Tesco Northern Ireland has listed Karri Kitchen, the Portadown-based producer of award-winning South-East Asian meals, for an initial 23 supermarkets here.

The hugely important deal, announced ahead of the company’s participation in the Food NI Food Pavilion at this year’s Balmoral Show, is Karri’s first business with Tesco, Northern Ireland’s biggest supermarket network, and is for five of the Co Armagh company’s successful range of delicious ready-meals.

Tesco shoppers are now able to enjoy Karri Kitchen’s authentic Mango Chicken Curry; Spicy Coconut Chicken Curry; Black Pepper Beef; Firecracker Chicken; Mongolian Beef Noodles; and Chow Mein Chicken Noodles. The meals went on sale in Tesco stores from yesterday.

Innovative chef Shera McAloran, who founded Karri Kitchen with husband Chris, a local businessman, in 2019, commenting on the new business with Tesco, said: “This is a very exciting development for us. We feel our launch with Tesco will play a vital role in our business and will support the growth of our company. It’s tremendously encouraging recognition from Northern Ireland’s biggest supermarket network.”

A Food NI member, Karri Kitchen is now firmly established as Ireland’s fastest growing provider of a delicious range of healthy ready-meals with rich South-East Asian flavours. The restaurant quality dishes are all high-protein, low calorie and made from the freshest local ingredients.

“All of our food is healthy and perfect for those who want to eat a balanced, healthy, protein-rich and nutritious diet,” Shera adds

Originally from Indonesia, Shera is creating the innovative recipes from her own upbringing there, with her team in their state-of-the-art new product kitchen and production unit at Carn Industrial Estate, Co Armagh, now one of Northern Ireland’s leading food processing hubs.

She has won widespread acclaim for quality, innovation and outstanding taste from leading food bodies such as UK Great Taste and Blas na hEireann, the Irish National Food Awards.

The small company also achieved gold in the ready meals category in the highly influential Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards last year, an event watched closely by top grocery retailers.

The enterprising company has been awarded Best Poultry Ready Meal in Ireland for its mango chicken curry and a Healthy Product Innovation Award at the Irish Food Awards.

Shera’s tasty, nutritious and quality meals were also a success at the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards, winning the Healthier Product Innovation Award and Highly Commended in the Small Company Award. The company is now Ireland’s fastest growing provider of a delicious range of healthy ready-meals with authentic South-East Asian flavours.

Shera moved to Sydney in Australia from her home in Indonesia for her education and earned a degree in business management and marketing at the respected Australian Pacific College (APC).

She worked in hospitality during her time at APC. “I had always been interested in running my own small business and had no hesitation about a career in hospitality on graduation. Hospitality and clean, healthy eating have always been part of my life. It’s how I’ve been raised, my work experience, and our lifestyle,” she says. Overall, Shera lived and worked in Sydney for 12 years and then moved to Northern Ireland to marry Chris

She pursued her career in management but was then encouraged to think seriously about food preparation by family and friends who loved the distinctive Indonesian and other Asian themes and flavours of her meals.

 “I’ve carried a longstanding focus on fresh and local ingredients into the dishes within the Karri Kitchen portfolio,” she continues. “We endeavour to use as many ingredients from local suppliers as practicable,” she adds. Local suppliers include Lynas Foods in Coleraine; M&W Meats; and Gilfresh Vegetables, both Portadown.

The new business with Tesco is a major development for the business.

Tesco remains Northern Ireland’s favourite supermarket in the face of stiff competition. According to retail information company Kantar, Tesco maintained its position at the top of the table as Northern Ireland’s largest grocer, with a 39.4 percent share of the market, growing 12.4 percent year-on-year.

The supermarket, which set up here in 1996, spends more than £500 million a year on purchasing Northern Ireland food from around 100 suppliers. The store stocks upwards of 1,200 local food products. Tesco spends more on local food and drink than other national grocers in more than 50 stores, employing around 10,000 people

The supermarket has long supported Balmoral Show activities and hosts this year’s Tesco Theatre Kitchen in the Food NI Food Pavilion which will also feature The Steak Competition.

