Congratulations to Food NI members Mourne Dew Distillery, whose Pooka Hazelnut Poitin has earned them a prestigious Irish Food Writers Guild Award. Mourne Dew Distillery crafts smooth yet complex drinks. They are the Home of Award Winning gin, whiskey, poitín, and vodka.

Mourne Dew Distillery was singled out for one of just eight awards presented this year by the Irish Food Writers’ Guild for its Pooka Hazelnut Poitín Liqueur which combines rich, nutty flavors with hints of vanilla, chocolate, and cream, offering a smooth, innovative twist on traditional poitín.

The IFWG recognised its exceptional quality and said it’s a standout among Mourne Dew’s renowned range of spirits.

With no applications or submissions allowed, all eight winners were chosen based solely on quality, integrity, and commitment to genuine sustainable practices.

“When sustainability is merely used as a marketing tactic, consumers are misled, and the credibility and reputation of true sustainable producers is undermined,” said Paula McIntyre, chair of the Irish Food Writers’ Guild (IFWG), who was speaking this week at the presentation of the 2025 IFWG Food Awards, which saw Co. Down’s Mourne Dew Distillery presented with an award for its Pooka Hazelnut Poitín Liqueur.

“Greenwashing has infiltrated the food and drinks sector in ways many of us don’t even realise,” Ms McIntyre continued.

“Offending brands use vague buzzwords, deceptive green packaging, and even dubious certifications to take advantage of consumers’ efforts to shop and eat more sustainably – without making any real environmental impact.

“Meanwhile, truly sustainable Irish producers work tirelessly to uphold the highest ethical and environmental standards, often without the recognition or support they deserve. For more than three decades the IFWG has been spotlighting many of these outstanding producers, with sustainability a consistent thread linking our annual award winners. And this year is no different,” she said.

Multi-award-winning Salt Kitchen in Banbridge is embracing an exciting new chapter as it celebrates 10 years of culinary excellence with a major expansion. The restaurant has doubled in size and has moved to a new, larger space, five metres away within The Boulevard shopping outlet mall. The move will bring an elevated dining experience, bold new seating, and culinary innovations. This milestone cements Salt Kitchen’s reputation as the go-to destination for exceptional food, shopping, and entertainment at Northern Ireland’s leading outlet mall.

As Salt Kitchen expands, it is welcoming 15 new team members, bringing its staff to 50 strong. This growth enhances service excellence, elevates the guest experience, and creates valuable employment opportunities. By investing in its team, Salt Kitchen reinforces its position as a leader in the local hospitality industry, committed to delivering exceptional dining and outstanding service.

With over 175 seats in the new restaurant, Salt Kitchen is taking its dining experience to the next level. This expansion brings more creativity, more flavour, and more innovation, as the menu evolves to reflect Salt’s commitment to quality and the finest local ingredients. From fresh seafood and locally sourced meats to Salt’s signature dishes, diners can look forward to exciting new flavours, seasonal specialties, and a schedule of exciting events from supper clubs to tasting events.

Gary Scott Chef/Director of Salt Kitchen shares his excitement: “This is a game-changer for Salt Kitchen. Moving into a larger space at The Boulevard gives us the opportunity to push culinary boundaries, introduce new dishes, and create an experience that truly stands out. We can’t wait to welcome even more guests to our Next Chapter and share what we’ve been working on.”

This expansion is a huge moment for Salt Kitchen and The Boulevard, bringing fresh opportunities to raise brand awareness, attract new customers, and generate media buzz. The restaurant is set to engage the local community through job creation and events while driving foot traffic to The Boulevard and Omniplex, further positioning itself as a must-visit dining destination.

Salt Kitchen are members of Food Heartland and Food NI and invite food lovers, media, and the local community to celebrate this exciting new chapter and experience the next level of dining in its new home, booking online: https://www.saltkitchenbanbridge.co.uk

Ever noticed a colourful and hexagonal shape outside hotels, restaurants or other
eateries across Northern Ireland and wondered what it is all about?
Hospitality establishments here are busy hanging the distinctive Taste of Ulster
plaques that signal a commitment to providing quality food and drink from the best
locally sourced products and ingredients.
Issued annually as a recognition of commitment to these important requirements, the
coveted plaques – reflecting the UNESCO Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim –
follow exacting inspections by experts from Food NI, the local food and drink
promotion and marketing body that runs the badge of local quality and outstanding
taste scheme.
Michele Shirlow, boss of the independent food and drink body since its formation a
decade ago, explains: “The inspections are carried out on a mystery visitor basis to
individual establishments here.
“The inspectors conduct a rigorous review of how much local produce is used; what
is in place towards sustainability; the knowledge of staff about the menu; and then
quality and taste check three courses of food in each establishment.
“A detailed feedback report is then created and if a score of 80 percent is achieved,
a Taste of Ulster plaque is awarded. This repeats each year, hence some eateries
have a few years of plaques showcased on a wall usually outside the business,”
adds Michele.
Plaque winners enjoy other benefits, including features on Food NI’s social media
channels, in the richly illustrated annual handbook in all airports, visitor centres and
other public places.
Plaque holders also take part in ‘live’ cooking demos at events such as the
renowned Balmoral Show, one of the biggest agri-food shows in Europe that
features a vast Food NI Food Pavilion, one of the show’s highlights. The pavilion
usually features upwards of 100 smaller and artisan food companies and attracts
more than 100,000 visitors.

