Ireland’s number one chicken brand Moy Park is celebrating 80 years of leading expertise with the finest quality produce and is launching a series of initiatives to support local communities in the areas where they operate.

To mark the company’s 80^th year, Moy Park has revealed its ‘This is Home’ community initiative to reward 80 homegrown sports clubs, schools and local charities across Northern Ireland and GB.

Moy Park will support 20 grassroots sports clubs with bursaries and sports equipment, celebrating the best of its communities and local talent. In addition, 20 schools will be selected to receive a £500 bursary and 20 charities will be nominated to be surprised with £1000. A further 20 bursaries will be awarded to various organisations, celebrating 20 more key moments in the year.

Moy Park’s success story began in 1943 in the village of Moy, County Tyrone and now the business spans 700 farms across NI and GB, with 12 production sites and 9,000 employees.

The first element of the ‘This is Home’ campaign will see Moy Park revisit some of the charities it has supported over the last 80 years. Employees in the company’s NI and GB sites are being asked to nominate 20 of the charities the company has supported throughout the last 80 years. The nominated charities will then be announced in early September and will each be surprised with a £1,000 donation.

Ellen Wright, Senior Brand Manager said:

“We are so proud to be celebrating our 80^th anniversary and there’s no better way to celebrate with the public than to support our local communities and charities, those we place at the heart of our business.

“We’re thrilled to launch ‘This is Home’ and give back to those who’ve supported us throughout the past 80 years of success, as Moy Park has grown to be an integral part of many homes within our communities.

“It will be great to revisit some of the many charities we’ve supported over the years, with many donations made to date towards a variety of very worthy causes.

“Having also just announced our new charity partnership with Sands, the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, we’re delighted to have awarded them with the very first of our £1,000 to help support the amazing work they do. We are extremely honoured to have our company-wide partnership with Sands.

“As well as our charity initiative, Moy Park will celebrate 80 years in lots of different ways, including a ‘Home Grown Farmers’ series which has started to play out on our website and social media platforms and our ‘Home for Dinner’ TV campaign due to launch in September, so keep your eyes peeled.”

Newry-based Irish whiskey bonder and blender, Two Stacks Irish Whiskey has announced the rollout of two of its best-selling products into Tesco stores in Northern Ireland.

In a new partnership, Tesco Northern Ireland will now stock Two Stacks Dram In A Can and Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur on shelves across 26 stores.

Two Stacks Dram In A Can

Spearheading an innovative new way to drink Irish whiskey, shoppers can now pick up the cult-favourite Dram In A Can, a first-of-its-kind 100ml can of Two Stacks Irish whiskey that blends the rich heritage of Irish whiskey with modern convenience.

Designed for ‘on-the-go’ whiskey moments, this sustainably produced can is eight times lighter than a conventional miniature bottle and welcomes shoppers to enjoy the distinct taste of Two Stacks’ award-winning blended or single malt Irish whiskey at an accessible price point.

Dram In A Can Single Malt Double Barrel is a ready-to-go can of Irish single malt whiskey, matured in both ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, with tasting notes of deep oak spice, wild dark fruits and a lingering nutty finish.

Dram In A Can Complex Blend offers whiskey drinkers an approachable way to enjoy Two Stacks’ award-winning Complex Blend, and expert five-part blend of grain, malt and pot-stilled whiskeys.

Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur

As the world’s first Irish Cream liqueur to blend four different styles of whiskey, Two Stacks Double Irish Cream Liqueur uses eight times more Irish whiskey in this handcrafted blend than the market standard.

Created in collaboration with renowned Irish cream liqueur makers, Robert A. Merry & Co, this luxurious new liqueur offers a delicately balanced flavour and a velvety, rich sip.

A new chapter in Irish whiskey

Two Stacks’ new partnership with the supermarket giant follows a successful four years for the Newry-based business, with Dram In A Can surpassing 1 million cans sold worldwide since its launch in 2021, and several global distribution and travel retail deals underway, including Dubai Duty Free, Woolworths in Australia and Whole Foods in the US.

Speaking on the new partnership, Tesco Northern Ireland Buying Manager, Michael Crealey comments, “We’re thrilled to have Two Stacks Irish Whiskey products on Tesco shelves across Northern Ireland. Crafted with passion and precision, these locally produced, award-winning Irish whiskeys offer Tesco customers an exciting new tasting experience at the right price.

With Two Stacks Dram In A Can, we’re helping to make premium Irish whiskey more accessible to the everyday shopper, without breaking the bank or having to commit to a full-sized bottle.”

Two Stacks co-founder, Shane McCarthy adds, “Two Stacks Irish Whiskey is excited to announce its partnership with Tesco Northern Ireland. Championing quality and accessibility, Tesco is the perfect home for our whiskey creations.