Karri Kitchen will be among almost 100 food and drink producers, large, small and artisanal enterprises in the Food Pavilion, the biggest presentation of local products this year,

Jubilee Farm, a leading social farm located less than 10 miles from Carrickfergus and a FoodNI member, has entered into a partnership with Carrick Greengrocers to deliver the freshest seasonal produce from the farm to the heart of the historic Co Antrim town.

This collaboration significantly reduces food miles and ensures that customers enjoy the freshest vegetables, picked and delivered in some cases on the same day. This rapid turnaround from field to fork reduces the need for long-distance transportation, which not only benefits the environment but also guarantees fresher and longer lasting produce for consumers.

Carrick Greengrocers opened in July 2023 and it is a community-owned greengrocer established by people who live in, or are passionate about Carrickfergus. Its ethos is to enrich the lives of people in Carrickfergus through nutrient-rich, locally sourced and in season food.

This common goal is how the partnership with Jubilee was born, as the farm also supports growing climate friendly and locally sourced food. By supplying vegetable boxes grown directly on the farm in its on-site polytunnel, Jubilee specialises in seasonal produce, offering a wide variety that reflects the changing seasons.

“Having Jubilee Farm as one of our local suppliers means our customers get to enjoy the freshest vegetables, harvested at the peak of ripeness,” says Beth Bell, secretary of Carrick Greengrocers. “We are able to purchase the produce, and the volunteers and team at Jubilee Farm are able to grow and harvest it – it’s a win-win for everyone – our customers, the local economy, and the environment,” adds Beth.

Carrick Greengrocers also works with market farmer Chris Dobbs and he supplies seasonal vegetables and also fruit grown in a 3-mile radius. Chris’s produce is often delivered within hours of being harvested, and with Chris doing deliveries himself, customers in the greengrocers can feel the close connection between farmer and community.

“Customers comment on the quality and freshness of Chris’ produce, for example the peas in the pod are bursting with flavour and taste like the ones they used to have when they were younger. The fact they are grown so close to us with no chemicals vastly improves the quality, taste and freshness,” continues Beth.

Carrick Greengrocers, a popular addition to Carrickfergus’s town centre, provides a convenient option for customers who want to purchase good quality, reasonably priced fruit and vegetables, without having to buy large quantities. “It’s easy for people to pop in after school or work and grab one or two carrots, potatoes or apples, rather than a whole bag,” explains Beth “We’re committed to making great, local fresh produce accessible to everyone in the community and making it easy to buy what they need.”

Jubilee Farm is not only committed to supplying fresh produce to Carrick Greengrocers, but also to engaging with the local community.

As Northern Ireland’s first community owned farm, Jubilee supports various community initiatives, one of which is Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend. This is a free to attend initiative run by the Ulster Farmers’ Union that gives consumers a better understanding of where their food comes from. During the weekend, the public can meet the farmer, hear about their journey and see what makes their farm individual.

The scheme aims, in particular, to promote a greater engagement between pupils and schools and the local farming community and its crucial role in developing fresh food for Northern Ireland consumers. Many of the children taking part may be encouraged eventually to pursue careers in farming and food production. Our single most important industry, agri-food provides a diverse range of career opportunities in areas such as manufacturing, technology, marketing and sales.

Food from local farms, as last week’s Food NI Food Pavilion at Balmoral Show demonstrated, is also used by hundreds of companies here to create and produce highly innovative products for local and international consumption. Jubilee Farm is also a member of the Food NI network of local companies.

Based at Glynn, near Carrickfergus, the farm, owned by the community shareholders, covers over 13 acres from which it sells boxes of heritage vegetables and free range pork especially through a novel Pig Club. The club enables people to buy a section of the pig to enjoy at Christmas.

The farm was started by Jonny Hanson, who has a farming background and has also been named ‘Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year’ in recognition of his inspirational leadership.

