Launching The 30th Annual Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards

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Now in their 30th year, the Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards are an opportunity for companies within the Northern Ireland food sector to shine a light on their successes and achievements. An integral part of the annual GroceryAid Ulster Grocers’ Ball, the awards will take place at the Culloden Estate and Spa on April 27, 2018

From producers to suppliers, wholesalers to individual retail outlets, our diverse range of award categories allows both well-established and up-and-coming companies to enjoy valuable media exposure and branding across this prestigious event, as well as ongoing editorial coverage throughout the year in Ulster Grocer magazine.

The awards are always hard fought with each category well represented and, as a result, are widely regarded as the highest marketing accolade businesses can achieve in the sector. The Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards are recognised as a mark of professionalism and raise the profile of companies, not only winning in their category, but also those short-listed.

For more information on the Awards such as category sponsorship opportunities and entry forms click here.

Shortcross Gin Available Across All UK World of Duty Free Outlets

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Craft gin expands presence after arriving on shelves at Belfast City Airport

Shortcross Gin, produced in Northern Ireland, is now being stocked in all World Duty Free stores across the UK, a year after first becoming available in a select number of the airport retailer’s outlets.

It means the craft gin is now available at 21 airports across the UK including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester, showcasing the product to well over 100 million passengers each year.

The success comes just a year after the awarding-winning gin first arrived on the shelves of World Duty Free at George Best Belfast City Airport.

The gin is produced at Rademon Estate Distillery, founded in 2012 by husband and wife team Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong at their historic family estate just outside Downpatrick, Co Down.

David Boyd-Armstrong said:

“Sales of Shortcross Gin have increased each month at all the World Duty Free outlets which is a great reflection of the partnership between our team and staff at each of the airports.

“We are very grateful to Belfast City Airport for its assistance in establishing the connection with World Duty Free and are focused in further developing that link over the months and years to come.

“Our contract with World Duty Free offers passengers the opportunity to sample something truly unique and which has won global acclaim, including a gold medal at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

“With plans to launch of our Irish Malt Whiskey 2018, it is an exciting time for the company and our customers.”

Shortcross Gin was first stocked at World Duty Free in Belfast City Airport in late 2016.

Katy Best, Commercial and Marketing Director at Belfast City Airport, commented:

“This is a fantastic success story for one of the most exciting new brands to come out of Northern Ireland in recent years.

“Belfast City Airport was proud to help facilitate Shortcross Gin’s entry to World Duty Free in 2016 and we are delighted to see how the relationship has developed.

“The gin has been extremely popular with passengers at Belfast City Airport, across our domestic routes and direct European services to Amsterdam and Iceland.

“The platform provided by World Duty Free is huge in terms of the exposure it provides for Shortcross Gin to both outgoing and inbound passengers at the UK’s leading airports.

“We wish them every success in the future as they add new products to their portfolio.”

Ciara Hamill, World Duty Free.

“Shortcross Gin proved to be a hit with tourists arriving and leaving Belfast City Airport so the decision to expand its offering to all outlets across the UK was an easy one.

“The product has played a major part in boosting our own growth in the past 12 months and we look forward to continuing the relationship into 2018.

“Providing locally produced food and drink is a key part of the offering of World Duty Free as we seek to showcase the best of local goods throughout our stores.”

In addition to availability in World Duty Free outlets in the UK, Shortcross Gin can be access at airports across the world through the World Duty Free online Reserve and Collect Servicewhereby passengers can pre-order their items for collection upon travel.

On the 7th Day of Christmas..

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On the seventh day of Christmas, Food NI gave to me..

A delicious Traditional Christmas Pudding from Holmes Bakery

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Holmes Bakery has perfected the Traditional Christmas Pudding. Holmes has created a delicious, richly fruited pudding with flavours of Guinness and Rum that is the ideal dessert for Christmas Day.

In 1937 Holmes Bakery began creating the finest bakery products in Portadown Co. Armagh.

Since then, they have been handcrafting award winning bakery products using the very best ingredients and traditional methods. Holmes Bakery is more than a bakery, it’s a family tradition.

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Join us again tomorrow to see what Day 8 of our Festive Foodie countdown has in store!

Introducing Mint Choc Chai!

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MINT CHOC CHAI

Suki Tea have done it again and fulfilled all your Christmas Tea desires!

Their new blend has got all the spiced flavour you’d expect from a Chai, harmoniously married with seriously rich, dark cocoa beans, fresh peppermint and citrusy goodness.

Its smooth creaminess makes it a delicious cuppa on its own or why not try out one of their delicious recipes that are guaranteed to have your customers coming back for more.

With so many options, there really is no excuse not to have the perfect tea menu this Christmas.

On Sale Now:

Prices: £10.95 for 250g food service bag / £3.30 for 80g retail bag

Fane Valley Recognise Action Mental Health At Charity Ball

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Fane Valley, one of Northern Ireland’s largest farming cooperatives, hosted their inaugural Group Charity Ball in aid of Action Mental Health recently at a black-tie event in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast, with over 430 guests, customers, suppliers and wider group staff attending.

 The Charity Ball was the culmination of a busy year of challenges, activities, workshops and awareness outreach in which, staff from across twenty sites including Linden Foods, White’s Oats, Fane Valley Feeds and Stores, Kettyle Irish Foods, Linergy, and Hilton Meat Products participated.

 Action Mental Health, founded in 1963, is a local charity which changes the lives of those living with mental ill health and promotes resilience and well-being to future generations.

 Speaking after the Charity Ball, Fane Valley Chief Executive, Trevor Lockhart said, “It gives Fane Valley immense pleasure to have been able to partner with Action Mental Health at our inaugural gala event. We have thoroughly enjoyed our engagement and interaction with this devoted local mental health charity and we’re delighted to conclude the relationship is such a positive way”.

 Trevor Lockhart continued, “One in five people, in Northern Ireland, will experience mental ill health at some point in their life with countless more being affected through friends, family and work colleagues.  Against this backdrop we in Fane Valley have been particularly pleased to be supporting Action Mental Health’s ‘Provoking Thought’ programme – workshops targeted at 11-25 year olds delivered in schools, youth clubs and community groups”.

 “I would like to express my most sincere appreciation on behalf of Fane Valley to all our customers and suppliers for generously providing raffle prizes and making donations towards the greater charity efforts in 2017. I would also like to say a big thank you to all our group staff for taking time out to participate in the many challenges, activities and for embracing and embedding a culture of listening and promoting a healthy lifestyle and positive wellbeing”. Concluded Trevor

 Action Mental Health Chief Executive, David Babington remarked, “Action Mental Health have had the great privilege of working alongside the Fane Valley Group for the past year.  Throughout this partnership, the dedication and enthusiasm displayed by their staff and management as well as their shareholders, customers and suppliers has been simply phenomenal. I would like to offer my sincere and heartfelt thanks on behalf of Action Mental Health and indeed on behalf of all those who will benefit from this partnership”.

 “Fane Valley have placed a specific emphasis on raising funds to support our work with local school children and young people. Our ‘Provoking Thought’ programme provides young people with the tools and information needed to help them develop the emotional and mental resilience they require for the challenges that they face”.

 David Concluded, “As a local charity, we rely on the support of the community to help provide our services, so we are extremely grateful to everyone who attended Fane Valley’s Gala Ball and made it such a success. The money raised at this ball and through the wider Fane Valley partnership will help us to carry on this vital work and reach more local school children in the coming year”.