Linden Foods has received a top ‘green’ accolade from Business in the Community’s ARENA Network by achieving Quintile One status at this year’s 14th Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey Results Launch.

The Survey, carried out by ARENA Network and supported by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, annually assesses top businesses in Northern Ireland for environmental management, performance and assurance.

Environment Minister Alex Attwood commended all participants for their leadership and achievement saying:

“This year the ARENA Network Survey has produced a high average score with the top performing sectors being those that have the greatest potential to impact the environment. It shows that participants are taking appropriate measures in order to reduce their environmental impacts and improve their efficiency.

“The ARENA Network Survey is an important measure for businesses and public sector organisations as they develop a stronger economy. ARENA Network continues every year in its efforts to encourage companies to take part in benchmarking and realise true business benefits. I commend all of the participants for their positive contribution to good environmental stewardship and their commitment to reducing environmental impacts and managing resources efficiently.”

Stepping down from Chair of ARENA Network after five years, Phoenix Chief Peter Dixon, added: “As Chair of ARENA Network, I’m delighted to have witnessed the continued commitment and leadership from Northern Ireland’s leading responsible businesses to the environmental agenda.

“For those companies who are already taking the environment seriously, I would encourage them to keep up their good work. For those not yet involved, I would urge them to get in touch with the ARENA Network team and discover the benefits for themselves.

The top results (in order of scoring) were achieved by: Belfast Harbour, Seagate Technology (Ireland), Bombardier Aerospace, Clarehill Plastics Ltd, John Graham (Dromore) Ltd, Larne Borough Council, Banbridge District Council, Farrans (Construction) Ltd, IKEA Belfast, Royal Mail, BT, Northern Ireland Assembly and Translink.

To find out who else participated and how they scored, visit www.arenani.org.uk

David Gavaghan, Chief Executive, Titanic Quarter was revealed as the new Chair of the ARENA Network at the event and Fleet Financial was announced as the Survey’s new private sector sponsor for 2013.

Please e-mail rosie.barnett@bitcni.org.uk at the ARENA Network if you are interested in taking part next year.

 

Caption – New NIEA Chief Executive Terry A’Hearn, Mael Wilford, Environmental Manager, Linden Foods and ARENA Network Chair, Peter Dixon 

Emerging artisan food businesses encouraged to enter

Three new Golden Fork trophies have been added to Great Taste for 2013 – the world’s largest and most respected blind-tasted food and drink awards scheme.

Chefs working in delis and farm shops are being encouraged to enter their favourite signature dish; producers making artisan foods using heritage breeds or varieties will be honoured with a special Nigel Barden Award, and one emerging new artisan business will receive valuable mentoring as part of its prize.

“In 2012 we had a handful of completely new artisan producers who entered Great Taste including one producer in Cumbria who achieved a 3-star Award for an exceptional sweetmeat, and we would like to encourage more to come forward and take part in Great Taste 2013.  Even if a producer is working completely on their own or with one other person to produce food or drink that is exclusively sold through farmers’ markets or local shops, we would very much like them to take part.  The winner will be offered an opportunity to receive valuable mentoring from established food experts.  Great Taste has been credited with changing the lives of the winners of the Supreme Champion Award, and while we want to hear this kind of great news from our winners, we also want to encourage very small artisan producers,” said John Farrand, organiser of Great Taste 2013.

Also, the growing number of micro-breweries and UK and Irish winemakers will be able to enter into an expanded drinks category.

Since 1994, Great Taste has been organised by The Guild of Fine Food and over the last 19 year over 70,000 products have been blind tasted by judges including top restaurateurs, chefs, food critics, fine food retailers, buyers and cookery writers.

In 2013 over 10,000 entries are expected and the robust judging process will ensure only the finest food and drink will be declared worthy of the Great Taste stars. The announcement of the Supreme Champion 2013 sponsored by Harrods, will be made on the 9th September.

For further information please contact any of the following:  Joanne Myram at Positive PR on:joanne@positivepr.co.uk 01935 389497

Or tortie.farrand@finefoodworld.co.uk  or john.farrand@finefoodworld.co.uk  orbob.farrand@finefoodworld.co.uk | 01963 824464

Guild of Fine Food, Guild House, Station Road, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 9FE

www.finefoodworld.co.uk www.greattasteawards.co.uk

Notes

Nigel Barden is a food and drink broadcaster and chairman of the Great Taste judging panel. He is well known for his culinary slots on BBC radio and is a huge supporter of heritage varieties and of lesser known fish!

What do Great Taste judges look for?  

They look for great texture and appearance. They judge the quality of ingredients and how well the maker has put the food or drink together. But above all, they look for truly great taste. Working in small teams, experts taste 25 foods in each sitting, discussing each product as a coordinating food writer transcribes their comments directly onto the Great Taste website which producers access after judging is completed. Over the years, numerous food businesses, start-ups and well established producers have been advised how to modify their foods and have subsequently gone on to achieve gold standard.  Any food that a judging team believes is worthy of a star is judged by at least two further teams. Only when there is a consensus will a star be awarded.  For 3-star Gold, every single judge attending the session, which can be as many as 30 experts must unanimously agree the food delivers that indescribable ‘wow’ factor.

