The owner of a Northern Irish craft brewery has celebrated the success of his favourite football team by launching a special, limited edition beer.

Connaire McGreevy, founder of Mourne Mountain Craft Brewery at Warrenpoint in county Down, has launched the beer to mark Warrenpoint Town FC’s return to the Irish Premiership after being crowned winners of the league below.

McGreevy, a director of the club, explained; “The best thing about real craft breweries is the ability to support local!

“Using local labour, local water and the purest ingredients we have created a very limited edition celebratory bottle of our successful Mourne Mist for Warrenpoint Town FC.

“The whole community is so proud that they were promoted back to Premiership on the first attempt, and this is just our small way of congratulating them for a brilliant season, showing true grit and determination to get there.

“Well done lads and here’s to another stellar season!”

The limited edition Mourne Mist, a craft Pilsner, will be available to buy in the local area and will be given to the players at the upcoming League Trophy presentation.

Mr McGreevy founded Mourne Mountains Brewery in 2015. He is a craft beer aficionado and businessman who was inspired to launch his own brewery after he travelled and visited craft brewers and bars all over the world.
He channelled his passion and research to produce the some of the finest artisan beers in the country, catering to the growing thirst for local brews. Mourne Mountains Brewery has grown to become a major part of Northern Ireland’s blossoming craft beer sector.

The brewery takes its name from the nearby Mourne Mountains, but that’s not the only connection. All of its beers are produced using fresh water from the Spelga Dam, located at the heart of the mountains, and as Master Brewer Tom Ray says, it is “beautifully soft, and perfect for brewing.”

The brewery is also inspired by the legend of ‘Slángha’, an ancient figure who travelled over from Greece and was one of the first people to produce beer using the water from the Mournes.

Article written by Michele Shirlow, featured in the Farm Week 13/04/2017

Our presentation of the very best of local food and drink for the forthcoming RUAS at Balmoral Park is falling into place and I am delighted to reveal that multi-Michelin-starred and 5 out of 5 AA Rosette award-winning chef Jean-Christophe Novelli will be headlining our cookery showcase in the Food NI Pavilion on the Saturday, the event’s fourth day.

We are looking forward to welcoming Novelli and our leading Northern Ireland chefs to what will be our biggest-ever showcase of the excellence of local food and drink at Balmoral.

On show will be thousands of local food and drink products, many of them new, from over 100 companies, both large and small and across all sectors. Visitors will have the usual opportunities to talk to producers and sample their products as well as enjoy our new tasting theatre and excellent cookery demonstrations. I hope readers will grasp the opportunity to participate.

Novelli, as many Farm Week readers will be aware, is opening his first restaurant in Ireland in Belfast next year. His new 100-seat restaurant will be at City Quays and will form part of the £25 million Marriott Hotel.
It will be branded as ‘Jean-Christophe Novelli at City Quays’. And it will be tremendous to have such an important international culinary and hospitality brand in Belfast. We will be liaising with Jean-Christophe about using local food and drink as part of our advocacy role on behalf of this hugely important £5 billion industry. It will be an opportunity for us to introduce him to many local producers and to encourage featuring our produce on his menus. Of course Jean has been to Northern Ireland several times and never fails to be impressed with the quality of our chefs and our produce.

The Food NI Pavilion at Balmoral is easily our most important annual showcase. Again we will bring over a host of top food writers from Britain to be part of a superb event which is at the heart of our recently launched Taste the Greatness strategic action plan.

Balmoral Show is a perfect fit for key elements of this strategy such as our commitment to support the development of “a vibrant local market for Northern Ireland food and drink’, promoting “growing awareness of the quality of our produce among Northern Ireland consumers, “more Northern Ireland consumers buying Northern Ireland produce”, and growing globally our reputation as food region. Our longstanding work with international chefs and food writers on behalf of our produce is another important aspect of Food NI’s strategy.

The pavilion is also designed to increase the attractiveness of the sector to employees, entrepreneurs and visitors especially the many thousands of young people who visit the show.

