FoodNI member Moocha Kombucha is celebrating this week as it announces a major deal with UK retailer Tesco to stock its Moocha Kombucha range across all Tesco stores in Northern Ireland from this week.
The multi-award-winning probiotic drink which is made using the highest quality organic ingredients is packed with probiotics and antioxidants, supporting good digestive health and wellbeing, and comes in a range of flavours launched in Tesco as part of its healthy food and drinks selection last Friday. Tesco NI stores will now offer three flavours of Moocha Kombucha for sale province wide, as part of its lunch and food to go ‘meal deals’, including Elderflower and Lemon, Peach & Turmeric and Mixed Berry in 250ml cans, all containing over 3 billion live cultures per can!
Founded in 2020 by Benburb native Bronagh Quail, Moocha Kombucha, an organic certified kombucha using only certified organic ingredients, was created after Bronagh saw an opening for a healthy tea-based drink which was good for gut and overall health and wellbeing.
On her travels to Australia in 2009, Bronagh became unwell, mainly as a result of travelling on a shoestring, and not eating well enough (in her own words) resulting in illness. A visit to a natural herbalist introduced Bronagh to her first kombucha and herbal drinks, and on returning to Ireland and working for nearly a decade in design, Bronagh revisited the moment her life changed and decided to try her hand in drinks and create her first SCOBY (symbiotic Culture of bacteria and yeast) to create her new Kombucha drinks.
It is fair to say it has been a really healthy decision for her and her business ever since. Since starting the kombucha at her kitchen table in Benburb and attending farmers markets across the province, Bronagh has now grown Moocha Kombucha into over 140 retail, cafes, delis and local health shops, and now retailing in all Tesco stores here in Northern Ireland.
Commenting on the partnership with Tesco Northern Ireland, Bronagh said; “I am so excited by this partnership with Tesco and Moocha Kombucha. As a small family run company it is a real moment of pride to see my drinks range on the shelves in Tesco as part of everyday ‘food to go’ meal deals and drinks for sale.
This is the first time Tesco NI have incorporated a kombucha into food to go, which makes me even more thrilled to be part of this with Moocha Kombucha. It fits in perfectly with Tesco’s focus on healthy food and drinks, and I am sure the three flavours of organic Elderflower and Lemon, Peach & Turmeric and Mixed Berry will be big hit with customers. Each can is bursting with flavour and over three billion live cultures, making it the perfect drink to incorporate into daily routines for people on the go.”
Welcoming Moocha Kombucha to its stores as part of its ‘food to go range’, David Thompson, Buyer from Tesco Northern Ireland, added; “I am delighted to help launch Moocha Kombucha into Tesco NI. Bronagh and the team have worked tirelessly to perfect a delicious, award-winning, NI Based drink. It’s a pleasure to be able to work with them and be part of their journey.”
Last month, Moocha Kombucha won the Gold Award for drinks presse at this year’s Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards hot on the heels of having received the Micro Business of the Year at the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Awards in spring 2024.

This week over 50 renowned artisans gathered together in Ballycastle for the 3 rd International
Reunion of the Économusée network. The artisans came from Canada, Norway, The Faroe Islands,
and both parts of Ireland.
Previous reunions had been held in Quebec City in Canada and Bergen in Norway. Ballycastle was
chosen as the venue for the 3 rd gathering as it is central to the greatest local concentration of
Économusée workshops anywhere.
The Économusée network was established in Quebec over 30 years ago. Its purpose is to help
artisans learn from each other, to demonstrate their skills and to promote their businesses by adding
a tourism element. Visitors can watch artisans at work in situ and participate in workshops.
Carl Éric Guertin, Executive Director of the Économusée Network Society commented:
“We are delighted to bring together our members from four countries for this 3rd
International Conference of the ÉCONOMUSÉE® Network Society in Northern Ireland. After a
long period without in-person meetings, with the last international gathering held in 2017,
this conference offers a unique opportunity to strengthen our ties, share our experiences,
and build strong business collaborations for the future. The cultural and artisanal diversity
that defines us is our strength, and it is through collaboration that we will continue to
promote and preserve this expertise for future generations.”