Jubilee Farm will be open to pre-registered school children on Friday 14 June and to the public on Saturday 15 June from 12-4pm and will showcase a range of activities such as seed planting, farm tours, and a pork risotto cookery demo by chef Sophie Smith at 1pm. Carrick Greengrocers will also be at Jubilee Farm on this day to showcase its produce. More information on all 18 participating farms in Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend can be found at www.openfarmweekend.com

Taste of Ulster members have been well represented at the 2024 all-island Irish Restaurant Awards from the Restaurants Association of Ireland.

The ceremony was held at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin on 21^st May, 2024.

Best Hotel and Guesthouse Restaurant in Ulster is the Catalina Restaurant at Lough Erne Golf Resort.

The Square in Lisburn was given the Best Casual Dining in Ulster accolade.

No14 at the Georgian House in Comber won Best Sustainable Practices in Ulster.

Ulster’s Local Food Hero is Johnny McDowell from Indie Fude.

The Ulster Employee Excellence Award was given to Liam McKenna from Armagh City Hotel.

Congratulations to all from Taste of Ulster.

Four premium meat lines have launched into 12 stores in Northern Ireland, including Guinness flavoured burgers

Kettyle Irish Foods has hit the shelves in Asda stores across Northern Ireland, supplying four lines of its premium meat range, including a unique Guinness flavoured burger that pairs perfectly with the iconic stout.

The four lines include Rump Heart Steaks, Fillet Tail Diamonds, Guinness Burgers and Salt Moss Dry Aged Burgers. The Fillet Tail Diamonds will be an Asda store exclusive, offering the same flavour and tenderness of Fillet steak but at a fraction of the cost.

Kettyle Irish Foods is part of ABP Food Group and was founded by Maurice Kettyle 20 years ago, born of a desire to age meat using natural processes to give a deeper, more robust flavour. All products from the range are dry aged with a unique salt moss method. A brick made from Irish organic virgin sea salt and Irish sea moss draws the moisture out of the meat, creating a deeper flavour and better caramelisation on the frying pan.

Hannah Kee, Sales and Marketing Manager at Kettyle Irish Foods said:

“We’re so delighted to launch into Asda with four fantastic lines from our range. All of our meat products are hand-prepared by master butchers to deliver the taste, quality and tenderness that Kettyle is known for. We are passionate about showcasing the quality of the meat on the island of Ireland – and we only select the best.

“From there we apply our patented salt moss dry aging process, created using sustainably sourced Irish sea salt and sea moss. This process is completely unique to Kettyle, developed from decades of care and attention to crafting the perfect meat products. We are very proud to secure our first retail listing with Asda and are looking forward to growing our relationship in the months to come.”

Cathy Elliott, Northern Ireland Local Buying Manager at Asda added:

“We are so passionate about supporting local brands and Kettyle Irish Foods is a fantastic example of the excellence of produce here in Northern Ireland. More customers are now looking for those high quality, premium meats, still with affordability, and our first listing with Kettyle has really answered that call.

“We are pleased to launch the Fillet Tail Diamonds product as an Asda exclusive – a premium cut of meat ideal for family meal times. The Guinness burgers are also a highly anticipated product – bringing together two iconic brands from the island of Ireland to create a brilliantly flavoured product we’re sure shoppers will love.”

The Kettyle Irish Foods range is now available in stores and online at www.asda.com

Best-selling cookery writer and TV chef, Rachel Allen, will headline this year’s Comber Earlies Food Festival on Saturday 22 June. The renowned teacher at the world-famous Ballymaloe Cookery School in County Cork will be joined by experienced broadcaster Lotte Duncan at the popular foodie event, where visitors can grab the opportunity to discover how best to cook the prized Comber Earlies potatoes.

Running as part of Taste Summer in Ards and North Down, the free-to-attend festival will be located in Comber Leisure Centre car park for the second year running. A move to the venue in 2023 saw an increased number of stalls and the addition of live music.

