Lidl Northern Ireland procured a record £455 million worth of goods from the local agri-food industry last year (FY22/23 ending February) according to its annual Supplier Impact Report. This is an increase of more than 30% from £347 million in FY21/22.

Furthermore, the report also found that of the £455 million, £390 million worth of goods were exported globally through Lidl’s expansive international store network, showcasing the best of Northern Ireland produce across thousands of Lidl stores in Great Britain and Ireland and as far as Romania, Greece and Cyprus.

This year’s report once again highlights the retailer’s significant economic contribution to the agri-food industry and underscores its longstanding commitment to sourcing produce locally. The investment figures were revealed as Lidl Northern Ireland tees up to celebrate 25 years in the region next year, marking the opening of its first store in Cookstown in 1999.

From Willowbrook’s fresh salads and Hellbent’s distinctive spicy sausages, both proudly made in Newtownards, to tasty baked treats from Holmes Bakery in Portadown and mouth-watering ice cream from Dale Farm in Belfast, Cookstown and Kilrea, Lidl shoppers across the globe are being offered an increasingly expansive line of authentic local produce from Northern Ireland.

Alongside its established supplier network, Lidl Northern Ireland is also already committed to backing home-grown businesses to realise their potential through its industry-leading Kickstart Supplier Development Programme. The programme supports SMEs with training and mentoring in areas such as quality control, packaging, marketing, public relations and other important aspects of business development, as well as selling those businesses’ products on the shelves of Lidl’s stores across the island.

Now in its sixth year, the retailer has invested more than €8 million in growing more than 400 small and medium sized suppliers across the island of Ireland through the Kickstart initiative.

Ivan Ryan, Regional Managing Director, Lidl Northern Ireland said:

“As the region’s fastest-growing supermarket retailer, I’m very proud of the positive contribution Lidl Northern Ireland continues to make to the local food and drink industry, thanks to our longstanding supplier partnerships and initiatives like our Kickstart Supplier Development Programme.

“Our Supplier Impact Report demonstrates just how significant those schemes are in supporting an entire network of local producers to grow, develop, and enjoy success – not just locally in Northern Ireland but also across Europe and beyond through our global Lidl store network.

“As we look ahead to our ‘silver’ anniversary next year – marking 25 years of Lidl Northern Ireland – we look forward to investing further in our local supplier network and to bringing even more great quality, locally sourced produce at great value to the customers in our ever-growing network of stores across the region.”

J.P. Scally, Chief Executive Officer of Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland, said:

“Growing our local supplier network has always been a priority for us and over the last two decades we have worked hard to establish and develop a robust and agile local supply chain.

“We remain committed to supporting local food and drink producers and look forward to building on this in the years ahead, as we work to deliver on our ambitious growth plans, expand our store network and employee base in Northern Ireland, and open up export opportunities for the region for wider industry growth.”

The Supplier Impact Report launch coincides with the publication of Lidl Northern Ireland’s financial results for the 2022/23 period which recorded turnover of £434 million.

Lidl Northern Ireland has powered through almost a quarter of a century with its high-quality, low-price proposition, and has firmly embedded itself as a local brand committed to supplying fresh, home-grown produce at exceptional quality and value.

For more information, please visit lidl-ni.co.uk

For more information on the Kickstart Supplier Development Programme, visit lidl-ni.co.uk/kickstart

Food NI member food producer Milgro was successful at this year’s Irish Quality Food Awards, with two of their crispy onion products taking both a gold and silver gong in the Meal Accompaniments category.

Their Original Flavour ONiT ONiONS! won a gold award and their Flame Grilled ONiT ONiONS! came home with silver.

The family-run business launched their crispy onions under the ONiT ONiONS! brand in the Republic of Ireland at the end of 2022 at selected Tesco Ireland locations. Throughout 2023, the availability of ONiT ONiONS! has rapidly increased across the ROI, with the products now available in even more Tesco Ireland locations and independent butchers, with more well known retailers to be announced in the coming weeks.

Milgro have been the largest grower, packer and processor of onions in Northern Ireland since it was established over 30 years ago on the outskirts of Limavady. They brought the ONiT ONiONS! brand to market to cater for consumers who wanted to add an instant burst of flavour and crunch to their meals and snacks.

Sold in fully recyclable and resealable packaging, the crispy onions have exceeded sales projections and have become a firm favourite with some high-profile foodie influencers across the country.

Speaking about the win, Gerald Miller, managing director at Milgro Onions said: “It’s a real honour that both of our ONiT ONiONS! products received awards at this year’s IQFAs. We have been available for less than one year in the Republic of Ireland so it’s very exciting that the quality and taste of our crispy onions has already been recognised at these prestigious awards.”

Ian Miller, Milgro commercial director added: “The feedback from retailers and consumers alike has been hugely positive since our launch, and to now receive awards from the IQFA is a real testament not only to our products, but to the team here at Milgro who work hard to grow, harvest, process and fry our crispy onions year round.”