Graham Thompson, Director of Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust commented:
“It is wonderful to see so many skilled artisans coming here to share their own experiences
and learn from our own very skilled operators. The artisans have had the chance to meet
with or visit all our 11 workshops as well as experience much of our local culture.
We hope that this visit can act as a springboard to increase knowledge about this important
network, here in the Causeway Coast and Glens and further afield. We also hope that this
can act as a catalyst to expand the network here in the coming years supporting more of our
skilled operators and building on an important element of our tourist offer.”
Over the 4-day visit the Artisans experienced a walking tour in Belfast, visited the Giant’s Causeway
and Dark Hedges and enjoyed performances by The Causeway Shantymen and Storyteller Janice
Weatherspoon.
They met with and visited every member of the network in Northern Ireland: Audrey Kyle
Watercolours and Gobbins Crafts on Island Magee; Steensons Jewellers in Glenarm; Hot Milk Forge
in Martinstown; Ursa Minor, Broughgammon Farm and the North Coast Smokehouse around
Ballycastle, Fidela Coffee Roasters in Coleraine; The Chocolate Manor and Broighter Gold in the
Binevenagh area and The Creamery Can, Glarryford.

Wild Atlantic Distillery are thrilled to announce the release of their very own first Irish Whiskey: ‘The IslandMen 1921 Release’ on 21st December 2024.

This is their first offering of Irish Whiskey from their distillery based in Aghyaran, Co Tyrone, which opened in 2019 and since then have been producing award-winning Gins & Vodkas.

They will have 350 bottles maximum of this exclusive Irish Whiskey, all drawn from their inaugural Cask 001, which was produced in their distillery and laid down on the 21st December 2021 but won’t know final numbers until they disgorge the cask and bottle it on 21st December this year.

Most notably, it marks the first release of an Irish Whiskey in over 100 years in the Tyrone & Derry regions, reviving the proud history of Irish Whiskey distillation in the two counties. One hundred years after the closure of the Watt Distillery in 1921, they have proudly revived the rich tradition of Irish Whiskey making of the North West. “We are proud to continue the long history of traditional distilling in this region,” said Brian and Jim. “IslandMen Irish Whiskey represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship and celebrates the resilience, passion, and spirit of the Irish people”. Their IslandMen Irish Whiskey pays homage to the past by crafting their premium Irish Whiskey in the heart of Co. Tyrone, while raising a glass to the future.

They are eager for more releases to come as they continue to expand their brand into the Irish Whiskey Market.

A Century in the Making: Honouring the Golden Age of Irish Whiskey and a Return to Tradition

The roots of Irish Whiskey distillation run deep in this corner of the North West. By the late 18th century, this region was home to many illicit distillers, before legal distilleries emerged to transform the local whiskey industry. In 1815, Alexander Stewart established Derry’s first legal distillery, producing an impressive 85,000 gallons of malt whiskey annually. By 1836, Derry’s Irish Whiskey production grew to 350,000 gallons across its distilleries, with global recognition following soon after.

In 1839, David Watt took full ownership of the Abbey Street distillery, Ireland’s largest at the time. Under the guidance of Aeneas Coffey, the inventor of the Coffey still, production surged to two million gallons a year. However, this golden era came to a close with the Watt Distillery’s lockout in 1921, marking the end of whiskey production in the region for over a century. Thus why they named their own Whiskey Membership as the 1921 Members Club.

About IslandMen Irish Whiskey

IslandMen Irish Whiskey is a premium whiskey that encapsulates the untamed beauty and enduring traditions of Ireland. With its inaugural release in the Tyrone & Derry regions, IslandMen is not only reviving a lost tradition but also setting a new standard for Irish Whiskey in the modern era.

For More Information

If you are interested in purchasing one of their exclusive IslandMen 1921 Irish Whiskey bottles they are asking people to register their interest by signing up via their website www.wildatlanticdistillery.ie before the 14/12/24. They will only be available to buy via this lottery, so you must register to enter (no monies are exchanged upon registration, just your email).

They encourage you to register and then follow their Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn social media pages where they will be revealing their full story of the whiskey along with videos and pictures of the exclusive bottle of their Inaugural IslandMen 1921 Release Irish Whiskey, they promise it is not to be missed!

Contact: Jim Nash

Wild Atlantic Distillery

028 9600 2525/ 075 171 03239

jim@wildatlanticdistillery.ie

www.wildatlanticdistillery.ie

The Crowne Plaza Belfast was the setting for another thrilling gala awards dinner, where Northern Ireland’s top names in grocery were in attendance at the most prestigious awards in the industry.

It was a night to remember for South Belfast’s Creightons of Balmoral, who claimed not only the Neighbourhood Store of the Year Category 3 award, but also the coveted Northern Ireland Retailer of the Year 2024 title.

