Creating awareness from ‘field to fork’

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Article from the Ulster Grocer written by Michele Shirlow

How much food and drink from local producers do you include on your shelves? How much do you actively search out the expanding range of new products from local suppliers? How much do you know much about what’s being produced here? Are your shoppers interested in buying local? Do you ever visit local farmers’ markets in search of new food and drink ideas?

These are interesting questions to consider as we approach our first ever Year of Food and Drink in 2016. A key objective of this year-long celebration of locally produced food and drink is to boost sales of our food and drink and thereby assist the growth of those that grow the ingredients and process their output.

What we aim to do is to increase awareness among retailers, foodservice and, of course, shoppers of the outstanding taste and premium quality of what is being produced here. We now have a dynamic and increasingly innovative food and drink industry that includes artisan enterprises that have won international awards for taste and wholesomeness.

There is an immensely encouraging trend in the local market towards products with heritage and provenance and a desire among shoppers to get to know more about those producing the food and drink they purchase. This is clear from the remarkable growth in markets across Northern Ireland.

We now have a network of such markets, the best-known and most popular being the weekend events at St George’s Market in Belfast, the most successful indoor market in Britain. They recently held a twilight market which was a sell-out success.

Shopping in the historic market to the background music of a local band or singers is a real experience. It’s great fun and a tremendous opportunity to meet the producers of everything from home-baked breads and cakes to fruit, vegetables, confectionery and tea and coffee. Belfast City Council has a real treasure here and should consider making it easier for newcomers with bright ideas in food and drink to gain access. Over the past year we’ve also seen new farmers’ markets being launched successfully such as Folkstown, Newtownbreda and Comber and further afield.

There’s a message in this for conventional traders. Shoppers are becoming more interested in local food and drink and are especially keen to know about those making the products. Offering what shoppers want is the way to business success.

We hope that Year of Food and Drink, the schedule of events for which is being developed, will support the work currently underway to reshape the supply chain here. Bringing the supply chain closer together and improving understanding from ‘field to fork’ makes sense. It will enhance knowledge and understanding of the problems and requirements of each link in the chain.

Perhaps the biggest benefit would be to build trust between producers and retailers. If we are to see worthwhile benefits for all those involved and grow our industry faster and more profitably for all, there has to be more trust from everyone. It is my personal hope that Year of Food and Drink will help to promote greater trust throughout the supply chain.

Silver For Shortcross at IWSC

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Shortcross Gin celebrates winning a Silver Medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition

There are sure to be high spirits at Rademon Estate Distillery as Ireland’s international award-winning gin, Shortcross celebrate­s a silver medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition 2015.

Shortcross Gin is the first spirit to be launched by Rademon Estate Distillery – Northern Ireland’s first and only craft distillery. Founded in 2012 by husband and wife team Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong, Rademon Estate Distillery is located at the couple’s historic family estate just outside Downpatrick, Co. Down. The first batch of their super premium craft Gin, Shortcross was released in May 2014 to great critical acclaim and the word is spreading fast.

In just a year since its launch at the Rademon Estate Distillery, Shortcross has quickly become the choice of discerning gin drinkers at home and abroad. From Belfast to Dublin, London to Edinburgh and Paris to San Francisco, Shortcross is causing a stir in the global craft gin market.

In July, the award-winning Co. Down gin added to its already impressive list of accolades, winning a Silver Medal at the prestigious International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Shortcross impressed the judges –amongst the world’s leading spirits experts – to beat off stiff competition from gin brands across the world to clinch the coveted silver medal, which was no mean feat, in a highly competitive category.

Rademon Estate Distillery is now exporting Shortcross Gin to four countries, including, France, GB and Holland, with plans to expand its export distribution network and bring Shortcross to more countries in the coming year.

