As of 1st April 2017 any workplace binning more than 5kgs of food waste, such as leftover sandwiches and fruit peelings, will need to dispose of it in a different bin and have it collected separately from a general waste collection.
Northern Ireland’s largest and most experienced waste management company, RiverRidge, is firmly focused on assisting businesses meet new legislation and is offering its food waste collection service FREE for the first 3 MONTHS for any customers that signs up before 31st March 2017.
The new duty, administered by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, is set to affect more businesses than ever before, unlike previous legislation where mainly cafés, restaurants and hotels were only affected.
To get your food waste bin today, call or email our team and receive your special introductory offer by quoting the promotion code FOOD17
Fane Valley Group has named Action Mental Health as their new designated charity partner. Northern Ireland’s largest farming co-operative have a long established pedigree of charitable involvement across their range of agri businesses, including award winning producers Linden Foods and White’s Oats.
With over 2000 employees across the group and operating multiple sites province-wide Fane Valley is recognised as a market leader within the agri sector and now plan to engage with their largely farming customers base to support the charity while educating and highlighting the sensitivities surrounding mental health.
“We are excited to announce Action Mental Health as our charity partner. This will be the first wider group charity effort for Fane Valley and we are delighted to be able to assist with the delivery of the AMH MenSana programme ‘Provoking Thought’, an exciting mental health awareness project designed to communicate on emotional wellbeing. Commented; Trevor Lockhart – Fane Valley Chief Executive
“We feel that the time is right for Fane Valley and our group of companies to support and highlight mental illness in all its forms, both within the co-op and especially to our customers and their families. Mental illness comes in all shapes and sizes and we feel that we can practically assist in preventative signposting and educational advice to both staff and their family and our farmer audience at school, work and on the farm. We look forward to interacting with the Action Mental Health team over the coming months through a series of fundraising initiatives and tailored group discussions.” Concluded; Mr Lockhart
David Babington, Action Mental Health – Chief Executive remarked:
“We’re delighted to have been chosen by Fane Valley as their charity partner and are enthusiastic to deliver a programme of exciting fundraising events for both group staff and the wider farmer network. Fane Valley’s support will mean that Action Mental Health can equip 11-25 year old students throughout Northern Ireland with the knowledge and skills needed to nurture their mental wellbeing by investing in their emotional education through our ‘Provoking Thought’ programme and series of workshops delivered under our MensSana project.”
Mr Babington continued: “We know that one in four people will experience mental ill-health at some point in their life with countless more being affected through friends, family and work colleagues, so this partnership will prove vital in raising funds and awareness both inside and outside of the workplace. We are hugely grateful to Fane Valley for this opportunity and look forward to working closely with them in the future.”
To kick-off the new partnership, Fane Valley have helped raise £1,225 from visitor donations across a variety of trade shows during the summer, including Balmoral, Armagh & Clogher Valley Shows.
Welcome to a 9 day celebration of Newry, Mourne and Down’s Coastal Flavours and Culinary Feasts.
We have 9 days of culinary events, produce, tastes, dishes and activities for every foodie.
Whether you live locally, want to visit for lunch, a day, a short break or a whole 9 days of feasting, the Newry, Mourne and Down region has a warm welcome awaiting for you.
From 10th – 19th March, diners will be spoilt for choice as restaurants, cafés and pubs serve up bespoke menus and unique food experiences to celebrate Newry, Mourne and Down’s bustling food and drink scene, and organisers Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Food NI are encouraging everyone to try something new or book a table at a tried-and-tested favourite to celebrate.
We have nine days of culinary events, produce, tastes, dishes and activities for every foodie. Whether you live locally or want visit for lunch, a day or a short break for feasting the Newry, Mourne and Down region welcomes you.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is promoting a district wide ‘Make it Local’ campaign and all the establishments involved in the culinary celebration have embraced the concept of using local ingredients in all dishes. By visiting one of the included venues you are supporting local producers in your area.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has funded the event, and Chairperson of Council Gillian Fitzpatrick said:“Newry, Mourne and Down has a growing reputation for great food, we have renowned chefs and excellent food and drink produce. Food and drink have become increasingly important to tourism as they offer visitors the opportunity to learn about our heritage, landscape and culture and meet our people. The Coastal Flavours and Culinary Feasts event will give everyone a chance to experience the tasty offerings from our award winning local producers. This is the perfect opportunity for residents, or visitors to Newry, Mourne and Down, to get out and enjoy some of the best food on offer right across the region.”
For full details all events taking place during Coastal Flavours and Culinary Feasts go to www.visitmournemountains.co.uk
The award-winning Fish City Belfast welcomed guests to the launch of their ‘Healthy Options Menu’ on 1st March with key speaker Christopher Elliott, Professor of Food Safety and founder of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast.
