Two Stacks Irish Whiskey in Newry, a FoodNI member company, has won
significant export business in Finland for its products.
The company, Ireland’s leading blender and bottler of premium Irish whiskeys,
has just been listed across 150 stores in Finland through an agreement with
Alko, the organisation which regulates sales of alcohol there.
The important agreement is for the Northern Ireland company’s single malt
double barrel whiskey.
Alko is the national alcoholic retailing monopoly in Finland and is the only store
in the country which sells beer, spirits and wine and spirits there. Alcoholic
beverages are also sold in licensed restaurants and bars but only for
consumption on the premises. Listed suppliers must meet rigorous
requirements.
Another substantial boost for Two Stacks came in the recent World Spirits
Report on Irish whiskey which listed the Newry brand as one of just two whiskey
producers to watch in the year ahead.
The report said: “The Northern Irish brand partnered with California-based Foley
Family Wines and Spirits success in May with its 100ml Dram in a Can in duty
frees. Despite being a tough market to crack, the US could soon become a
major revenue driver for Two Stacks.”
Shane McCarthy, one of the three founding directors of Two Stacks, is
justifiably delighted by the new export sales and the recognition in the World
Spirits survey. “What a marvellous boost for us as an immensely successful
2024 draws to a close and as we continue planning for even faster growth in
2025.
“Our whiskey brands are now firmly established in key international markets
especially the US, the single most important market for Irish whiskey. Dram in a
Can, our award-winning innovation, continues to grow strongly especially in
duty-free retail outlets there and in other important markets such as the United
Arab Emirates. We expect it will continue to be a key driver of our international
sales in the year ahead. We also intend, of course, to introduce more innovative
products in 2025,” he adds.
The magazine, the industry’s most important publication, also picked out Dublin-
based Flatley Irish Whiskey as the other brand to watch in 2025, saying “While
many celebrities have tapped into tequila, world‐famous performer Michael
Flatley embraced his Irish‐dancing roots and delved into whiskey this year. His
debut five‐year‐old release has already entered the US, with plans to launch
globally in 2025. The team also includes a wealth of industry experience,

including chief executive Jim Clerkin (ex‐Moët Hennessy) and master blender
Noel Sweeney.”
The magazine, looking at the wider horizon, continues: “After dominating its
homeland and the US, Irish whiskey is seeing pockets of growth in emerging
markets such as Nigeria and Poland.
Global volumes of Irish whiskey have continued to grow, with the category
reporting a rise of 2.6 percent to 15.6 million cases in 2023, according to Drinks
Ireland, the body which represents the industry. However, value fell by 14
percent to €875 million (US$922m), described as a “short‐term decline” by
Drinks Ireland, especially when compared with 2022, when the sector reached
almost €1bn in value year on year (up by 25 percent).
This decline “reflects a change in consumer habits, as people grapple with
inflation and have less spending money, suggesting a move towards staying in
and buying less, or cheaper, alcohol”.
The Drinks Ireland report notes that the US continues to be the leading export
market for Irish whiskey by far, accounting for 36 percent of total global sales
volumes. The Irish Whiskey Association and Drinks Ireland are advocating for
further protections for the category in the US to protect against copycat brands.
Together, they have submitted a petition to the Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and
Tax Bureau, which is currently under review.
Irish whiskey also remains the second most‐popular spirits category in Ireland,
with a 26 percent share, behind vodka (30 percent share), and far ahead of gin
(13 percent share). One challenge affecting alcohol in the country is tax, with
Ireland having the third‐highest excise tax for spirits in the EU, after Finland and
Sweden.
Beyond the US, the category is growing worldwide. For the first time, Poland
became the second‐largest market for Irish whiskey in 2023, after a 16 percent
growth rate. It was previously the fourth biggest, in 2022. Germany also soared
by double digits in 2023.
According to Bord Bia, the Irish export board, emerging markets reported
double-digit growth for Irish whiskey exports, including Nigeria (up by 59
percent), Poland (up by 21 percent), Singapore (up by 55 percent) and South
Korea (up by 11 percent).
Shane McCarthy adds: “These figures are very encouraging and cover markets
we have already targeted for growth in 2025.”

Food NI member Morelli Ice Cream, which is based in Coleraine, has been
listed by Marks and Spencer for its high-end food halls in Northern Ireland and
the Republic of Ireland.
M&S has listed the award-winning ice cream producer’s full range of 950ml
Take Home Tubs.
The tubs from Morelli, Ireland’s oldest and most successful producer of Italian-
style ice cream, available at the following stores:

Northern Ireland
Bangor/ Newtownbreda/ Coleraine Riverside/ Cookstown Simply Food/ Belfast/
Boucher Road, Belfast/ Malone, Lisburn Road, Belfast/ Banbridge Simply Food/
Abbeycentre/ Lisburn, Sprucefield.

