Ulster Rugby ‘Converts’ to Local Crisps

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Ulster Rugby has announced a partnership with Glens of Antrim Potatoes which will see it become the sole supplier of potato crisps to the Kingspan Stadium.

The creation of the crisp range is a recent venture for the company which celebrates its 45th anniversary this year. The products, including a sweet potato line, were launched following market research which identified a growing demand for thicker cut, skin-on crisps using innovative flavour combinations such as Masala.

The current range of Glens of Antrim Crisps – which are gluten free – are on sale at all concessions and catering facilities at the Kingspan Stadium and have already proved popular after selling out during the recent Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Michael McKillop, managing director of Glens of Antrim said:

“As a local business we are always looking for innovative ways of developing our product ranges and adapting the humble potato to meet changing consumer needs and tastes.

“The move to crisp production is a step-change for the company and we’re delighted with the success of this new venture.  We’re particularly proud to be working in partnership with the team from Ulster Rugby and their loyal fan-base, bringing a truly local brand and taste to all who visit this iconic stadium.”

Fiona Hampton, Head of Sales and Marketing for Ulster Rugby added:

“We are delighted to have secured this exclusive supply partnership with Glens of Antrim.  There is a lot of synergy between our organisations as we are both long established, home grown brands with a desire to be the best in our sectors, and to take our products onto the international stage.

“Ulster Rugby places great importance on our relationship with local companies and when you have a quality brand such as Glens of Antrim crisps – it can only be a win-win all round”

Chef Steering Group: Sustainable Day

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Following the success of the last Chef Steering Group visit to Ards and North Down, the next visit will be taking place on Monday 2nd October focusing on Sustainability.

In partnership with RiverRidge, the visit is aimed to increase knowledge of RiverRidge’s food waste management services through an educational day.
The day will bring awareness to where waste goes to be treated and discussions about issues chefs face when wanting to be “greener” in their business practices.

For more information and to register your interest, email Mollie on mollie@nigoodfood.com

Linden Foods Scoop Major M&S Award

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Linden Foods the County Tyrone based meat manufacturer have been presented winners of the ‘Wellbeing and Leadership Award’ at the recent M&S Plan A 2025 launch in front of leading retailers, suppliers and manufactures from the UK food industry.

The Marks & Spencer Plan A 2025 is a new eco and ethical programme, which is an ambitious, customer focused plan that builds on the success of the first 10 years of Plan A and will support 1,000 communities, help 10 million people live happier, healthier lives and convert M&S into a zero-waste business.

Speaking at the Plan A 2025 Launch Gerry Maguire – Linden Foods, Managing Director remarked: “We are extremely humbled to win this prestigious award. We have been working with M&S for over 20yrs and we strongly believe that good physical and mental health is good business and our future growth is dependent on fit and well-minded people across all departments from the top down, this focused way of working will see an upturn in performance and productivity and especially higher levels of employee engagement”.

Attending the Plan A 2025 launch, Angela Givan – Linden Foods, HR Director commented: “As an ambitious, innovative business we aim to grow our market share and to do so we recognise investment in our staff community is a core fundamental.  We believe that our leaders across the business play a pivotal, collaborating role in this fast-paced, competitive sector and have implemented several strategic initiatives in order to address and support all of our people’s ongoing wellbeing and development, reinforcing a healthy Linden work environment.”

Steve Rowe, Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer’s said: “Marks & Spencer has been at the forefront of social change for 133 years and we’re determined to play a leading role in the years ahead. Plan A 2025 will help us build a sustainable future by helping our customers live healthier lives, supporting the communities they live in and we source from and looking after the planet we all share. We believe we can engage all of our 32 million customers, 85,000 colleagues and 200,000 shareholders in the plan that becomes a mass voice for sustainable change.”

Pictured: (L-R) Mael Wilford, Business Improvement Manager – Linden Foods, Elaine Willis, Retail Director – Linden Foods, Gerry Maguire, Managing Director – Linden Foods, Killian Connolly, M&S Sprucefield Store Manager, Angela Givan, HR Director – Linden Foods, Keith Williamson, Supply Chain Manger – Linden Foods & Pauline Gordon, Marketing Executive – Linden Foods

Slow Food Festival Celebrates Return With New Local Product Launches

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Slow Food Festival celebrates return with new local product launches

Northern Ireland’s only Slow Food Festival, organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council, will celebrate its return to Guildhall Square next month with the launch of two new high quality local food and drink products as part of the major grassroots culinary showcase which attracted a bumper 25,000 visitors to the city last year.

The new home-grown products – Walled City Brewery’s eagerly anticipated ‘1689’ Siege beer and Breslin Butchers’ Tirkeeran Black Pudding which have both been skilfully developed with the expertise of prominent local chef Brian McDermott in his capacity as manager of the Foodovation Centre at North West Regional College – will be unveiled during the two-day Festival which is taking place on Saturday October 7th and Sunday October 8th 2017 from 12 noon until 6pm.