The festival is one of the highlights in Ards and North Down’s foodie calendar, offering a wealth of artisan food and drink stalls, vintage tractor display, celebrity chef demos and children’s entertainment, all coming together to celebrate Comber’s famed potato. Chefs will showcase their culinary talents while visitors can enjoy discussions with local food heroes and be entertained by the live music while sipping on a refreshing drink from the Artisan Bar.

Enjoy the potato-themed cooking demonstrations by Rachel Allen and find out more about our local food producers as they showcase their products with Lotte Duncan on the Food Producers’ Stage. Also at the festival, chefs from South Eastern Regional College (SERC) will run a Comber Cookery School where you can try your hand at creating some delicious dishes using traditional Comber Earlies recipes.

There will be lots for children to enjoy too. Enjoy walkabout entertainment, fun with Mr and Mrs Potato Head, ride on tractors, sensory activities and keep an eye out for the golden spuds hidden throughout the event. If you find one, take it to the Visitor Information Caravan (opposite the Leisure Centre entrance) to claim a small prize!

Comber Earlies potatoes have enjoyed Protected Geographical Indication status since 2012, a recognition of their unique taste and flavour thanks to the micro-climate in which they’re grown in the rich soil of the Ards Peninsula and Comber areas. They share this status with products such as feta, camembert, and champagne.

The Comber Earlies Food Festival is open from 11am – 5pm on Saturday 22 June. For more information, go to visitardsandnorthdown.com/TasteSummer.

Two DELI LITES New Product Development Technologists are celebrating after being named among the UK’s top sandwich and food to go creators by an industry-leading awards body.

Kirsty Fitzpatrick and Kirsty Beck from DELI LITES represented the company at the Sammies – the sandwich and food to go awards – in London after triumphing in the UK regional heats of the Sandwich & Food to Go Designer 2024 awards.

The pair, who work at DELI LITES IRELAND, based in Warrenpoint in the Innovation and New Product Development department took part in the prestigious annual competition to find the UK’s best sandwich and food to go creators.

The regional heats were held earlier this year in Darlington, where the DELI LITES duo won in all five categories they entered; an industry first.

Kirsty Fitzpatrick won the Delightful Breaded Chicken, Gorgonzola Piccante and Nut Free categories with creations called ‘Second to Naan’, ‘Honey I’m Feeling Blue’ and ‘Banging Chicken’.

Kirsty Beck scored the top prizes in the Gouda and Chutney & Curd categories with ‘Too Gouda to be True’ and ‘It Takes Two to Mango’.

Following their regional success, the pair travelled to the national live grand final at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel. At the final, Kirsty Fitzpatrick was crowned the winner of the Futura Foods’ Gorgonzola Piccante category with her ‘Honey I’m Feeling Blue’ creation.

“We were over the moon to win at the regional heats and to represent our company at the grand final in London was incredible,” said Kirsty Fitzpatrick. “It was an honour to compete against the very best sandwich and food to go creators in the UK and we’re both overjoyed that our creations were so well received by so many,” added Kirsty Beck.

“The Sammies is the Oscars of our industry and everyone at DELI LITES is so proud of the achievements of our two Kirstys,” added Brian Reid, DELI LITES co-founder and CEO. “Getting to the national final in London confirmed what we already knew here at Deli Lites – that our super talented innovation and new product development team are the best in the business. We’re lucky to work with them every day and I thank them for everything they do for our company and our customers. A national win for ‘Honey I’m Feeling Blue’ was the icing on the cake!”             

“We’re so pleased to have a national winner in our midst at DELI LITES. Our two Kirstys never fail to impress our team and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements,” added Gary McDowell, Head of Food Innovation and Development. “At DELI LITES, we’re passionate about empowering our young team to meet its full potential and events like the Sammies offer a platform to help us achieve that. Well done again to the Kirstys – we’re all really proud of you.”

DELI LITES, based in Warrenpoint, produces over 30 million delicious food to go and artisanal bakery items annually that are sold globally.

In 2022, DELI LITES obtained certification as a BCorp company—a global initiative that evaluates businesses based on their involvement with people, communities, and the environment with the goal of transforming business into a force for good.