Republic of Ireland
Village, Douglas, Cork/ Liffey Valley Dublin/ Cork/ Dundrum, Dublin/
Blanchardstown, Dublin/ Athlone/ Newbridge/ Blackrock.

Renowned for its commitment to innovation and craftmanship, The Copeland
Distillery, a Food NI member, has announced a new exclusive partnership with
Ulster Rugby to develop a unique Ulster Rugby gin and Irish whiskey, as well as
a limited edition ‘Centenary’ 5-year-old Irish whiskey to mark 100 years of rugby
at the club’s home at Ravenhill, now known as Kingspan Stadium.
The Co. Down Distillery, which has taste and innovation as its core values, has
a growing reputation for quality having won a string of international awards for
their gin, whiskey, rum and vodka. The partnership – which will see Copeland
gins, whiskey, and vodka available in all the bars at Kingspan Stadium going
forward- is testament to the distillery’s quality and Ulster Rugby’s support for
locally produced spirits.
The ‘Centenary Cask’, a single cask of 5-year-old Pot Still Irish whiskey, is now
available for pre-purchase from the Copeland Distillery website, with only 280
bottles available. Presented in a bespoke wooden presentation box, this unique,
one-off whiskey is a ‘must-have’ for Ulster Rugby fans and local rugby clubs
alike.
Also available to order on the Copeland Distillery website, and in off-licenses
across the province, is a new special edition Ulster Rugby gin and Ulster Rugby
blended Irish whiskey. Both are bottled at 42% ABV and priced at £40.
Gareth Irvine, Founder and chief executive of Copeland commented, “We are
delighted to have collaborated with Ulster Rugby on a new exclusive range of
Irish whiskeys and gin. As a local distillery, who are also Ulster fans, we have
created a range of whiskeys and gin which are an ideal toast to the heart and
soul of Ulster Rugby.
“In particular, we are excited to release a unique 5-year-old ‘Centenary’ whiskey
for Ulster, to celebrate 100 years of rugby at Ravenhill. Having started to distil
whiskey in Donaghadee in late 2019, this release coincides with the release of
our ‘Founders Cask’ – cask no. 1 – in December. It’s an exciting time for the
distillery and we are delighted to celebrate a major milestone for the distillery
with this partnership with Ulster Rugby.”
Keith Shorten, Head of Commercial at Ulster Rugby said, “We are delighted to
partner with the Copeland team to create a unique range of spirits which
embody the rich history and traditions of rugby. In particular, it’s great to be able
to support a local whiskey distillery at an exciting time in their development. 
The new ‘Centenary’ whiskey is a great way to recognise 100 years of Ulster

Rugby playing at Ravenhill and a fabulous opportunity for fans and sponsors to
celebrate their association with the club. And of course, coming up to
Christmas, the new Ulster Rugby gin and blended Irish whiskey will be a must-
have present for every rugby fan.”
The new ‘Centenary’ 5-year-old whiskey, as well as the Ulster Rugby gin and
blended Irish whiskey are now available to purchase at
www.copelanddistillery.com

Crawford Ewing, a director of smoked salmon specialists Ewing’s Belfast
Fishmongers, is forecasting even better sales this festive period than “the
amazing previous years”.
“Sales are great, especially for our award-winning smoked salmon from
established and new customers for Christmas meals in particular,” says
Crawford. “Demand for smoked salmon and other fish at this time of the year is
crazy,” he adds.
Anchored on the Shankill Road for more than a century, Ewing’s, a Food NI
member, sells a comprehensive range of fresh fish, seafoods and shellfish
sourced daily from trawlers in Kilkeel and Portavogie.
In addition to local shoppers, the company suppliers most of Northern Ireland’s
hotels and restaurants on a daily basis. Sainsbury’s supermarkets and dozens of
delis here also stock the company’s smoked salmon.
Ewing’s has also won a string of UK Great Taste Awards for the quality and
flavours of its premium smoked salmon and three-star winning cod loin
The family business run by brothers Crawford and Warren under the supervision
of father Walter has faced the same challenge of rising costs as other local food
producers. “Costs have increased both in materials and labour,” continues
Crawford. “We have managed, however, to hold the price point just the same as
last year despite the rises,” he says.
“We see that our business has more potential and many more opportunities to
grow. It’s important to us that Ewing’s remains an artisan, hand crafted product.
We don’t want to become a mass production operation.
“We have been curing and smoking Superior grade A salmon and been
producing the world’s finest smoked salmon for more than 100 years. Our
salmon, much of which is sourced from Glenarm in Co Antrim, comes from our
own smoker on the Shankill. We have total control of the entire operation.
“We take extreme care with the whole process that uses recipes for the smoked
salmon passed down from my grandfather. Our process hasn’t changed in over a
century. This experience is one of our best ingredients,” adds Crawford.

