Local independent coffee chain selected by Tesco for new Banbridge store.

The newest and biggest Tesco Extra store in Northern Ireland is set for a further boost with the addition of local independent coffee chain Ground Espresso Bars.

The team behind the fast-growing coffee brand will create up to 10 jobs in the new Banbridge store, which will further boost Tesco’s offering in this their 55^th branch.

With significant investment  in the 1,800sq ft coffee shop, the new Ground Espresso Bar will offer a welcome respite to busy shoppers looking for a break, as well as provide a sizeable kid’s play area packed with the latest must-have toys, alongside an area to park prams.

This is the latest venture for the family-owned business, which has gone from strength to strength by providing locally sourced quality food, high-quality coffee and exceptional customer service.

Karen Gardiner said: “We are delighted that a local brand like ours has been selected from a number of large coffee providers to deliver for a multi-national brand like Tesco. It is a great sign of confidence in what we have achieved here in Northern Ireland and will hopefully spur us on to future expansion and job creation”.

“Tesco is trialing new concepts that will focus on delivering more for their local communities and we hope we can supply more than a little bit extra to our customers in Banbridge and beyond.”

Ground Espresso Bars, a family owned and operated business, was established in 2001 in Coleraine. Employing over 120 staff across 11 stand-alone stores and concessions in Northern Ireland, Ground Espresso Bars’ mission is to provide a haven for customers where comfort, friendship, happiness, quality and ethics become synonymous with their name.

The new Tesco Extra store at Bridgewater Park in Banbridge opened earlier this month bringing 252 new jobs to the area and potentially boosting cross-border trade.

Stephen Magill, ,manager of Tesco Extra, Banbridge, said “We are delighted to welcome Ground Espresso Bar and the team to our store, and hope that our customers will enjoy a nice cuppa and snack there after shopping with us.”

Chef Jeanne Rankin has launched a lovely new Cancer Focus Northern Ireland cookbook in time for Christmas.

The unique Well Being Cookbook is packed with need-to-know tips to help cancer patients during treatment, with their recovery and to help them stay well in the future.

The cookbook, which makes an excellent Christmas gift, was written by Jeanne along with Cancer Focus NI staff members Deirdre Conlon and Niamh McDaid.

As well as a host of delicious recipes and advice on nutrition, Jeanne – a yoga specialist – has created a special well-being section on breathing and relaxation techniques to help calm the mind and de-stress the body.

The book is primarily aimed at cancer patients but there’s plenty in it for everyone to enjoy.

Deirdre Conlon, Care Services Manager, Cancer Focus NI, said: “There are many different ideas and theories about diet and cancer and during and after diagnosis you may become even more aware of what you eat and drink.

“When you’re going through any type of cancer treatment, eating a nutritious, balanced diet can be hard to do, especially if you have problems with side effects or you just don’t feel well.

“The most important thing is to keep up your strength, which may mean changing your diet. The information and recipes in our book will help you in a practical way to eat well and keep up your energy levels.”

Jeanne said: “As a trained chef I know the value of good food, prepared simply. Hopefully we have chosen simple recipes that are easy to make and will not seem too much of an effort at times when your energy is low. And the togetherness that can be felt when good food is shared and enjoyed with family and friends can offer unique inner healing through the act of ‘breaking bread’.”

There are sections on fighting fatigue, simple comfort foods, calorie boosters and sweet things to tempt your appetite when you’re feeling low. And there are tips on nutrition, food labelling and food safety, all vitally important when you’re living with cancer.”

Recipes include old favourites such as hearty vegetable soup and salmon and leek tart along with quinoa salad, vegetable frittata, blueberry pancakes and chai tea.

For your copy, costing £9.95, go to our online shop at www.cancerfocusni.org,  email care@cancerfocusni.org or call 028 9066 3281.

Is your business interested in recruiting a Work Placement Food student from Queen’s Institute for Global Food Security?

Queen’s students are now actively seeking opportunities to start in 2015, further information can be found here  or by contacting Mark Gallagher directly at m.gallagher@qub.ac.uk

Here are some of the key considerations for your business;

• Students gain placements in a variety of food sub-sectors and in small as well as larger enterprises
• All students will have completed two years here at Queen’s and a CIEH Level 3 Qualification in Food Safety Supervision for Manufacturing.
• Students typically have worked in the following areas; quality assurance, product development, HACCP plans, audit preparation, microbiological testing and marketing.
• You recruit only if you have met a suitable student who meets your requirements.  We expect students to ideally apply in writing and be interviewed for any potential placement on offer.

Students registered have two placement options either a;

• Long placement (46 weeks), to be carried out between Easter 2015 and September 2016. (Students can split the year with two host placements)
• Short placement of 16 weeks, to be carried out between Easter and September 2054.

Christmas is coming early to Comber Farmers’ Market!  Traders are getting ready for the festive event on Thursday 4 December in St Mary’s Parish Church Car Park in the Square from 9.00am -1.30pm by preparing  food products which will make ideal Christmas presents. Christine Patterson from Wood ‘n’ Earth Floral Creations will be demonstrating how to make Christmas wreaths and table centre flower arrangements and  Andrews Memorial Primary School Choir and Ballygowan Community Choir will be singing carols.

Alderman Deborah Girvan said, “We are very excited about our first Christmas market.  This is a wonderful opportunity to buy useful artisan food gifts for Christmas which everybody can enjoy.  In preparation for the Christmas market, the traders are preparing special edition jams, nut butter, chutneys, relishes, handmade chocolates and fudge, cranberry sauce, Christmas cakes, Christmas puddings, and  mince pies.  There will be lots of offers especially for market goers wrapped up in lovely Christmas packaging. Christmas wreaths and  Christmas trees will also be on sale.  We are delighted to welcome the choirs from Andrews Memorial Primary School and Ballygowan which will help to get everybody into the Christmas spirit.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that we have a bright, crisp, sunny day!”

 

Timetable

9.45am            Andrews Memorial Primary School Choir

10.30am          Christmas Floral Art Demonstration

11.00am           Ballygowan Community Choir

11.45am           Christmas Floral Art Demonstration

 

This year at Titanic Belfast we have our wonderful Festive Afternoon Tea with live jazz playing in the opulent surroundings of the Titanic Suite featuring the Grand Staircase!

Plus we have delicious festive menus in The Galley Café and Bistro 401, so come on down and join us for some Christmas cheer!

For more information visit www.titanicbelfast.com

Let the Bushmills Inn put some sparkle into your Christmas and New Year this festive period and join for a Christmas Banquet Evening, Christmas Day Lunch or New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner. Christmas Banquets include: – 4 course meal with entertainment (Friday and Saturday) for £38.50 per person – 4 course meal without entertainment (Sunday to Thursday) for £32.50 – Christmas Banquet menu is also available for lunch parties   Make a night of it in Bushmills Inn by celebrating in style with the special Christmas  overnight rates. Packages include luxurious accommodation and full Irish Breakfast.   For more information, please click on the image below.