★★★ EXQUISITE. WOW! TASTE THAT   ★★ OUTSTANDING  ★ A VIRTUALLY FAULTLESS FOOD

Breakfast at the Culloden Estate & Spa? Local cereal producer White’s has joined forces with Hastings Hotels to offer more than 300 fabulous prizes which can be enjoyed across Hastings’ six hotels throughout Northern Ireland. To be in with a chance to win tuck into a promotional pack of White’s Speedicook Porridge 1.5kg from now until the end of April and you too could be enjoying breakfast at the Culloden, spa days at the Slieve Donard, weekend breaks for two at Ballygally Castle, dinner for two at the Stormont Hotel, or cocktails for two at the Europa! Pictured breakfasting in style at the Culloden is model Ciara McStravick.

It would seem that Leona and Richard Kane have the Midas touch. What was once a milking parlour on their farm at the foot of Binevenagh was launched on Tuesday 5 February as the second ÉCONOMUSÉE in the UK.

The Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT) approached Broighter Gold in January 2012 and were immediately convinced that this rural family business ticked all the right boxes to be considered as the next ÉCONOMUSÉE in the region.

CCGHT Project Officer, Tiérna McAlister commented: ‘An ÉCONOMUSÉE is a working museum that sees the combination of sustainability, culture, craft and tourism and in turn offers an economic platform for local craft artisans such as Broighter Gold.   The interpretation inside the workshop will enhance the overall visitor experience and enable visitors to follow every step of the process of turning rapeseed into liquid gold. We are delighted to lead on such an innovative and creative tourism initiative and hope to encourage and promote more sustainable tourism experiences in the Causeway Coast and Glens area’.

Magne Haugseng, Project Manager, ÉCONOMUSÉE Northern Europe commented: ÉCONOMUSÉE is a concept developed in Québec, Canada.  The mission of the ÉCONOMUSÉE network is to promote and keep alive traditional crafts and knowledge, whilst ensuring economic growth within rural communities.  The project consists of partners in eight countries; Quebec, Greenland. Iceland, Faroe Islands, Norway, Sweden, Republic of Ireland and here in Northern Ireland.  The aim is to create 22 new ÉCONOMUSÉE and around 20 new jobs, taking the number of ÉCONOMUSÉE to around 40 in Europe.  The Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust has been an enthusiastic partner from the very beginning. It is a pleasure to work with them and on behalf of the ÉCONOMUSÉE Network I wish Broighter Gold ÉCONOMUSÉE every success in the future.

Bill Harpur, Chairman of the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust commented: We have been honoured to work with Leona and Richard on establishing their small farm enterprise as an ÉCONOMUSÉE and we wish them every success in the future with their award winning Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil and also with their artisan museum.’

The Mayor of Limavady Borough Council, Cllr Cathal McLaughlin added: ‘Limavady Borough Council is delighted to be associated with this project and we welcome visitors to enjoy the experience and the hospitality offered in the Broighter Gold ÉCONOMUSÉE workshop.

2013 is an important year for the Derry ~ Londonderry City of Culture and Broglasco Farm is perfectly situated at the gateway to Derry and on the Causeway Coastal Route.’

More than 60 delegates attended the launch despite the wintry conditions including the Chief Executive of Limavady Borough Council Liam Flanigan, Micheal Scullion proprietor of Scullion Hurls, Loughgiel, Julie McLaughlin NITB, Chairperson of Moyle District Council Cllr Sandra Hunter, Robin Bolton CAFRE’s Senior Crops Development Adviser, Chairman of Binevenagh AONB Management Group Mike Jones, local restaurateurs and students from North West Regional College along with many more guests.

Leona commented: ‘We owe a great deal of gratitude to our friends and family for helping us to achieve this status and especially for helping us to get the workshop ready for today’s launch.

Huge thanks must go to the ÉCONOMUSÉE network, the Northern Periphery Programme Limavady Borough Council, NITB and the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust.

Thanks to a new approach on traditional favourites, Irwin’s Bakery has been named as Tesco Outstanding Supplier of the Month.  The award, which is part of the ongoing Tesco Taste NI campaign to celebrate local food & drink producers, is in recognition of the Portadown bakery’s launch of a unique new Bread Table concept in 11 Tesco stores.  The huge flour-topped crusty Belfast Baps have been an immediate best-seller.  Stefan Szymura of Irwin’s collected his trophy from Sandra Weir, Tesco NI Buying Manager, and the company will also receive free advertising and in-store marketing to celebrate their success with local shoppers.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching; the search for the perfect gift has begun. Why not let Mash Direct take the stress out of Valentine’s Day with our competition to win a romantic meal for two.

We are offering four lucky couples the chance to win a romantic meal for two. All you have to do is tell us in 100 words or less why you should win a night out for you and your significant other.

If you fancy a night in and don’t want to worry about the chopping, peeling and of course the washing up, you can use our steamy (well…steam cooked) range to start the night off!

To enter this competition visit our website: www.mashdirect.com/competitions and click on the Valentine’s link. Closing Date: 12 pm Tuesday 12th February 2013. Please see website for full terms and conditions.

Mash Direct, making more time for love this Valentine’s Day!

Sealed with a loving kiss!