A new and nutritious Bone Broth Vegetable Soup has just been launched that’s a natural source of collagen, making it high in protein, fibre and ideal for the chilly days that lie ahead.

The healthy soup is a collaboration between Food NI member, Spear and Arrow in Larne, a small business specialising in health enhancing bone broth, and Big Pot in Cookstown, a local leader in wholesome and convenient soups and meal pots. Big Pot, which is producing the new soup, is passionate about crafting food that embodies real, simple, goodness.

Award-winning Big Pot, founded and owned by food technologist Alison Seaney in 2009, is producing the new soup using bone broth developed by Lynnette McHendry, the founder of Spear and Arrow. The innovative soup, the outcome of an approach by Lynette to Big Pot, is now available from major retailers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. “Bone marrow is rich in nutrients such as iron, vitamin A and K, fatty acids, selenium, zinc and manganese. Bone broth may provide trace amounts of these nutrients,” explains Lynette.

Established in 2020 after three years of cancer treatment, Lynette set out on a mission to heal herself and help others in the process. Learning about the benefits of bone broth for gut issues, she had been making it in her kitchen for family and friends when a friend suggested she start her own business selling bone broth. Now a successful artisan food enterprise, Lynette has grown the business here, in the Republic and Great Britain, increasing her product range to include a variety of flavours.

The range features plain and botanical bone broth, ginger and turmeric bone broth juice, orange and blueberry bone broth juice and 100 percent natural beef dripping. “Antibiotic and hormone free bones are sourced from local grass-fed cattle with fruit and vegetables from local retailers and wholesalers, reflecting my dedication to the business is keen to support local. The apple cider vinegar comes from local orchards,” she adds.

Tourism Northern Ireland has launched a month-long celebration of food and drink in a bid to “shine a spotlight” on the region’s world-class distilleries.

The ‘Embrace a Giant Taste of October’ campaign will showcase Northern Ireland’s distillery-led experiences, celebrate local food and drink producers, and highlight collaborative chef partnerships through a series of events and immersive experiences.

From seasonal supper clubs to distillery after dark experiences with food pairings, visitors will be able to explore a vast array of food and drink events. As part of the campaign, which is being supported by Tourism NI in partnership with Food NI, twelve distilleries which are members of Tourism Northern Ireland’s NI Spirits Trail and Distillery Passport, will each host an event in collaboration with chefs and local food producers. The initiative aims to showcase the distinctiveness of Northern Ireland’s world-class, spirit- led experiences by delivering innovative, newly crafted offerings that inspire visitors to travel, book, and enjoy all that the region’s distilleries have to offer.

These experiences provide engaging new reasons to visit in October, helping to extend the season, encourage midweek and off-peak travel, and support regional economies and the operational continuity of rural businesses. The campaign will also play a key role in further positioning Northern Ireland as the ‘Home of Halloween,’ as it will provide further storytelling opportunities.

The distilleries taking part in ‘Embrace A Giant Taste of October’ include Belfast-based Titanic Distillers and McConnell’s Distillery, as well as Copeland Distillery, Rademon Estate Distillery, Hinch Distillery, Killowen Distillery and Echlinville Distillery, all in Co Down. Also taking part is Old Bushmills Distillery in Co Antrim, The Boatyard Distillery in Co Fermanagh, Wild Atlantic Distillery and Woodlab Distillery, both in Co Tyrone, and the Walled City Brewery in Derry.

Gary Quate, Food and Drink Tourism Manager at Tourism NI, said: “Embrace A Giant Taste of October celebrates the collaborative spirit of Northern Ireland’s distilleries while showcasing unique experiences developed with chefs, producers, and food and drink businesses. “This programme is the result of our sustained partnership with the Distillery Network, supporting businesses through recent experience development programmes and one-to-one mentoring to bring new experiences to market. “It’s hugely encouraging to see so many innovative experiences created as part of this campaign. We hope this partnership leaves a lasting legacy of collaboration and innovation across the food and drink sector.”

Michele Shirlow, CEO of Food NI, said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with
Tourism NI on `Embrace A Giant Taste of October’. By nominating October as Distillery Month, we’ve been able to support these businesses in developing and delivering unique experiences. We look forward to encouraging consumers to explore and support these critically important local businesses as part of this exciting month-long celebration.”

`Embrace A Giant Taste of October’ events can be seen online at https://discovernorthernireland.com/food-and-drink/embrace-a-giant-taste

Taste of Ulster and Food NI members have been well represented in the shortlist of finalists for the 2025 Food and Wine Magazine Ireland Awards.

In the Best Restaurant in Ulster category are Ox, Belfast; Roam, Belfast; Waterman, Belfast and Wine & Brine, Moira.

Contenders for the Best Chef include Stevie Toman, Ox; Gemma Austen, Era and Chris Fearon, Deanes at Queens.