A hugely popular winner, the owners and staff from Creightons were on-hand to collect their awards, marking a hugely successful night for company. Creightons of Balmoral are a Food NI member. Now in their 28th year, the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards are the annual showcase of industry excellence and hundreds of the country’s leading retailers gathered in the ballroom, waiting with anticipation to find out this year’s winners.

National Trust Fermanagh announces the return of Harvest Festival to Florence
Court this October. This year’s festival promises to be a vibrant celebration of food,
crafts, and entertainment.
In partnership with Tully Mill Restaurant, the much-anticipated food festival returns,
with more than 40 vendors attending. And with live entertainment and family-friendly
activities in store, it’s an event not to be missed.
Sonja Orderley, General Manager at National Trust Fermanagh, said: “Last year we
welcomed almost 5,000 visitors to Harvest Festival. We are looking forward to
building on that success in partnership with Tully Mill Restaurant, who bring together
a fantastic food festival, and this year introduce a craft quarter. It’s a wonderful
community event that gets people together to enjoy great food, craft and appreciate
the beauty of Florence Court.”
John Roche from Tully Mill Restaurant added: “Harvest Festival is an excellent
opportunity to showcase some of the finest food and drink available in Fermanagh
and the border counties. We’re looking forward to returning to Florence Court this
autumn to bring even more culinary delights to visitors. We’re also delighted to
introduce a craft quarter, featuring local artists and producers who will demonstrate
their skills and sell unique wares.”
The food quarter is part funded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor John McClaughry, said:
“I am delighted that Tully Mill is once again organising the Food and Craft Village at
National Trust Fermanagh’s Harvest Festival of Colour.
“This is a great opportunity for local food producers to showcase their products and
for locals and visitors alike to see and taste the wide range of food produced in our
District.
“Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is committed to ensuring that our economy
is thriving, expanding and outward looking and has recently supported the
establishment of a Sustainable Food Partnership. Events such as this help us to
achieve the commitments and encourage people to support local.”
Harvest Festival takes place on Saturday 26 October 26 and Sunday 27 October,
from 11am to 4pm. It will feature live entertainment from The Porter Bellys, The
Armagh Rhymers, and The Party Bees.
Normal admission applies, or visitors can scan their National Trust membership
cards for free entry.

Ards and North Down Borough Council hosted a group of highly respected representatives from the Irish Food Writers’ Guild last week to showcase the Borough’s rich culinary offerings, award-winning local produce, and outstanding hospitality.

The mouth-watering itinerary guided the group to various parts of the Borough to enjoy delicious treats and a warm welcome provided by Lightfoot Bangor, No. 14 the Georgian House , Indie Fűde, Capparelli Cooks, Ballyboley Dexters, Hara at Home, Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt, The Walled Garden Helen’s Bay, as well as tours of Copeland and Echlinville Distilleries. The group also enjoyed an overnight stay at luxurious host venues Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Bangor and The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn.

A key aim of the visit was to inform the group about the strength of the Taste Ards and North Down Food and Drink Network. Those who attended also enjoyed a Business Networking Breakfast and artisan food and drink market in The Courtyard at Clandeboye Estate in Bangor which was supported by funding from DAERA’s Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme. During the event, the writers met with over 30 local producers and joined a celebration of recent award wins from the recent 2024 Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards.

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Alastair Cathcart, said:

“Ards and North Down Borough Council was delighted to host this event to not only celebrate the Borough’s exceptional multi-award-winning food and drink sector, but also to showcase the fantastic collaboration and innovation being fostered through the Taste AND food and drink network.

“It was a pleasure to welcome this group of passionate food and drink writers including local legend, Paula McIntyre, who is a renowned chef and current Chair of the Irish Food Writers’ Guild.

“A special word of thanks must also go to DAERA’s Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme, who helped fund the recent ‘Taste at Clandeboye’ event. The Irish Food Writers’ Guild were delighted to attend the event during their trip to Ards and North Down and enjoyed buying and sampling some of the great local produce on offer.”

“The connections made during this trip will really help to progress the ambitions of the Taste AND Food and drink network and further helps to establish Ards and North Down as a top destination to visit and explore.”

To learn more about the story and successes of Taste AND Food and Drink Network, visit Taste AND. Or to plan a foodie break in Ards and North Down, go to www.visitardsandnorthdown.com.