Making Brexit Work For Farmers In Northern Ireland

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Michael Gove, recently appointed Minister at the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs, pledged to “make Brexit work for farmers” but his remarks about a likely increase in cheap food imports will have concerned many food producers across the UK.

While there’s no clear approach for farmers yet, he made it clear that UK food producers will have to stand or fall on “high quality food with a provenance and a supply chain that is guaranteed”.

It’s quite clear that our food and drink producers, especially the smaller enterprises, will need assistance to raise their game in Great Britain, our most important marketplace, when it is opened up to competitors from around the world in the post-Brexit era. No sector will be more directly affected by Brexit than our food and drink and the farmers who supply high quality ingredients with provenance.

The minister’s commitment is to “ensure people have access to a wide range of food choice”. As well as producers here finding “a wider choice” in Britain, they are likely to face new competitors in local shops. And shoppers, faced with a greater variety of products, could find it increasingly difficult to identify and purchase food and drink from here. This a serious challenge to what is Northern Ireland’s biggest manufacturing industry and one which sustains the employment of around 100,000 people.

Food NI is committed and well placed to help our companies to develop business in Britain and thereby ensure the long-term sustainability of their business. We have the contacts, knowledge and marketing expertise to help ensure the continued success of Northern Ireland food and drink in Britain. What we need to achieve this is greater support, particularly in terms of funding.

The talk of greater opportunities in the global marketplace means very little to most of the smaller enterprises which dominate the food and drink industry here. The emerging trade deals being talked about in Westminster could even take up to 10 years to finalise. Little comfort for an industry that could see its key home market in Britain undermined.

Some of our smaller companies have gained a foothold in EU markets that are easily accessed such as the Netherlands, which will be threatened by a so-called ‘hard’ Brexit ending tariff-free access to the EU. Bigger companies especially meat processors, as well as their farm suppliers, could also be hit by such a withdrawal.  The government appears committed to a complete withdrawal from these markets through its determination to end membership both of the single market and the customs union.

The EU is an important market for red meat exports, which makes the retention of tariff-free access to this huge market essential. Other international markets especially China and the US are not available at this stage and will be highly competitive when eventually they open their ports to us.

A priority for Northern Ireland must be to ensure sufficient resources to help our companies grow in Britain, the most accessible market for smaller businesses. We set out our stall in our Taste the Greatest strategy document which aims to ensure the continuing success of the industry here by stepping up initiatives that ensure consumers are able to identify and purchase more local products and to achieve ‘standout’ recognition in Britain for our products. Greater sales here and in Britain will have a very positive impact on producers and farmers

Northern Irish steak from Hannan Meats among the world’s best

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Hannan Meats has won two gold medals at the industry’s most prestigious and influential World Steak Challenge in London. The awards consolidates the Northern Ireland company’s standing as among the world’s very best and most innovative steak producers.

Based at Moira in county Down, Hannan Meats gained golds for its Glenarm Shorthorn fillet and ribeye steaks from a distinguished international panel of expert judges.

Hannan Meats also collected two golds in last year’s awards for its steak that’s aged in the world’s biggest complex of Himalayan salt ageing chambers at its factory in Northern Ireland.

The company, founded and run by Peter Hannan, among the most respected figures in the international meat industry, has twice won the supreme champion title in the UK Great Taste Awards, the most recent being last year when it gained the top award for another Glenarm Shorthorn beef.

Hannan Meats was among entries from 17 countries in five continents and more than 100 meat products. Competition was intense. Each steak was put through a series of stringent tests by the exacting  judging panel.

The World Steak Challenge is organised by William Reed Business Media (WRBM) – publisher of international news website GlobalMeatNews.com and UK trade publication Meat Trades Journal. WRBM also is behind a number of renowned global competitions, including the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and the International Wine Challenge.

The idea behind the competition is to offer producers of steak from across the globe the chance to benchmark their products against their competitors, and to offer a platform for sales of top-quality steak to be increased both within domestic markets, but also overseas.

In addition to this, the challenge also aims promote steak to consumers and celebrate the joy and benefits of eating it as part of a healthy balanced diet.

The winners were announced at a VIP reception and BBQ at the Magic Roundabout in London

A month of Sundaes from Mullins Ice Cream!

