have been working with Howard and his very talented chefs for many years and are delighted to have been awarded exclusivity for all his beef purchasing.”

Article by The Irish News

Irish Black Butter wins business at Dublin International Airport

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Food NI member company Irish Black Butter has won significant business at Dublin International Airport for its savoury/sweet spread.

The company, which is based at Portrush in Co Antrim, has begun supplying the unique spread to the Wright’s of Howth retail outlet in Terminal 1 at the airport, Ireland’s biggest, through its distributor Soul Bia.

Alastair Bell, the founder and managing director of Irish Black Butter Company, the small batch business founded to develop, produce and market the new butter, which is produced from Armagh Bramley apples, treacle, brandy and spices, says: “This is a tremendous breakthrough for us in Ireland’s biggest transport hub. It’s a marvellous platform for us in tourism, a target market for the product we’ve branded as ‘a new taste of Ireland’.

“Almost 30 million passengers from many parts of the world, especially the US and Canada, use the airport every year.

“The latest deal means Irish Black Butter is now on sale in all the main airports on the island of Ireland. What this means is that millions of visitors will be able to see – and hopefully buy – our new‘Taste of Ireland’ as they pass through the airports.

“We’ve focused on tourist attraction and visitor centre especially in Northern Ireland with considerable success,” he adds.

Irish Black Butter was launched last November by Mr Bell with help with En-Place Foods in Cookstown, county Tyrone. Influenced by apple butters available in other parts of the world including the US, the Netherlands and Jersey, Mr Bell wished to create a unique taste.

The spread has also been used as an ingredient for other innovative Northern Ireland products including ice cream, yogurt and biscuits. The product is now readily available in delis and independent stores across Northern Ireland and is being distributed in Ireland by Sheridans and Britain by Centaur in Bristol.

 

 

Top Irish hotel lists Belfast Ginger Ale

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Food NI member company Longbridge Drinks has won its first significant sales in the Republic of Ireland for its unique Belfast Ginger Ale.

Longbridge Drinks, which produced Belfast Ginger Ale, has announced a deal to supply the mixer to the elegant Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort.

Longbridge, which is based in Bangor, county Down and has extensive experience in the development and processing of traditional minerals and cordials, has just delivered its first consignment to the luxurious hotel, restaurant, golf resort and spa in county Limerick.

The championship golf course was the venue for the Irish open in 2007 and 2008.

Wayne Adair, a director of Longbridge Drinks, commenting on the business, says: “We were delighted to have been approached by such a prestigious hotel to supply our unique Belfast Ginger Ale. It’s a marvellous boost for the product so soon after its launch. We are hoping that it will lead to further business in the Republic, a target market for us.”

Belfast Ginger Ale is based on a product originally created in the city in 1825. Longbridge, named after the bridge that spanned Belfast’s River Lagan in the 19th century, is a new trading style developed by Papas Minerals, a successful craft producer of small batch soft drinks including award winning cordials.

Belfast Ginger Ale is the result of research work over three years by Mr Adair, Longbridge founder and a director of Papas Minerals and has been influenced by original recipes from original producers using artesian spring water from Cromac Wells, near Belfast City Centre.

The main ingredients are carbonated water, sugar, lime juice from concentrate, extract of ginger, ginger flavour and natural caramel. The new Belfast Ginger Ale is initially available in 20cl bottles, a 30cl bottle is also being planned.

“The new ginger ale is an ideal mixer for gin and especially the craft gins now being distilled in Northern Ireland,” Mr Adair says. “It revives the heritage of ginger ale processing in Belfast. The first carbonated ginger ale was produced by Dr Thomas Cantrell, a chemist with Grattan and Co in Belfast.

Papas Minerals is an artisan producer of craft minerals and cordials such as non-alcoholic ginger wine, traditional clove cordial and elderflower cordial. Mr Adair established the small business in 1999 and has won UK Great Taste Awards and Blas na hEireann awards.

 

Food and drink sector strengthens business in Britain

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Great Britain is still the biggest market for Northern Ireland food and drink industry. Overall, the industry saw a £2.6 percent rise in total sales in 2017 to £4.5billion. The report reveals a strengthening food and drink processing sector last year.

Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has reported that the value of produce for Great Britain increased to £2.2billion in 2016, accounting for just over 50 percent of the £4.5billion total sales that year.

The ‘Size and Performance of the Northern Ireland Food and Drinks Processing Sector, Subsector Statistics’ study also found that the Republic of Ireland is the most important export destination for the region’s food and drink.

Food and drink sales to the Republic accounted for £646million in 2016, which amounted to 15 percent of total sales.  Employment increased four percent from 20,555 to 22,413 full-time workers. The figure is estimated to increase 4.8 percent for 2017 to 23,479 full-time employees.

The proportion of external sales (sales to all markets outside of Northern Ireland) increased from 74.2 per cent to 75.6 per cent of total sales between 2015 and 2016. The value of these sales increased from £3,277million to £3,30million in 2016.

Between 2015 and 2016, the level of export sales (sales to markets outside of the United Kingdom) as a proportion of total sales declined from 26.7 percent to 25.4 percent.

The value of these export sales fell from £1,178million in 2015 to £1,108 million in 2016. The value of export sales was higher than that of the domestic Northern Ireland market in both 2015 and 2016.

The Republic of Ireland, which continues to be the largest export market with sales of £645.8million in 2016. The market share of total sales increased from 14.1 per cent in 2015 to 14.8 per cent in 2016.

After the total value of sales in Northern Ireland dipped from £4.415billion in 2015 to £4.365billion in 2016, provisional figures for last year show that the sector had increased £113million in turnover, bringing it to just under £4.5billion.

Beef, lamb, milk and milk products represented the largest subsectors for gross turnover in both 2015 and 2016. Together they account for 48 percent and 49 percent respectively of the sector’s total gross turnover.

 

Dale Farm successes in International Cheese Festival

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Food NI member Dale Farm gained a series of awards for its cheddar cheese products at the prestigious International Cheese Awards at Nantwich.

The company, Northern Ireland’s biggest dairy co-operative, won gold, silver and bronze medals for its range of cheddars. Dale Farm, which produces cheese at one of Europe’s leading processing plants, near Cookstown, county Tyrone, gained gold for its mature white cheddar in particular.

Dale Farm’s operation in Great Britain also won awards, including golds for its cottage cheeses and yoghurt. The company has processing operations in England, Scotland and Wales.

It exports milk powder and cheese to international markets including China, Russia and South America.

The awards, held as an integral part of the annual Nantwich Agricultural Show, is among the leading competitions in the international dairy industry. A panel of 250 expert judges sampled around 5,000 cheeses from almost 30 countries.

Dale Farm has many of Northern Ireland’s best known and most successful dairy brands and produces milk, cream, ice cream, cheese, butter, spreads, yogurt and desserts.

Successful brands include Dale Farm, Dromona, Spelga, Mullins, Fivemiletown, Rowan Glen, Loseley.

Dale Farm is Northern Ireland’s largest dairy company and is owned by over 1,300 dairy farmers who supply the milk.

The group’s activities span the food chain – from providing farm inputs and services, to collecting and marketing its members milk supplies, manufacturing an extensive range of dairy consumer and food ingredient products, distributing these to both domestic and over 40 export markets worldwide.

The cooperative was formed in 1995. Since then, the group has developed its business interests through organic growth and a series of acquisitions. The group now has 10 manufacturing sites throughout the UK.

An extensive capital investment programme has been completed aimed at reducing costs and increasing capacity. This has resulted in processing facilities that are best in class.