Hilden Brewery has secured an export first by winning an order to supply its bespoke products to the world’s biggest beer drinking country.
A full range of Hilden’s bottled beer is to be shipped to a major distributor in the Czech Republic, following a successful Invest NI Trade mission in June.

And while Hilden Brewery admit its exporting initiative might be seen by some as being on a par with selling snow to Eskimos the Lisburn based firm believes it can eventually crack open a potentially lucrative market.

The founder of Hilden Brewery, Seamus Scullion, said the company was confident that the initial order would lay the foundation for a successful marketing and sales campaign.

“Our objective is designed at helping fill the growing demand for niche beers in the Czech Republic.

“Beer drinking is an ingrained part of everyday life in the country. The per capita consumption on an annual basis is estimated to be around 156 litres’.

“Czechs have been drinking beer for more than a millennium. It has led to a rapid expansion in the numbers of small microbreweries since the fall of communism.

“The market however is still dominated by a handful of major brewers servicing a huge demand for Pils beer, both locally and in terms of the exports sphere.

“But young people in particular have made it clear through a number of consumer surveys that they want the opportunity to sample alternatives to the country’s traditional products.

“And we feel that the quality of our Hilden products, and the fact that it provides a full flavoured alternative to the Czech brands on offer will prove to be a winning combination” Mr. Scullion said.

The Czech Republic operation is the first phase of an ambitious European wide export strategy by Ireland’s longest established independent brewing company.
Hilden Brewery’s Sales and Marketing manager, Lisa Maltman, said the appointment of JASO as its Czech Republic based distributor was a key element in the brewery’s expansion plans for the European market.

“JASO has a very wide customer base ranging from restaurants, bars and specialist beer shops to supermarkets.

“They also have partners in other European countries such as Slovakia where we have our sights firmly fixed on breaking into new markets,” she added.

Improve, the Food and Drink Sector Skills Council, is urging students to consider a career within the food and drink manufacturing sector, the largest industry in Northern Ireland.

The ‘Tasty Careers’ programme, which is currently in its fifth year, is a schools based initiative supported by the Department of Employment and Learning. Talks are provided from food and drink industry ambassadors in schools throughout Northern Ireland, highlighting the 15,000 potential job opportunities available for young people across the food supply chain, to be recruited by 2020.

With over 100,000 people involved in growing, processing, manufacturing, distributing and retailing the food we eat, the food and drink sector offers a wealth of job opportunities for young people. Equating to around one quarter of the total manufacturing sector in Northern Ireland and with a £4.5 billion contribution to the local economy, it is a vital local sector to be considered for employment opportunities.

During school visits, ‘Tasty Careers’ ambassadors, will give presentations to pupils providing an insight into their day to day activities and giving advice on the most beneficial qualifications and educational path to their current role.

Commenting on this year’s campaign launch, Geoff Lamb, NI Operations Manager, Improve, said: “We are delighted to once again be launching our ‘Tasty Careers’ programme, which continues to be a very popular initiative in schools across Northern Ireland.

“As the economy continues to grow, we want to educate students about the vast array of career opportunities available in the food and drink sector. With an impressive average starting salary of up to £21,000 it is a fantastic career path that should be considered by all students.”

For more information or to book an ambassador, schools can visit
www.tastycareers.org.uk

It’s Craft Bakers’ Week from 29th September to 4th October!

Bakers all across the country will be celebrating their baking skills – so pay a visit to your local baker during the week!

Learn how to make ‘Sourdough’ Bread with David Semple, an Artisan Baker, Saturday 11st October from 10.00am to 4.30pm
Price – £ 45 per person will include:
• 1 day’s tuition,
• Coffee and fresh made sweet breads to start your day,
• Lunch with a glass or 2 of local beer,
• All ingredient’s supplied,
• A free sourdough starter culture and dough cutter,
• Recipes from the day.

A new all-day bread course by David Semple, one of Northern Ireland’s finest artisan bakers. David will Introduce you to the world of Real Bread learning to shape the dough, an introduction to sourdough, making a great loaf , flat breads, focaccia and sweet breads.
The day starts with coffee and buns from the oven – get here early!