Commenting on the success of Shortcross in its first year, Founder and Head Distiller, David Boyd-Armstrong said: “Over the last year, we have worked hard to grow and establish Shortcross Gin. The small batch philosophy behind Shortcross is at the heart of everything we do. From handpicking, foraging and sourcing the botanicals, drawing our own fresh waters to managing the delicate distillation process in our custom copper still and bottling and labelling each bottle by hand, we are driven by a passion to create the finest gin in Ireland.”

A vibrant gin with an exceptionally long and smooth finish, Shortcross is classic in style with a unique twist. Fresh apples, elderberries, elderflower and Irish clover are foraged and handpicked within the estate grounds and distilled with other botanicals including juniper, coriander, orange peel, lemon peel and cassia to create an uplifting bouquet of wild berries and summer meadows.

Fiona Boyd-Armstrong, Managing Director, commented on their most recent win: “We are delighted to have won this silver medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition and look forward to adding more awards to our cabinet in the future. We are proud to distil this now international award winning spirit here in County Down”

Shortcross Gin is stocked by leading high-end hotels, restaurants and bars across Ireland and the UK, including Belfast’s Merchant Hotel, James Street South, Ox, Balloo House, Newforge House and Bushmills Inn.

Shortcross Gin has an RRP of £40 and is available to buy online across Ireland at jnwine.com, Celtic Whiskey Shop and Master of Malt in the UK.

For further information and to find a stockist near you, including where you can find one of the 365 limited edition anniversary bottles, visit www.Shortcrossgin.com

Share your Shortcross stories on twitter @ShortcrossGin and Facebook, facebook.com/Shortcrossgin

Food hygiene rating bill given Green Light at Stormont

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The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Northern Ireland last night welcomed the passing of the Food Hygiene Rating Bill in the Assembly. The Bill will mean that food businesses who sell food directly to the public, and who receive a rating under the statutory Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, will be required by law to display their food hygiene rating sticker at their premises. This includes restaurants, takeaways, mobile caterers, schools, hospitals, residential care homes, delicatessens and supermarkets.

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Speaking after last night’s debate, Head of Local Authority Policy and Delivery at the FSA, Michael Jackson said, “The FSA is delighted that the Food Hygiene Rating Bill has passed the final consideration stage and is due to receive Royal Assent and become an Act here in Northern Ireland.

“We have been working closely with colleagues in the 11 district councils in NI who will be responsible for operating the statutory scheme, with a view to introducing mandatory display in October 2016. District councils will be writing to all food businesses within the scope of the scheme to explain the requirements and how it will work.

“Since the scheme was introduced in NI in 2011, the number of businesses voluntarily displaying their rating sticker has remained relatively low. From October 2016, it will become a legal requirement to display rating stickers and it will be an offence not to display a valid rating.

“In the months leading up to the introduction of the statutory scheme, district councils will be working with businesses to help those with a rating of less than 5 improve their level of compliance and to provide new ratings where appropriate, as well as to encourage those with a 5 rating to maintain their very good standards.”

The widespread display of the rating sticker will benefit consumers, giving them an instant indication of a food business’ hygiene standards and it will also be good for businesses as it shows customers just how seriously they take food hygiene.

Most importantly, the mandatory display of ratings will encourage those businesses with poorer ratings to improve their food hygiene standards and strive for a better rating. This, in turn, will reduce the likelihood of food poisoning occurring.

Food businesses should not find it difficult to reach the top food hygiene rating of 5, as all that they need to do is to comply with existing food hygiene law. It is the responsibility of food businesses to provide safe food and if they have put the necessary procedures in place to help them achieve this, then the rating scheme itself will not present a significant burden. The only requirement will be that they display the sticker at the front of house following inspection.

One difference with the statutory scheme is that when a business receives a rating of less than 5 and, having taken action to address the problems, requests a further inspection to get an improved rating they will have to pay for this (the fee has not yet been finalised but will reflect the associated costs incurred by the council in carrying out a re-rating inspection).