Laura Vogan, owner of S’more’a’licious, a FoodNI member in Armagh, an award-
winning producer of gourmet marshmallow fluff and kits, has embraced unique
Arabian Gulf flavours in her own version of the on-trend Viral Dubai Chocolate Bar.
Created in Dubai and featured widely on social media, the bar is inspired by knafeh:
(a Middle Eastern dessert made with a shredded phyllo pastry), a sweet, sugary
syrup and then layers of cheese, pistachio, cream or other fillings. The bar is then
covered in a rich milk chocolate.
Laura explains: “From the moment I saw all the buzz surrounding the unique
chocolate bar, I knew I had to create something special, something that captures the
richness, luxury, and pure joy of this chocolate craze but with a marshmallow twist.
“And we’ve done just that. The response from family and friends has been
phenomenal.
“After weeks of perfecting the recipe, sourcing the finest ingredients, and ensuring
every bite delivers the indulgence people crave, our take on this global sensation is
now available,” adds Laura.
Laura, a farmer’s wife with a passion for marshmallows, has, in fact, created two
varieties of the Gulf treat. One is filled with deliciously creamy handmade
marshmallow fluff and pistachio mix, while the other is just classic pistachio mix.
“Both bars are made with the finest, luxury Belgian chocolate and have the all-
important crunch,” she says.
Laura set up her S’more’a’licious small business making marshmallow kits in 2020
during lockdown and just two months after the birth of her second child. She
subsequently won two awards for her enterprise. These included Dragons’ Den star
Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday award.
The business has continued to grow from sales here and further afield of the kits with
all that is needed to make delicious marshmallows. Her customers include local delis
and farm shops and abroad from online.
Based on the family farm, near Caledon, S’more’a’licious now offers a wide range of
different luxury treats.

Lights, camera, celebration! Antrim-based Golden Popcorn is toasting ten years of a
blockbuster partnership with Tesco NI.
Over the past decade, the supermarket giant has played a starring role in the
company’s award-winning retail success, offering its signature cinema-style popcorn
in Sweet, Salty and Sweet & Salty flavours —and more recently, its healthy snack
line, Gourmet Crunch—on shelves across Northern Ireland.
The company was founded in 1996 in Mallusk, and it supplied popcorn exclusively to
movie theatres across NI. Managing Director Sean McClinton and investors acquired
the business in 2014 and concluded its future hinged on a crucial plot twist:
transitioning to retail.
To make this bold move, Sean and his team developed a new recipe for “butter salt”,
which is responsible for the distinctive “cinema popcorn” flavour while ensuring it’s
made with only natural ingredients, free of allergens. In 2017, Golden Popcorn
moved to a purpose-built factory and office space in Antrim.
As the moment arrived to make their retail debut, Tesco NI rolled out the red carpet.
“We are proud to say Tesco NI was the first supermarket chain to offer a listing for
our retail popcorn bags and we’re thrilled to have our product on their shelves ever
since,” Sean remarked. “Tesco NI has been fantastic; they’re always open to
discussing Marketing and Product Development, and their support with product trials
has been invaluable.”
Tesco NI’s supporting role came into the spotlight again in 2021, when Golden
Popcorn launched sister brand Gourmet Crunch, and Tesco once more was the first
one to store the product in NI. The vegan snacks are made from cassava and are
available in Thai Sweet Chilli, Mature Cheddar & Spring Onion flavours. The new
Louisiana BBQ and Irish Salt & Balsamic Vinegar flavours will be launched at Tesco
in the next few weeks. 
“We’re delighted to say Golden Popcorn has had a box office smash of a decade,”
Sean added. “When we first started, our turnover was around £400K—now, we’re on
track for £4.5M in 2025. Partnering with Tesco has been incredible.”
Tess Osborn, Head of Fresh Foods Sourcing NI at Tesco, commented: “We are
thrilled to offer such a high-quality and beloved local brand like Golden Popcorn as
part of our ongoing commitment to supporting local suppliers. We’re proud to help NI
businesses shine and contribute to the local economy.”