Contact Celia Spouncer to book a place:
8-10 Shore Road,
Portaferry,
BT22 1JY
mobile – 07725646333
email – celia@spouncer.com

For more information, please see image below

The 4th Comber Farmer’s market will take place this Thursday 2 October 2014 in St Mary’s Parish Church car park, the Square, Comber, from 9.00am – 1.30pm. And what’s more it’s to be another dry and sunny day!

We welcome four new traders:
– Poacher’s Pocket from Lisbane who will be selling their sauces and soups along with a selection of Irish cheeses and Hannan Meats (award winning butcher from Moira) Himalayan Salt Aged steaks
– Burren Balsamics from Ballynahinch who make beautiful fruit infused vinegars (raspberry, Bramley apple, strawberry and blackcurrant);
– to die for Sticky Toffee Puddings made by Linda DeVecchis from Antrim;
– Dish from Ballygowan who make fabulous traybakes.

We now have 24 artisan food stalls!

For further information contact Comber Regeneration and Community Partnership on 07870 173 805.

Local independent coffee chain celebrates 13 years with £100,000 investment and multimillion pound All Ireland expansion plan

Northern Ireland’s largest independent coffee bar chain, Ground Espresso Bars, is more than disproving the unlucky 13 superstition with the official opening of their two newly refurbished outlets in Belfast City, and the announcement that they will be opening numerous sites as part of a multi-million pound investment with Next plc, including two stores in Northern Ireland and their first unit in Dublin.

Investing more than £100,000 in their two Belfast stores is just one of the ways that owners of the leading independent coffee bar chain Karen and Darren Gardiner have celebrated reaching this impressive milestone in business. The investment has seen extensive refurbishment works completed in the concessions in Waterstones, Fountain Street, and Next, Donegall Place, which will enable the company to better serve the needs of customers and solidifies Ground Espresso Bars’ successful partnership with two of the high street’s most recognised brands.

“This investment in our Belfast stores marks the next chapter in the Ground story. Our concessions in Belfast are bigger and better, meeting the needs of families as well as the growing number of people who use our coffee shops as a place to conduct meetings, work and gather socially,” said Karen Gardiner.

Employing over 120 staff across 11 stand-alone stores and concessions in Northern Ireland, the Ground brand has gained a reputation for quality coffee and a focus on locally-sourced produce which owner Karen Gardiner believes is one of the main reasons for their success to date.

“This is a significant investment for a local company and we look forward to further investment and job creation in the coming months, with a multimillion pound expansion plan with Next plc, where we have already confirmed two new sites in Newry and Newtownabbey and finalising a further 6 locations across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, creating in excess of 100 new jobs in the next 12 months.”

“Plans are underway for the expansion into new stores and concessions and we are delighted to be partnering with Next plc to open our first store in the Republic of Ireland, where works have already commenced in the first unit in Blanchardstown and an official opening in the coming weeks.”

Ground Espresso Bars made a commitment when they opened their first store to provide the Northern Ireland public with fresh homemade produce as well as high-quality coffee, and this has paid off, not only with loyal customers but also with Next and Waterstones who selected a small local firm rather than one of the multinational chains to reside in their flagship stores in Northern Ireland.

The refurbished stores in Waterstones and Next will work as a bench mark for future Ground Espresso Bars stores, where consumers can avail of new features including bench top charging points, additional seating and community tables, as well as a new improved kids’ ‘playground’ in the Next store.

Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Nichola Mallon joins husband and wife team Darren and Karen Gardiner of Ground Espresso Bars, to toast their successful £100,000 investment in two Belfast stores and the announcement that they will be creating in excess over 100 jobs by opening numerous sites, as part of a multi-million pound investment with Next plc, including two new stores in Northern Ireland and their first unit in Dublin.

Karen and Darren Gardiner of Ground Espresso Bars, toast their successful £100,000 investment in two Belfast stores and announce that they will be creating in excess over 100 jobs by opening numerous sites, as part of a multi-million pound investment with Next plc, including two new stores in Northern Ireland and their first unit in Dublin.