John and Grainne Lavery of Fish City have a unique dining experience in the heart of Belfast’s city centre. Embracing a sustainable approach to sourcing, this fish & chip restaurant and take away is exceptional in its commitment to healthy eating and full traceability.
Fish City aims to change people’s perceptions of the fish and chip industry and believes in full transparency, which is why they have published the calorie and nutritional content of all their dishes on their extensive menu.
Welcoming guests to the launch, owner John Lavery shared his vision by stating, “we at fish city have a strong ethos on sustainability, traceability and nutrition. We have a solid commitment to these beliefs which have won us numerous awards and accreditations nationally and internationally in our sustainable and environment practices, healthy eating, food quality and marketing.
“Tonight is about bringing our partners together and showcasing the flavours in our new menu. We aim to develop new opportunities promoting fish, supporting tourism and our local economy”.
Guest speaker Professor Elliott stated, “the concept of Fish City is absolutely in keeping with reconnecting people with what they eat.” He continued, “To understand that fish is delicious and nutritious but also sustainable and traceable is incredibly important.”
John continued by stating, “great care is taken in preparing our own batter, ensuring it is light and full of flavour. Every portion of fish is cooked to perfection and everything is homemade, from tartar sauce to our mushy peas and sauces.
“By partnering with MCS and by being the first restaurant in Northern Ireland to be MSC Certified allows us to trace species of fish from ocean to plate. This ensures they are from healthy sustainable stocks safeguarding our oceans for future generations.
“We have a strict policy guide available to the public, highlighting our commitment to only serve fish from sustainable waters. We must support sustainable fishing to ensure fish stocks can be maintained for future generations, meaning that if we catch it, it must be easily replaced, http://www.fish-city.com/philosophy
“We are pleased that the waters around Northern Ireland are fast approaching sustainable levels. We would hope that the exit of the EU does not threaten this approach by our local fisheries and reach
Sharon Macala of Food NI seen here at the launch of the award winning Fish City’s Healthy Options Menu in their restaurant on 1st March 2017, along with Chairman Jonathan McKee and Manager Nicola Kelly of the RNLI fundraising team. @fishcitybelfast
the target of sustainable levels.
“According to MCS’s http://www.goodfishguide.org/ ‘“Consumers can help reduce the strain on certain species by demanding that the fish they eat comes from sustainably managed stocks and is caught or farmed in a way that causes minimal damage to the marine environment and other wildlife.”’ We at Fish City strongly believe this and we have introduced new fish species, including ‘Red fish’, a recently MSC certified species which is beautifully sweet and tender. We are one of the few restaurants in N.Ireland to have this fish on our menu.
“We decided that we could do more to promote the issues and challenges faced by our fishermen and supply chain. Professor Christopher Elliott who is a world-renowned expert in sustainability kindly accepted our invitation to come along to speak with chefs and likeminded food experts, including guests from SeafishUK, NI Good Food, Tourism Northern Ireland and the Food Standards Agency are just a few of the guests attending.
“Speaking on the provenance of our fish, Professor Elliott commended us on our efforts. We always aim to provide new experiences for our customers, while maintaining the high level of stable favourites such as the great ‘Fish & Chips’!”
Tara Cunningham of IslandSky, Organiser of Event Launch ‘Healthy Options Menu’ for the award winning Fish City Belfast, seen here with owners Grainne and John Lavery and Fiona Quinn Designtek
Dr Lynn Gilmore of Seafish N. Ireland who attended the launch said, “Healthy and sustainable seafood is key to John and Grainne’s innovative business and offering to their customers. This event has showcased their new Healthy Options Menu as well as new opportunities on the horizon. It has been a great success as Fish City continues to flourish.”
While John focuses on the high quality of all fish and produce prepared by his team, Grainne manages front of house and welcomes customers to the restaurant, stating: “We are keen to promote fish and chips as one of the most nutritionally balanced takeaway options in the UK.
“We are customer focused and customer lead and one of our many success stories is to have our menus translated into different languages, supporting our local community as well as our tourism industry. Tonight, has been a huge success in bringing together like minded people both local and from around the UK.”
John and Grainne Lavery are unique on their take on the industry. Constantly breaking new ground in research and development, investigating new ways to showcase the best our fish industry can deliver and how we as consumers have other options when we go out to eat. Fish City aims to encourage the next generation of chip shop and restaurant owners to understand why using local suppliers and sustainable fishing practices matter. For more information on Fish City Belfast go to www.fish-city.com or @fishcitybelfast.
Following the success of the Carrickfergus Castle Food & Craft market in October 2016, Department for Communities and Mid & East Antrim Borough Council will be running another one on 22nd April 2017.
They are now inviting applications from potential exhibitors. Taking part in this event is free to exhibitors/traders.
The market will take place on Saturday 22nd Aprilin the grounds of Carrickfergus Castle, 11am – 3pm.
Closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 20th March.