Irish whiskey is a notoriously tight-knit category, and we’re excited to welcome new and seasoned whiskey drinkers to a new chapter in enjoying our native spirit. We feel that, as a nation, Irish whiskey is ours to own and nurture as a craft, and making it more accessible with affordable, high-quality products like Dram In A Can is important to us.”

Two Stacks Dram In A Can and Two Stacks Double Cream Liqueur are now available at select Tesco locations in Northern Ireland. Dram In A Can is 43% ABV and priced at £5 per 100ml can. Two Stacks Double Cream Irish Liqueur is bottled at 17.5% ABV and is priced at £25 for 700ml.

Armagh’s Food & Cider Weekend is back this September with a tasty line-up of new events, fresh features and an unrivalled tasting menu designed to deliver a uniquely memorable experience worth sharing.

From artisan markets, delectable tasting specials, banquets and cidery tours to fiery cooking demos and foraging for food, the island of Ireland’s celebrated Orchard County promises an unrivalled gastronomic line-up for food and drink lovers that will embolden its culinary reputation.

In stunning, historical locations and amidst the county’s lush apple-laden orchards and parklands, Northern Ireland’s official Food Heartland has more than 40 standout events planned from September which celebrate the best food, history and culture of the Cathedral City and its surroundings at harvest time.

Backed by award-winning local chefs, producers and food experts, this year’s Armagh Food and Cider Weekend is once again guaranteed to be Northern Ireland’s biggest food and harvest celebration.

Deputy Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Cllr Sorchá McGeown, said:

“Outstanding food, quality ingredients and world class cider are always reasons to celebrate which is why we’re delighted to welcome back visitors from near and far to experience the fresh menu and new crop of activities at this year’s Armagh Food & Cider Weekend.

Packed with great places to eat, and vibrant markets, come along with family and friends to indulge in a culinary kick through our city and enjoy the region’s best produce in a one-of-a-kind destination you’ll want to come back to. Good food and drink are always on the table in our Food Heartland”.

Crannagael House – where Armagh’s apple story officially began – is a big feature in this year’s programme. Award-winning 4 Vicars team Gareth Reid and his wife Kasia will be serving up a sumptuous Celebration of Cider and Cheese event showcasing the best of local produce, as well as the chance to savour a delicious Sunday lunch prepared by The Cook and The Gardener in stunning Georgian surroundings.

Across the long weekend, well known harvest ambassadors the McKeever family at Long Meadow Cider Company will host a series of special events including a Wine V Cider evening and a hugely popular ‘Flash Fiction’ event for new and experienced writers.

In Markethill, at the edge of Gosford Park, lively food aficionado team ‘On the Hoof’, which specialises in outdoor woodfire cookery, will share its expertise with guests as part of a special Woodland Supper– and to learn new skills there are two Cooking with Fire events focusing on both meat and fish and concluding with a celebratory BBQ serving the scrumptious low and slow dishes lovingly prepared by you.

Fifth Quarter, Banbridge’s newest restaurant, will host a Beef Tasting Menu & Wine Tasting as well as a Wine, Cheese and Charcuterie evening, while The Vault in nearby Banbridge is offering visitors an exceptional ‘Tipsy Tea’ experience, bringing the authentic taste of Italy to County Armagh with its renowned artisan woodfired pizzas.

Multi-award-winning Blackwell House will be welcoming guests to its outstanding Pudding Club on Friday, celebrating a special line-up of delicious homemade fruity treats and drinks, followed by a decadent, luxury weekend of Afternoon Teas to ease your way through the Orchard weekend. 

Armagh Cider Company will also host its popular Cidery Tour, taking you on the journey from apple to bottle so that you can see for yourself how the magic happens!

There are also plenty of food and cider tours lined up over the weekend including a walking and coach tour, comprising great tastes and a chance to meet and chat to the local suppliers.

For more information and to book early to avoid disappointment, jump into https://visitarmagh.com/festivals/food-cider/food-and-cider-events/

Moy Park branded products will be distributed and stocked across Independent stores throughout the Republic of Ireland thanks to an ongoing partnership with Pilgrim’s Food Masters.

Following Moy Park’s successful launch with Pilgrim’s Food Masters Northern Ireland direct to store team in January 2023, the brand has since joined forces with the Republic of Ireland team, which will further build brand presence and distribution in the Irish market.  

As well as being Ireland’s number one chicken brand, Moy Park is a top 15 UK food company. Its parent company, Pilgrim’s, who also owns Pilgrim’s Food Masters is one of the world’s largest high-quality food producers and leaders in global food innovation.

The Pilgrim’s Food Masters direct to store team covers eight different routes in Northern Ireland and twelve routes in the Republic of Ireland, servicing NISA, Russell’s, Costcutter, independent stores and family-owned businesses.

Elizabeth Adair, Ireland Commercial Manager at Moy Park, explains the benefits of the new partnership; “This is a fantastic opportunity for the Moy Park brand. Working in collaboration with the Pilgrim’s Food Masters direct to store team will give us greater shelf presence and increased distribution across Ireland during our 80^th anniversary year. 

We offer a wide range of products including our popular Garlic & Herb Kievs, Flamegrilled Chunky Chicken Breast Pieces and many more which are now available to list in stores across Ireland.”

Patrick Donaghy, Senior National Account Manager for Pilgrim’s Food Masters, added: “We are really excited about adding the Moy Park brand to our ROI direct to store offering – distribution of a branded chicken range will really complement the suite of products we already distribute.

We have fantastic relationships with retailers in NI and ROI supplying Denny and other well-known brands and this will further strengthen our offering of leading brands to our customers”. 

Lough Erne Resort has launched a seven-course winter tasting experience, ‘Secrets, Mysteries & Pleasures’ for its 3AA rosette Catalina Restaurant.

Created by Executive Head Chef Stephen Holland and team, the provincial menu reflects the Resort’s gastronomic offering, which is rooted in a simple philosophy – sourcing, preparing, and serving fresh food in season. 

The exquisite winter tasting menu will feature the option to enjoy premium wines from around the world, hand-picked from the luxury resort’s private cellar where diners will be given expert insight into the inspiration for each wine pairing.  

The mouth-watering food tasting experience will be £89.50pp and promises to “indulge the tastebuds and awaken the senses through a delectable combination of flavours, aromas, and creative artistry” says Executive Head Chef Stephen Holland.

Menu items include Kilkeel cod served with Irish clams and complemented with a rich laska infusion, braised local game perfectly paired with spiced hawthorn whilst a flavorsome bone marrow financier adds a real depth of flavour. Also on the menu is Thornhill duck breast accompanied with a seasonal quince butter, roasted beetroot and orange terrine, sage jus and candied pecan nut which adds a welcome bite to each mouthful. For those with a sweet tooth the delicate soufflé served alongside a refreshing mango sorbet and vanilla anglaise is sure to delight.

Stephen Holland, Executive Head Chef at Lough Erne Resort said:  “We are delighted to launch our new ‘‘Secrets, Mysteries & Pleasures’ tasting menu, which we know our guests will love.

“These dishes paint a picture of local, seasonal produce and are designed to energise, warm, and nourish diners throughout the season. “Winter is a magical season, and we look forward to experiencing it with our guests – old and new.”

The menu is available from 25^th September. To make a reservation visit www.lougherneresort.com or call on 028 6632 3230.  

Several Food NI members are in the running for Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards 2023. Those shortlisted in the Food to Go section include Deli Lites Bretzel Sourdough Pulled Ham Hock and Mature Cheddar Tosta and Deli Lites Mexican Inspired Nacho Chicken Tosta. Whites Speedicook Organic Oats and Premium Porridge, both for Aldi, are in the mix for Ambient Breakfast Products. In the Christmas Side Dishes, Willowbrook Foods are finalists in Christmas Side Dishes with Shredded Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze for Lidl and Specially Selected Cauliflower Cheese, Specially Selected Goose Fat Potatoes and Specially Selected Red Cabbage- all for Aldi. They are also listed for the Lidl Chicken Caesar Salad Bowl in Food to Go.

Three of Morelli’s Ice-Creams –Butterscotch, Caramelised Hazelnut and Mixed Berry- all for Dunnes Stores Simply Better have made the shortlist in the Ice Cream and Lollies Section as has Glastry Farm Ice-Cream’s Yellowman Ice Cream.

McCracken’s Premium Pilsner is a finalist in the Lager category. Mash Direct Beer Battered Onion Rings and Milgro’s ONIt Flame Grilled and Original Crispy Onions are shortlisted in the Meal Accompaniments section while Corndale Farm has two products in the running in the Meat Antipasti
and Sliced Meats category. They are Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Irish Chorizo and Irish Salami with Fennel.

In Soft Drinks, Moocha Kombucha’s Organic Lemon and Elderflower and Mixed Berry Kombuchas were both shortlisted as is Jackson Roze Extra Strength Ginger Wine.

Finally, Clandeboye’s Madagascan Vanilla Yoghurt for Aldi is one of the contenders in the Yoghurt
category.

The awards, which are in their 10th year, will be held at a ceremony in the Mansion Room in Dublin on Wednesday 6th September, 2023.

Good luck to all finalists.