Internationally renowned eco-chef and food writer Tom Hunt will be the special guest at this year’s family-friendly, free admission event held during Slow Food Week to celebrate the best of local, clean and fair food, which is not mass produced. The Festival is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) NI Regional Food Programme, supported by Slow Food NI and sponsored by Supervalu.

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Maoliosa McHugh, warmly welcomed the return of the second Slow Food Festival and said he was delighted that Council was continuing to build on the success of last year’s event and the legacy of Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016 when the North West scooped a number of major industry awards and the overall title of NI’s ‘Destination Delicious’.

This year’s Slow Food activity, centred in and around an impressive clear sided and roofed marquee, is once again expected to have foodies flocking to Guildhall Square for the return of the Harvest Fayre attended by around 20 artisan producers from throughout the North West and further afield; live cooking demos on the main stage; and new to this year’s event, a Craft Beer Garden where visitors can sample some uniquely local brews including Walled City Brewery’s new beer, inspired by an ancient ale recipe dating back to the Siege of Derry.

Festival-goers will be completely spoiled for choice with a wide range of fresh meat, charcuterie, fish, fruit, veg, cheeses, breads, desserts, preserves and ice-cream including a local vegan brand as well as some traditional Irish heritage dishes to savour in the marquee and from selected vendors in Guildhall Square.

Councillor McHugh added: “Derry City and Strabane District is once again leading the way as an international food tourism destination. This Festival provides a unique showcase for local provenance with the opportunity for people to talk to the people who actually produce what is on offer and hear the story behind it. This is very much in keeping with the ethos of Slow Food’s core principles of quality, flavoursome and healthy food; production that does not harm the environment; and fair pay and conditions for producers.

“As well as all the culinary activity and natural buzz surrounding this event, there will also be live music and singing by popular local artists to add to the festival atmosphere and plenty of free children’s activities including a petting farm and smoothie bike machine to keep families entertained during the two-day event.”

Jennifer O’Donnell, Tourism Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council, explained that the Slow Food Festival embraces the aims and objectives of the global, grassroots movement founded in Italy in 1989 with supporters in over 150 countries, which links the pleasure of food with a commitment to local communities and the environment.

She continued: “We have a fantastic line-up of local artisan producers, craft brewers and talented local and celebrity chefs joining us for what we hope will be another very successful festival event taking place to celebrate Slow Food Week, as well as two exciting new local product launches to whet the appetites of foodie fans.

“We are particularly delighted to have attracted award-winning eco-chef and ‘Root to Fruit eating’ expert Tom Hunt, food writer, campaigner, author of The Natural Cook and ambassador for the Soil Association and Fair Trade Foundation who will be sharing tips on how to get more from your food with less waste during his cookery demonstrations in the marquee on both October 7th and 8th.”

Paula McIntyre, Director of Slow Food NI and Slow Food UK Chef Alliance member, said she was also delighted to be involved again in this year’s event. “Now more than ever it’s vital that we support local farmers, producers and growers. The Slow Food ethos of ‘good, clean and fair’ is practised by all the exhibitors – whether it’s a local cheese maker, oyster farmer, sourdough pizza maker or charcuterie producer, with a myriad in between, they follow the same principles.

“I’m looking forward to compering and cooking with Brian McDermott, a strong Slow Food supporter and welcoming Tom Hunt, the eco-chef to the festival. Tom has a restaurant in Bristol with a zero waste policy and he’s steeped in the farm to fork movement. In a world where mass production and fast food is the norm it’s great that people will be able to see how food should be and celebrate our fantastic producers and chefs”.

For further information on the Slow Food Festival including details of exhibitors and timetable for cookery demos and talks, musical entertainment and children’s activities in Guildhall Square from 12 noon until 6pm on October 7th and 8th, visit www.derrystrabane.com/food

Mac Ivors Cider Celebrates Winning National Trust Fine Farm Food Award

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Food NI member MacIvor’s Cider  has won a National Trust Fine Farm Food Awards presented at BBC Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace.

Mac Ivors Cider Co produces its Traditional Dry Cider, Medium Cider and Plum and Ginger Cider at its orchards opposite Ardress House in County Armagh.

The awards, which are now in their 12th year, celebrate the very best produce from the Trust’s 1,500 tenant farmers and estates. Producers participating look after more than 500,000 acres of grazed pasture, orchards and arable farmland across the UK.

Greg MacNeice, a fifth generation apple grower, said his family planted their first apple orchard at Ardress in 1855, and, since then, have been nurturing and developing over 100 acres of orchards.

Speaking about winning the prestigious Fine Farm Food Award for the second time, Greg said: “We have been growing apples here at Ardress since 1855 but we have only been producing cider from here since 2011. As my father said we are caretakers of the land and we’re here to leave it in a better state than we found it and then pass it on to the next generation.

“We try and do that in everything that we do. For example we bring hives of bumblebees into the orchards and allow them to nest here.

“I set out to make a cider which was as close to a freshly pressed apple as it could possibly be. That was the scent and the smell of my childhood in the orchards. I wanted people to get that in a bottle if that was possible.