The first Irish Whiskey from the Tyrone and Derry/Londonderry region in more
than a century has made history when it was launched on December 21 st . The
opening of the inaugural cask of The IslandMen fittingly named the 1921
Release comes over a century after the closure of the region’s Watt Distillery in
Derry in 1921. 
The IslandMen 1921 is the first whiskey release from award-winning Wild
Atlantic Distillery, a Food NI member, based in Aghyaran, Castlederg. The
exclusive release of the single malt Irish whiskey will see approximately 350
bottles drawn from Cask 001.  
Following the bottling on December 21 st , a lottery will take place for 195 bottles
being made available to the public. Those interested in their chance to secure
one of the historic bottles can register up to 20 th  December. The remaining
bottles are reserved for members of 1921 Whiskey Club, Wild Atlantic
Distillery’s whiskey club. 
December 21st, 2021 was chosen to distil the first IslandMen as a nod to Watt
Distillery’s closure in 1921. Three years later to the day, the cask was opened
and bottling began.  Only then, will the exact bottle count be determined. 
Co-founder of the Wild Atlantic Distillery, Jim Nash says December 21 st  marked
a momentous occasion for the Northwest.
“Over one hundred years after the last bottle of whiskey was distilled in the
Tyrone/Derry region, we bottled IslandMen for the first time. We are immensely
proud to revive the rich tradition of Irish Whiskey making in the Northwest.
IslandMen pays homage to the past, but we will be certain to raise a glass to
the future. It’s a new beginning!”  
Established in 2019, Wild Atlantic Distillers has won international awards for its
Wild Atlantic gin and vodka. It has built a strong reputation for quality and a
deep connection with place and heritage.

An American living in Londonderry cooking BBQ, and bringing the concept of
slow cooking to a wider audience with sustainable and regenerative products
has been named ‘Person of the Year’ in a major UK awards.

Winning the top accolade in the prestigious UK Slow Food Awards is Emily
McCorkell, the founder of Low and Slow, a Food NI member and a widely
respected artisan enterprise specialising in BBQ grilling and producer of an
award-winning range of BBQ sauces.

Other Food NI members successful in the awards were: Basalt Distillery Gin
from Bushmills – Drink Producer of the Year; and Robbie Neill of Stonebridge
Cottage Farm of Crossgar – Environmental and Diversity Award.
Originally from Philadelphia, Emily also cooks at a cookery school in Derry,
operates a successful food truck specialising in BBQ foods, and is ahead of the
game in sustainability.

Emily, who came to Derry on a community project to work with children affected
by the violence… and stayed, says: “It’s a tremendous honour to win this
important recognition for my longstanding commitment to promoting grilling as a
healthier option. Derry people have been very supportive over the years and
have embraced BBQ cooking techniques and products such as my range of
original sauces.

“I grew up in Philadelphia loving BBQ foods and grilling a range of meats in
particular,” she continues. “I’ve sought to bring this passion for cooking with fire
to Northern Ireland through a range of activities that includes a unique Wild and
Fired BBQ school at Brook Hall Estate outside Derry.
Created 11 years ago in the UK to promote Slow Food’s strategic focus on local
products that are “good, clean and fair food for all” as an alternative to fast food.
Now a global network, Slow Food was launched in Turin, Italy Carlo Petrini in 1986

It was essentially a reaction from good food lovers in the era of burgers
and fries. The movement is now active in over 150 countries including Northern Ireland,
where celebrity chef Paula McIntyre is the local chairman.

Awards winners are nominated annually by the public. Each winner is a
champion of good, clean and fair food and represents the very best of their
craft. In addition to the public vote, each national director chooses their Person of the
Year, someone who embodies Slow Food values.

UK Winner indicates overall winner for the UK in addition to the nation award.

Retailer of the Year   UK WINNER            Slemish Market Garden
Producer of the Year                                 Counter Culture Real Bread
Cook of the Year                                         David Holden, Middletown
Newcomer (under two years)  Award      Coan Coffee Kircubbin Farm        
Food Product of the Year                          Sourdough focaccia. Counter Culture