It’s now common – and immensely encouraging – to see groups of both primary and secondary school pupils being briefed by companies in our pavilion. Such involvement encourages young people to consider careers in food and drink. And the industry requires a pipeline of talented young people for careers across a range of careers including production, innovation and sales and marketing.

The show also gives entrepreneurs, in particular, a platform to taste-test new product ideas. And increasing levels of innovation and new business starts are also key elements of our new strategy. The vibrant and progressive industry that we envisage will lead to greater success in international markets and consolidate our reputation, especially in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, as the region to look to for great food and drink.

Pictured (L-R) Sean Owens, IFEX Salon Culinaire Director; Glenn McDowell, Team Ireland Butcher; Rhonda Montgomery, Founder and CEO of Butchery Excellence Ireland and Caroline McCusker, IFEX Sales Manager.

-IFEX 2018 expands its footprint with £150,000 investment

Northern Ireland’s largest food, hospitality and retail event – IFEX – has just announced plans to almost double its size with the addition of a sister event – MEAT@IFEX. Jointly organised by IFEX organisers, Fresh Montgomery, and Butchery Excellence Ireland – Meat@IFEX will play host to the World Butchers’ Challenge – the first time the world-class competition has come to Northern Ireland.

IFEX 2016 enjoyed a 24% increase in visitor numbers and IFEX 2018 is laying down the foundations to make next year’s show even bigger. Returning to the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast, from the 20th to 22nd March 2018, the biennial event, that’s amongst the longest running trade events in Europe – and named the ‘UK’s Best Tradeshow Exhibition 2016’*- will almost double in size to over 8,000 sq. metres.

Toby Wand, Event Director of IFEX comments: “We have set the bar high for IFEX 2018 by further investing in the success of IFEX. As THE trade event that really galvanises all of those in the food, drink, retail and hospitality sectors, it is important for us to keep evolving and growing the show

“We have partnered with NI company, Butchery Excellence Ireland, to add an international dimension to IFEX with the addition of a sister show – MEAT@IFEX – and the arrival of the World Butchers’ Challenge. To deliver these innovations, Fresh Montgomery and Butchery Excellence Ireland are investing over £150,000 into IFEX 2018, which includes adding a new pavilion dedicated to MEAT@IFEX, growing the show floorplan to over 8,000 sq. metres.”

As part of the World Butchers’ Challenge, 12 international teams will travel to Northern Ireland to compete, with a delegation of approximately 1,000 international visitors expected. This level of global interest will ensure that IFEX, Meat@IFEX and the World Butchers’ Challenge will help to further Northern Ireland’s reputation for the quality of its produce, including the world-class Northern Irish meat industry.

From showcasing the latest food and drink trends to industry leading technology, IFEX will house all the ingredients that have made the show a success for many years. Confirmed show attractions include the Salon Culinaire – the home of the NI Chef of the Year – and a host of other live competitions including La Parade des Chefs for Northern Ireland’s culinary colleges.
In 2016, over 120 companies exhibited at the show with visitor numbers surpassing 6,500.

Looking ahead to IFEX 2018, Rhonda Montgomery, Founder of Butchery Excellence Ireland adds: “Meat@IFEX and the World Butchers’ Challenge are expected to increase IFEX visitor footfall significantly, and we’ll be working hard in the months ahead to bring both Irish and International businesses from the meat and poultry sectors to Meat@IFEX.

“We’ve already received tremendous support from some of Northern Ireland and Ireland’s largest foodservice and meat businesses and we’re hoping that Meat@IFEX and the World Butchers’ Challenge will not only be a great success, but will leave a lasting legacy for our meat and butchery industries in Northern Ireland.”

IFEX 2018 is taking place on the 20th – 22nd March 2018 at the Titanic Exhibition Centre. For further information see www.IFEXexhibition.co.uk @IFEX_NI.

With local fayre increasingly important to shoppers, Tesco NI wants to continue to support the local best artisan innovation.