 

Chutney Maker to Supply to Kuwait

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A Lisburn artisan supplier of chutney, jellies and relishes has won business in Kuwait, its first significant sales outside Northern Ireland.

Passion Preserved, formed and managed by Claire Kelly (pictured) in 2012, will supply its Indian Inspired Tomatoes relish to Dublin-based Global Irish food Traders (GIFT) for initial launch in Kuwait’s Saveco Hypermarket in early January.

GIFT then plans to distribute the Passion Preserved product throughout its network across Kuwait that includes major retailers such as Carrefour and LuLu.

“This is a tremendously exciting and immensely important breakthrough for me in a very dynamic export market,” said Kelly.

“It follows an initial approach by GIFT earlier in the year to see if I would be interested in doing business in the Arabian Gulf region. They didn’t have to ask me twice!  I jumped at the opportunity.”

GIFT’s Gillian Clancy added: “Our objective is to increase the volume and variety of quality Irish produce being sold to the retail and food service markets in the countries that make up the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).

“We have extensive knowledge of freight forwarding, date stamping, Arabic labelling, complex documentation procedures and the correct handling of food for export into the GCC region.”

 

Journey to Market Programme

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Interested in Starting an Artisan Food Producing Business?

The Journey To Market Programme is for you!

Following on from the success of the first Journey to Market Programme, we are now launching the second programme. The practical programme will help you develop the skills you need to set up and grow your own artisan food producing business. We will help you take your business, or idea, to the next level. We will help you to develop your product, and test trade to see if being your own boss is for you. The programme will provide you with:
One to one expert mentoring to help you develop your ideas & assist with the product development;
Workshops to develop your skills and expertise in innovation in product development, selling skills, customer service, visual merchandising and marketing;
– A Knowledge Clinic to meet with industry stakeholders such as funders & industry specialists;
– A Meet the Buyer event to provide you with the opportunity to sell to the local food service sector & distributors;
– Assistance to develop, or progress, your business plan;
– Best practice visits to learn first-hand how you to successfully set up & run your business; and
– The opportunity to test trade at a showcase event in Coleraine town centre.

The Journey to Market Programme is open to residents of the Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council area. It is aimed at those who are dedicated to fully participating in the programme and exploring the potential to open, or grow, their artisan food producing business.

The deadline for applications is 5.00pm on 17th December 2015. For more information, or an application form, please visit www.journeytomarket.com or contact Lara by emailing lara@laragoodallconsulting.com

MasterChef critic praises Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon ‘Food Heartland’

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Food critic, Charles Campion, describes local produce as ‘spectacular’ at the latest Food Heartland Forum meeting in Craigavon Civic Centre.

The ‘Food Heartland’ (so-called because of the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon region’s abundance of specialist artisan food and drink producers) is one of the key growth areas for Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.

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The Food Heartland Forum, funded by council & DARD’s Regional Food Programme, provides a unique platform for council to work closely with agri-food businesses and various support bodies to drive the local agri-food sector forward. Working with Food NI, Tourism NI, and local event organisers, the Forum is preparing producers and the hospitality industry to champion local produce for NI Year of Food & Drink 2016, with the aim of enhancing the tourism experience and expanding local agri-food exports.

Speaking at the most recent meeting, food critic Charles Campion commented,

“The key to building on the NI Year of Food and Drink 2016 is to surprise people and continually exceed expectations. Attitudes to food are changing and improving, but the secret recipe for good food is to keep it simple – good food cannot be too simple.”

Praising the quality of NI produce, Campion continued,

“The produce here in Northern Ireland is spectacular. You have a huge range of breads unknown outside NI, as well as good butter, and fantastic meat.”

Food Heartland Forum meetings are held quarterly and attended by local producers and interested bodies such as SRC, Tourism NI and other support bodies.

To get involved with the Food Heartland Forum or for information on how council can support the agri-food sector, please contact Sarah-Jane Macdonald, Economic Development Officer, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council on 028 38 312 572 or email sarahjane.macdonald@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk.