Local Supermarkets raise £250k for children’s cancer charity

Retail group Henderson Wholesale Ltd has thousands of reasons to celebrate after reaching an amazing milestone by raising £250,000 for local children living with cancer.

The company’s supermarket stores EUROSPAR and ViVOXTRA, have been supporting Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children (NICFC) since May 2011 and had initially aimed to raise £100k over two years.
NICFC Corporate Fundraiser, Sorcha Chipperfield, said, “The partnership between NICFC and Henderson’s has been a match made in heaven with the stores, their customers and employees really getting into the fundraising, and making it a huge success.”
EUROSPAR and ViVOXTRA stores across Northern Ireland have held various fundraising events and initiatives to raise money for NICFC. They have included Golf Days, a Sponsored Slim, The Christmas Make A Change Campaign, 10k Road Races, a Cycle Challenge, Fun Days, and in-store collections.
A group of 19 brave Henderson’s staff members even took on the challenge of trekking the Inca Trail in Peru last year and in September another 11 members of staff will be trekking the Great Wall of China in an effort to raise much needed funds.
Brand Manager for Henderson, Bronagh Luke said, “We’re delighted to have raised such an amazing amount for NICFC.  The stores have really got behind the partnership and have been absolutely inspirational in coming up with fundraising ideas, taking part in events and collecting in store.  The commitment our staff have shown is reflected in the fantastic amount we’ve raised this year, and we’re so pleased that it is going to support children, teenagers and young people living with cancer in Northern Ireland, and their families.”
NICFC Chief Executive Gillian Creevy (right) celebrates the fantastic total raised with Channel Sales Manager Stephen Gibson and Corporate Marketing Controller Bronagh Luke from Henderson Wholesale Ltd
And their support hasn’t stopped there; Henderson Wholesale Ltd has pledged to continue supporting NICFC throughout 2013 and hopes to raise funds to support the rebuild of NICFC’s therapeutic respite centre, Daisy Lodge.  The £3 million project will provide a state-of-the-art therapeutic centre nestled at the bottom of the Mourne Mountains in Newcastle, Co Down.
Daisy Lodge will open its doors in the New Year and will provide short breaks to families affected by childhood cancer, as well as bereaved families.  The centre will be a safe haven for families who have been torn apart by cancer, allowing them to spend quality time together and build precious memories.
Sorcha added, “A massive thank you must go to all the staff at Henderson, ViVOXTRA and EUROSPAR who have really got behind this partnership and helped to raise such an amazing amount of money.  I’m really looking forward to continuing to work with Henderson in 2013 and can’t wait to see what fundraising plans they have in store!”

Waitrose Good Food Guide 2014

Waitrose Good Food Guide 2014 serves up great options for dining out in Northern Ireland

Waitrose Good Food Guide has today announced 2 new entries from Northern Ireland in the 2014 edition of the guide which is published on 9th September. The guide reflects the high standard of dining in Northern Ireland as a total of 17 restaurants, pubs and cafés from across the region are included in the UK’s bestselling restaurant guide.

The two new entries that have achieved a spot in Waitrose Good Food Guide 2014 are OX on Oxford Street in Belfast and The Governor Rocks located on The Parade in Donaghadee.

Not only has OX made its first appearance in Waitrose Good Food Guide 2014, it has also gained a place in the much coveted top 50 restaurants listing, taking the number 43 spot.

Earlier this year, Killinchy’s Balloo House also had reason to celebrate after it was named the Good Food Guide Reader’s Regional Restaurant of the Year for Northern Ireland.

Elizabeth Carter, Consultant Editor of the Good Food Guide commented: ‘Congratulations to the new entries from Northern Ireland in Waitrose Good Food Guide 2014, but particular acknowledgement goes to OX for appearing for the first time in our Top 50. It’s a new addition that certainly reflects the buzz of Belfast and the growing food scene in Northern Ireland.’

Whites Oats-worth its weight in Gold

A record win for local oat miller and cereal brand White’s Oats at this year’s prestigious great taste awards scooping up 12 gold stars for its oat based cereal products and taking its total number of awards to an impressive 32.

White’s Oats, Northern Ireland’s only oat cereal processor has now received the ‘Great Taste’ seal of approval for all of its oat based cereal products, a fantastic achievement within a highly competitive market.

Receiving a double seal of approval and best in category with two Gold Stars was Organic Quick Cook Oats and Toasted Oats Apple & Cinnamon Crunch, a Great Taste winner for the second year running. But topping the pack once again was White’s Organic Jumbo Oats which has received a Great Taste accolade for six successive years.

Toat’ly Oaty Original Instant Porridge has also had success for a second year running, being awarded one gold star alongside the recently launched Toat’ly Oaty with added multi seeds. White’s has also had success with its export brand; Irish Oatmeal Old Fashioned Oats picked up one gold star.

Danielle Mc Bride, Brand Manager of White’s Oats said: ‘’We are delighted that our oat based cereals have been so highly recognised at this year’s Great Taste Awards which signals the huge amount of passion we have for our business and our products.

The Great Taste Awards are organised by the Guild of Fine Food, the authoritative, Independent Standard for Britain’s Fine Foods Sector awarding commitment to truly great tasting quality artisan products. It has been described as the ‘Oscars’ of the food world and the ‘epicurean equivalent of the Booker prize’.

The Legenderry Food Guide

The LegenDerry Food Guide now available in over 1,500 bedrooms across the city and district. The guide promotes the use of local product and highlights local food provenance.

The new book, which was produced by Derry City Council and is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland, is a beautifully designed reference guide to the many top quality establishments scattered throughout the city, from cosmopolitan café cuisine to high end dining.

The aim of the publication is to highlight Derry’s growing reputation as a top class food destination on a par with major cities across the world when it comes to fine dining. Launched as part of Derry City Council’s Business Opportunities Programme, it will provide a welcome boost to the local food trade, as restaurants focus on enhancing trade throughout the City of Culture year.

“The Legenderry Food guide provides the ideal platform to support business development, boost trade and showcase the area as a food tourism destination.” Tourism Development Officer with Derry City Council Mary Blake said: “The guide aptly reflects the quality of the food available in the city and the exciting culinary developments in the North West as a whole. We are actively working to raise the profile of the city as a food destination and this guide demonstrates that we are on our way to achieving that goal.”

“One of the many challenges faced by local business at the moment is tapping into the tourism market, and 2013 presents an amazing opportunity for restaurants here to raise their profile and boost trade. But this has to have a long-term impact, and guides such as the LegenDerry Food Guide play such an integral role in raising awareness and building the city’s profile as a centre for good food.”

The Arthur Guinness Projects – Championing the talent and creativity of Ireland

The Irish Food Heritage Project has been entered into the Arthur Guinness Projects -Food Section. Please see below details of why the Arthur Guinness projects fund has been set up.

If you could take 2minutes of your time to vote ,I would really appreciate it!

The Arthur Guinness Projects – Championing the talent and creativity of Ireland

The Arthur Guinness Projects exist to celebrate and reward the next chapter of Irish talent and creativity. We are looking for extraordinary people with innovative, inspiring, brilliant ideas, and the passion and drive to make them happen. So if you have a potential project in Music, Sport, Arts or Food that would benefit from financial and practical assistance, this is your chance to bring it to life.

Please take 1 minute to vote .click on the link below ,you will be asked to click on your Country and age before voting. Your support is greatly appreciated .If successful this help from Guinness will help drive the Irish Food Heritage Project much further, mutually beneficial across all sectors.

www.arthurguinnessprojects.com/food/irish-food-heritage-project

Irish Food Heritage Project  is a multifaceted award winning food heritage initiative which seeks to promote the North West as a cultural culinary tourism destination and drive inward investment into the Irish agri-food & tourism industry using a range of food heritage revival products/services, including: Guided tours, Education projects, Exhibition trailer, catering services, publication, app, TV programming and website..

Thanks again for your continued support.

Emmett McCourt

Irish Food Heritage Project