Tesco NI can offer Food NI artisans “pop-up shop” opportunities in their foyers. This “pop-up” shop opportunity could help you get your products in front of Tesco shoppers – both to collect research and also to sell, plus hopefully, on the shelves should you wish to and are ready to go down that path.
A recent participant was the Italian artisan product PEPPUP, a delicious alternative to the table staple, tomato ketchup.

“Tesco NI has been an invaluable partner in helping my PEPPUP sauces reach people who love good food. It’s been such a valuable test marketing platform for smaller producers like me,” Luca Montorio said.

To be able to give a helping hand to the next generation of local food and drink businesses is something that lies at the heart of Tesco Northern Ireland’s ongoing commitment to the region’s food and drink industry.

There is no fee to participate in this scheme. It simply involves you manning your own stand/table in a Tesco NI foyer, sampling/selling/conducting research on your products as suits your own objectives.

If you would like to enquire about participating in the Tesco “pop-up” shop opportunity, please email caoimhe.mannion@uk.tesco.com enclosing your accreditation documents (minimum requirement is SALSA please).

Caoimhe will seek approval for your participation in the scheme through her Technical Manager looking at your paperwork, and get back to you with details of how to take this interest further.

On Sunday 9th April 2017 in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, more than 1,100 went the distance to complete the Dale Farm Protein Milk TQ10K, now in its 11th year.

Dale Farm kept runners in the 10k road race hydrated with Dale Farm Protein Milk at the finish line – celebrating the dairy company’s sponsorship of the event.

Caroline Martin, Head of Marketing at Dale Farm, said:

“Well done to all of the runners who competed in the Dale Farm Protein Milk TQ10K. As the producer of the UK’s first fresh protein milk, Dale Farm is committed to supporting both professional athletes and sports enthusiasts though events such as this.

“Providing 25g of protein per 500ml serving, Dale Farm Protein Milk is ideal for those aiming to increase their protein intake quickly and conveniently both pre and post workout with 50% more natural milk protein than regular milk – and it was great to see so many runners enjoying Dale Farm Protein Milk at the finish line!”

High-end retailer Fortnum and Mason in London has launched a new Glenarm Shorthorn branded premium burger from Northern Ireland.

The burger has been developed for the top retailer by Hannan Meats in Moira, county Down from quality beef aged in its unique complex of Himalayan salt chambers.

The premium burger is a further development of Hannan’s longstanding relationship with the prestigious retailer for a wide range of high quality beef, much of which is sourced from the Glenarm Estate in county Antrim.

“The Glenarm branded burger is the outcome of our collaboration with Fortnum and Mason on a range of premium added value products from beef from Glenarm Estate, which now has a growing following among customers from our immensely important contract for beef aged in salt chambers,” says Peter Hannan, founder and managing director of Hannan Meats, a multi-award winning processor of beef, bacon and lamb.

“We’ve been focusing resources for some time on developing exceptional burgers from quality meat that offer an excellent taste experience. I believed we’ve created an outstandingly tasty burger from the very best beef.

“The burger has become such an important element in home cooking and especially in restaurants. I’ve long believed that there were opportunities to create a truly exceptional burger for both quality restaurants and retailing.

“Fortnum and Mason sampled the new product and placed a contract for the burgers which we are launching under the Glenarm Shorthorn brand.”

Fortnum and Mason has exclusive retail rights to the new Glenarm Shorthorn burger.

Hannan Meats is the only food producer in Britain and Ireland to win the Supreme Champion title on two occasions in the influential UK Great Taste Awards. Hannan, in fact, has also won more gold awards in the Great Taste Awards than any other business in the UK and Ireland.

Hannan Meats, now recognised as among the most creative meat processors, also developed a premium burger for the Stock Burger restaurant chain established by Intercontinental Hotels, one of the world’s biggest foodservice and hospitality organisations. It was recipient of Best Signature Burger at the National Burger Awards within six weeks of launching.