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Pete Snodden and Rebecca McKinney have the scoop on a ‘cool’ ice cream parlour hitting Belfast this July

Local radio personalities Pete Snodden and Rebecca McKinney were in Belfast today to get the scoop on the hotly anticipated Mullins Ice Cream Parlour, ‘popping-up’ in Victoria Square to celebrate National Ice Cream month.

The ice cream parlour with a twist will open its doors on 1st July for one month only, serving up delicious luxury Mullins ice-cream and giving customers the chance to personalise their very own creations.

Ice cream lovers visiting Victoria Square will have just four weeks to sample the decadent treats on offer, guaranteed to surprise and delight. The limited-edition menu allows customers to enjoy their choice of Mullins ice-cream and toppings, served on top of a chunky chocolate cookie or a sugar-dusted doughnut.

Limitless flavour combinations and tantalising toppings, from candy floss and caramel popcorn to sea salt fudge and a range of biscuit crumbles, will top off the indulgent ice cream experience.

Speaking at the launch of the Mullins Ice Cream Parlour, Nigel Cairns, Commercial Director Dale Farm Ice Cream said: 

“Mullins, part of the Dale Farm family, is one of Northern Ireland’s best-loved ice cream brands and we are delighted to create a one-of-a-kind experience at Victoria Square this summer. We hope customers will enjoy combining locally produced Mullins ice cream with their own choice of extras.

“Innovation is always on the menu for Mullins, with exciting new flavours being whipped up every year, and this pop-up parlour is our latest treat for customers. We have combined the nostalgia of an ice cream parlour with a range of modern, premium flavours and toppings inspired by culinary trends.

“And whilst the parlour will be gone at the end of the July, the good news is you can find Mullins ice cream in stores across Northern Ireland all year long!” said Nigel. 

Michelle Greeves, Victoria Square Centre Manager added: 

“We are delighted to welcome a much-loved local brand into Victoria Square for the month of July and are certain our customers will relish the spectacle and fun of the Mullins Ice Cream Parlour. Mullins is a welcome addition to the 80 brands already available within Victoria Square and this is a unique opportunity for us to host the ‘must taste’ treat of the summer.”

The Mullins Ice Cream Parlour will be located on the ground floor, outside House of Fraser, in Victoria Square, Belfast, throughout the month of July. The parlour will include a decadent ice cream bar where patrons can personalise their own ice cream treats and a vibrant photo wall, providing the perfect backdrop for #MakeMyMullins snaps.

RubyBlue Hits The Shelves Of Sainsburys

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Most vodka is made from grain, but potatoes produce a smoother, creamier flavour that’s naturally gluten free. RubyBlue’s version is a multi-award-winner. Made by Hughes Craft Distillery in Co. Antrim, it has won Silver and Gold medals at the New York World Wine and Spirits and the Global Vodka Masters awards.

Its creators, Stuart and Barbara Hughes wanted to produce a Vodka that matches gin in sophistication and depth of flavour.

RubyBlue is exceptionally smooth, with an appealing nose. Buttery, well-rounded with a heartening earthiness and a long clean finish it’s perfect neat but also makes a great base for cocktails.

“When people taste our Potato Vodka they tell us that it doesn’t have the harshness experienced from other vodka brands and it’s the nicest vodka they’ve tasted. When they try our signature serve with a dash of white lemonade, sprig of fresh thyme, and a slice of green apple, they’re converted” says Barbara Hughes.

Sold internationally in Russia, Vienna, Australia and Finland, RubyBlue Potato Vodka is now available in all 13 Sainsburys stores across Northern Ireland.

The RubyBlue range of award-winning fresh fruit liqueurs in Blackcurrant and Cranberry flavours will also be available to purchase in Sainsburys NI from June 2017. Made by hand from carefully selected berries, fruits and botanicals locking the purity of nature into these unique infusions. They can be enjoyed with crushed ice, over ice-cream or with Prosecco to make delicious bellini cocktails.

For more information on RubyBlue visit Hughes Craft Distillery.

 

 

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Article by Michele Shirlow for Farm Week

It’s hard to know what to make of recent developments surrounding the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The Brexit negotiations appear to have started amicably between the UK and EU teams.

UK attempts, however, to persuade the EU negotiators to agree to consider withdrawal terms alongside a future trade deal appears to have run into a brick wall. Is it to be a hard or soft Brexit? No-one in the UK or EU seems clear on this.

There’s a suggestion that the recent UK election makes a ‘softer’ exit more likely. Certainly there appears to have been an agreement on the structure of the negotiations but much bigger hurdles lie ahead.