The Muddlers Club, Belfast, Wine & Brine, Moira, MrDeanes, Belfast and The Waterman, Belfast are all shortlisted in the Best Wine Experience section.

The Cocktail Bar at The Merchant Hotel, Belfast has been shortlisted in the Best Cocktail Experience category.

Amy Douglas from Ox is a contender for Pastry Chef of the Year.

Declan and Joe McGirr from The Boatyard Distillery, Fermanagh are in the running for the Innovator of the Year Award.

The winners will be announced at a lunch at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin on Sunday November, 9th , 2025.

FoodNI are delighted to once again be involved in Enchanted Winter Garden for 2025. Please read all information within the application form carefully.

Applications open 25th September, and close 10th October. Final decisions to be communicated W/C 20th October.

Find application form here: https://forms.gle/n5eJFhdj5WCMGzzW9

Clandeboye Estate in Bangor has created two yoghurts in Marks and Spencer
branding as part of an exciting partnership between the food retailer and Applegreen,
Ireland’s leading motorway fuel and food retailer.
The new Greek style yoghurts are traditionally hand strained and are available in
natural and honey flavours. The distinctive M&S packaging carries the legend “Made
with whole milk from Co. Down” and is another important boost for Clandeboye in its
developing collaboration with M&S in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
For Clandeboye, the only significant producer of yoghurt here, the new products are
the first it has developed under the prestigious M&S brand. Clandeboye branded
flavoured and natural yoghurts have been on sale in M&S food halls here and the
Republic for more than 12 months.
Another boost for Clandeboye in the Republic came last week in the shape of a gold
medal in the prestigious Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards for its Raspberry and
White Chocolate flavour.
Applegreen, one of Ireland’s leading roadside retailers, and M&S Food are
expanding their partnership following a successful first year experiment. The
partnership will bring a wide range of M&S food to more consumers than ever.
Applegreen currently has around 200 outlets on the island. It also operates in Britain,
parts of Europe and the US.
They have signed an exclusive 10-year agreement that will add up to 60 new M&S
Food sections at Applegreen locations. Applegreen has opened an initial five M&S
Food ‘shop in shop’ outlets over the past 12 months. These stores carry a range of
up to 400 M&S products, and trading has already exceeded expectations.
M&S Food at Applegreen stores feature the best of the high-end grocer’s convenience
food, including fresh fruit, salads, Irish sandwiches, lunch on the go, dinner options
and a selection of other M&S favourites.
All of the new M&S at Applegreen outlets will also feature Click & Collect for M&S
Clothing and selected Home product ranges.
One of the primary objectives of the partnership with Applegreen is to expand the
footprint of M&S Food in Ireland. The addition of 15 new locations by the end of next
year, and many more in the years to come, will enable Applegreen to offer top
quality, trusted value M&S products to a broader customer base in Ireland.

Food NI members brought home a collective clutch of awards from The Mansion
House in Dublin on 10th September at the 2025 Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards.

In Carbonated Soft Drinks, Papas Mineral Company Longbridge Drinks won Silver
for their Pink Grapefruit Soda. Their Clove Cordial (Gold) and Irish Sisters Non-
Alcoholic Fiery Ginger (Silver) made it a hat-trick.
In the Breakfast categories, White’s Oats won Gold for their Aldi Kavanagh’s Double
Oat Granola and Silver for their Aldi Kavanagh’s Organic Porridge Oats.
In Snacks, Glens of Antrim Crisps Shindigs Rockin Irish Roots- Crinkle Cut Whiskey
Smoked Bacon Potato Crisps got a Silver prize.
Dundarave won Gold in the Preserves section with their Lemon and Champagne
Marmalade. Deli Lites took a Silver with their Deli and Firey Turk Bagel and another
Silver for their Foodservice Braeburn Irish Rarebit, Pulled Ham and Mature Cheddar
Tosta.
There was a Silver award for Crawford’s Rock Seaweed Salt n Chilli Chocolate.
Clandeboye Estate won Gold in the Yogurt category with their Raspberry and White
Chocolate Greek Style Yoghurt.
In Drinks, Long Meadow Cider won Silver for their Aldi Medium Cider and Bronze for
their Cullens Apple Cider. GetEr Brewed won a Bronze prize for their Belgian Triple
Prime Time of Your Life beer and Silver for Frankie and Eileen’s Craft Gin. Woodlab
Distillery took a Silver award for their Symphonia Irish Apple Rum.
In Foodservice, Long Meadow Cider won another Gold for their Apple Cider Vinegar.
This product was also given the Foodservice Product of the Year Award. Long
Meadow also won Silver for their Pure Apple Juice. There was a Silver for Irish Black
Butter.
Emma Connelly from Glastry Farm Ice Cream was Commended in the Rising Star of
the Year Category.

Well done to all our members!