“The National Trust Fine Farm Food Awards allow people to get to know the tenant farmers and celebrate everything which the countryside offers and prove that sustainable food isn’t just better for nature but that it tastes better too.

“Everyone here is delighted to be recognised by the National Trust for the work we do and we are proud that our Traditional Dry Cider and Medium Cider have been awarded.

“Mac Ivors Cider is now on sale in many of the beautiful National Trust cafes in both Northern Ireland and Britain.”

Rob Macklin, Head of Food and Farming for the National Trust, said: “The standard of produce this year has been higher than ever before. It has been a pleasure for the judges to see producers, associated with National Trust land and coast, rising to the challenge of producing fine farm food. We were amazed at the standards of the nominations which show the highest standards of farming can deliver excellent produce and work hand in hand with nature. These awards recognise the very best producers from National Trust estates.”

Mac Ivors Cider Co’s ciders, and all products nominated, were not only assessed for taste but also against a range of environmental standards to guarantee the quality and origin of products alongside high levels of production.

CO ARMAGH CIDER LANDS AT BELFAST CITY AIRPORT

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Armagh-based Long Meadow Cider has been awarded an exclusive craft cider contract in the Bushmills Bar at George Best Belfast City Airport.

Long Meadow Cider’s contract with HMSHost International, the leading provider of food and beverage outlets in over 100 airports worldwide, was secured following the company’s Blossom Burst Cider beating over 70 local suppliers to be named Northern Ireland’s ‘Best’ local food and drink product in a competition launched by Belfast City Airport in partnership with Food NI earlier this year.

The Bushmills Bar and the recently rebranded St. George’s Market restaurant in the airport, both managed by HMSHost, will both stock the award-winning Blossom Burst flavour.

Peter McKeever, one of the Founders and Managing Directors at Long Meadow Cider, said:
“Having our Blossom Burst Cider named Northern Ireland’s ‘Best’ local food and drink product and receiving £30k of marketing support at Belfast City Airport has been a real turning point in our business, it has been the icing on the cake in what has been an incredible four years.

“As a small, family owned business, we never imagined getting to the finals, let alone winning! We are so grateful for the relationship we now have with the airport which has opened doors and has now led to our exclusive cider contract with HMSHost in Belfast.

“The first order was placed in mid-Summer with a second, larger, order placed the following week, and we believe this contract has the potential to be our biggest.

“Belfast City Airport welcomes approximately 2.7million passengers through its doors each year from domestic and international locations providing us with a considerable platform to showcase our product.

“Alongside the news that both Bushmills Bar and St. George’s Market will be stocking our cider, we launched our new Rhubarb and Honey flavour in July and it has surpassed all sales expectations.

“This new flavour is not only to celebrate our fourth year in business but also in response to demand for flavoured ciders.”

The company already exports to France, Mexico, Italy and the Republic of Ireland, and regularly receives international interest.

The McKeever family has been growing apples at Long Meadow Farm for three generations and all products are made from 100% natural Bramley apples, grown and harvested on the farm.

Alex Woodhouse, Hospitality Manager at HMSHost, said:
“Bottled cider is consistently one of the most popular selling bottled, alcoholic products in the Bushmills Bar and St. Georges Market at Belfast City Airport.

“Over the last number of years, we have focused on trying to create strong links with leading, local suppliers. Where we can work with local providers, we will.

“Long Meadow Cider has had a really successful few years and the feedback from our customers so far has been fantastic, so we’re delighted to work with Long Meadow as our exclusive craft cider partner in Belfast City Airport.”

Joanne Deighan, Commercial Manager at Belfast City Airport, said:
“At Belfast City Airport, we are passionate about championing and supporting local brands.

“Last year we facilitated a relationship between World Duty Free and Shortcross Gin which has resulted in the product being stocked in a number of its outlets in airports across the UK, including Belfast City Airport.

“Our search for Northern Ireland’s ‘Best’ local food and drink product in partnership with Food NI earlier this year allowed us to provide the winner, Long Meadow Cider, with £30k of on-site advertising and marketing support to promote its brand to our 2.7million passengers each year.

“With passengers travelling from across the UK, or further afield through our summer Aer Lingus routes or KLM’s daily service to Amsterdam, it is vital that our retail and product offering is of a high standard. To be able to provide local produce to these customers is fantastic and we’re thrilled to introduce Long Meadow Cider to our customers in the Bushmills Bar and St. George’s Market.”

Michele Shirlow, CEO of Food NI, said:
“The Belfast City Airport and Food NI competition was a fantastic platform for local food and drink producers from Northern Ireland, and the prize for Long Meadow Cider, which sees the brand promoted on a huge lightbox at the entrance to the airport, is a huge boost for the company.

“For this to have now extended to a contract with one of the leading providers of food and beverage outlets in airports worldwide is a real triumph, not only for Long Meadow Cider, but for innovation in local food and drink.

“I am over the moon to see companies such as Belfast City Airport and HMSHost working alongside suppliers and Food NI to ensure home-grown brands are championed and have a strong presence in front of local, domestic and international passengers.”