Interestingly Philip Hammond, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has recently appointed a full-blooded pro-EU campaigner, Professor Silvana Tenreyo, to the Monetary Policy Committee. Signals from government continue to be confusing. Are we leaving the Single Market and the Customs Union? And what about the Common Travel Area? 

There appears to be a desire to maintain the Common Travel Area to facilitate movement between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Preserving the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process remain priority issues for both the EU and UK. But there’s still a lack of clarity on what sort of border arrangements will develop.

A fierce critic of Brexit, Prof Tenreyo has warned that leaving the EU will have a negative impact on the UK economy. She added that Brexit will see talented workers leading the UK. This is already happening here especially in some meat processing plants. The ongoing uncertainty, political confusion, the future rights of European citizens in the UK and the impact of sterling’s weakness are forcing many EU workers here to leave.

Business here is justifiably demanding greater clarity and stability and is concerned about the length of time likely to be involved in negotiating trade deals with the EU and other international markets. Business planning in both short and long terms is now far from easy because of the dark clouds of uncertainty surrounding Brexit. While exporters are benefiting from lower prices abroad, most businesses are having to address higher input costs. Consumers are being hit by higher inflation from the plummeting pound in their pockets.

I know from talking to our member companies that the uncertainty is also having an adverse impact on investment decisions. Many of the businesses, especially the smaller firms, I have met are already focusing their marketing efforts on Great Britain largely because of its accessibility.

I’ve written before in this column that Great Britain is a market with huge potential for most of our companies. And we are keen to help them to explore and exploit the huge opportunities that are developing there for their products and expertise. It’s an ideal market logistically, one easier in which to deal with customers.

We are actively planning to assist our companies to grow in Britain by participating in major trade exhibitions such as the Speciality Food Show in London and the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham. BBC Good Food will also be returning to the Waterfront Conference Centre in Belfast this November. We’ll also be building on the contacts we’ve developed with major food writers and other influencers in Britain to help in increasing awareness of the quality and outstanding taste of our food and drink in Britain and thereby boost sales there.

Fane Valley Joins Forces With NFU Mutual For Education

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Fane Valley, Northern Ireland’s biggest farming and food co-operative and a Food NI member, has joined forces with NFU Mutual and a farmers’ market in Armagh to back a new agricultural and land use GCSE and BTEC extended certificate course.

They are supporting the course being delivered at a local secondary-level school that will instruct pupils in key agri-food skills. The support enables Markethill High School in county Armagh to build and complete a state-of-the-art polytunnel grow-house.

Fane Valley has extensive farming and food interests as the parent company of Linden Foods in Dungannon, county Tyrone and White’s Oats, Tandragee, county Armagh. Markethill Livestock Sales is a leading market.
The companies believe the investment provides an academic focus that will further enhance the skills and education of the future local farmers and next generation agri-industry workforce. The on-site grow-house will help facilitate the examination of soils and crops composition, plant biology, crop production and biodiversity in a range of local habitats.

James Maxwell, Markethill High School principal says: “The high-quality learning activities and experiences, both in a curricular and extra-curricular capacity, are enriching the opportunities, which our pupils have to develop knowledge and skills in expanding industries such as the agri-food sector.”

Trevor Lockhart, Fane Valley chief executive, says: “Fane Valley is excited to partner with Markethill High School, one of Northern Ireland’s leading secondary schools, to support and promote the education of agriculture for local students. We believe the new polytunnel initiative will significantly benefit learning and encourage a new passion for farming and agri-food. As a local business Fane Valley has a responsibility to help lead and shape the next generation within our sector and what better way to assist than through this interactive partnership with a school, it’s staff and their pupils.”

Hampton Hewitt, Markethill Livestock Sales, continues; “We are delighted to support this innovative project. It is important that young people are given the opportunity to develop interests outside of the classroom which may assist them when deciding on a future career. Agriculture is Northern Ireland’s most important sector, and we hope that young people who formally would not have considered a career in agriculture or horticulture may now pursue it.”

Howard Pillow, NFU Mutual Armagh, added: “NFU Mutual and the local Armagh agency is delighted to be involved with this local agricultural initiative. It is extremely reassuring to see the passion and effort which has been directed towards this educational project from both the school staff and its pupils and of course the local businesses. We all share in the vision and wish the school and the agriculture department, headed up by Mrs. Greer all the best for their future growth.”