ONiT ONiONS! can be used in a variety of ways, including to serve on top of steaks, burgers, hotdogs, chicken, soups, sandwiches, stews and curries, and can also be enjoyed as a standalone snack.

Traditional non-alcoholic ginger wine from Tandragee, Co Armagh is in the running to be named the UK top artisan drink product of 2023 at a major international food fair in London.

Jackson Roze, a family enterprise, is listed among four for New Product of the Year at the Speciality and Fine Food Fair at the Olympia Exhibition Centre in London for its unique traditional non-alcoholic ginger wine.

Running from Monday to Tuesday evening, Speciality Food, among the biggest European showcases of artisan food and drink, attracts exhibitors and visitors from the UK and other parts of Europe and is part of the annual Great Taste Awards, the final stages of which will also be held in London on Monday night.

Six Northern Ireland food producers are in the running for the Supreme Champion and Northern Ireland’s Regional Fork for top local food at the awards. They are: Baronscourt Estate Venison from Newtownstewart; Ballyboley Dexters, Greyabbey; Hannan Meats, Moira; Maud’s Ice Cream, Carrickfergus; Morelli’s Ice Cream, Coleraine; and William Grant Bacon, Londonderry.

The influential UK New Product of the Year Award features Jackson Roze’s non- alcoholic ginger wine and is separate from Great Taste. It celebrates a product at Speciality and Fine Food Fair 2023 that has demonstrated creativity and innovation at the heart of its concept. Jackson Roze was listed following its success in striking a gold star in this year’s UK Great Taste. It is up against three products – cheese and beverages- from Britain.

The judges were looking for pioneering credentials, high quality construction, a clear marketing strategy and a product that comes from a brand that is constantly innovating and experimenting to inspire its customers. 

One of the few local companies to exhibit at the two-day showcase, Jackson Roze has, in addition, been named as a finalist in the Blas na hEireann, Irish National Awards and the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, the finals of which take place on Wednesday.

The highly acclaimed company is a family run, artisan drinks producer of a traditional drink that has been passed down through their family generations for 100 years from great grandparents. The ginger wine is a luxury drink that is gluten free and is said to offer health benefits.

It’s claimed that ginger wine can reduce blood pressure; help arthritis; relieve pain; suppress nausea; aid digestion; and counter cold and flu. The wine is non-alcoholic in that it is not fermented and doesn’t contain yeast. It is also free from colourings, preservatives and gluten.

The artisan business was formed by husband and wife team Andrew and Nicky Jackson earlier in the year. Daughters Rebekkah (13), Zara (12), Olivia (10) and Eliana (6) also help in the business at weekends and during the school holidays. They give the family venture the Roze part of its distinctive corporate identity.

“We set up the company to produce a homemade, traditional, non-alcoholic ginger wine that’s based on a recipe from my great grandparents,” Nicky, who has also been shortlisted in Britain for Entrepreneur of the Year, explains. “We had been making the ginger wine, especially at Christmas, over many years and were encouraged by family and friends to think about turning it into a small business. Nicky has a background in financial management and now looks after the day-to-day running of the family business. Andrew adds marketing knowledge and expertise to the artisan enterprise, which is now a Food NI member.

Nicky is quick to point out that the ginger wine is not being sold as a cure or to help with any symptoms. Anyone on medications is advised by the couple to consult their doctor before taking ginger preparations. “Our ginger wine is a family recipe that is more than 100 years old.  It was used by older generations as a pick-me-up for when someone wasn’t well. The sugar content helped to build them up while the ginger helped to alleviate symptoms,” she adds.

The ginger wine, she says, is “so versatile that it can cater for all tastes and ideas for consumption. “There is no need to dilute it as it comes ready to serve. Hot water, for instance, can be added to a glass for a lovely warming ginger drink.

Food and drink entrepreneurs Louis Ludik and Schalk van der Merwe have diversified into craft brewing to accompany their success in producing South African influenced beef sausages, burgers, meat balls and pork dishes here from mostly local ingredients.

They own and run Hellbent in Belfast, an ambitious and innovation-led food company which has established Boerewors coiled beef sausages in particular on supermarket shelves throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Hellbent, a Food NI member company, heard last week that the unique sausages have been listed by leading German discount grocer Lidl in its network of supermarkets in England, Scotland and Wales. The company, which has longstanding relationships with Lidl in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, gained its biggest deal to date with the supermarket in Britain.

In addition to its range of foods which use local beef and pork with a blend of distinctive spices from the duo’s South African homeland, the company is also marketing quality red and white wines and Homefire brandy, beverage from collaborations with specialist producers in the Cape Town region, now among the world’s leaders in premium wines and brandy.

Their latest innovation is ‘Beneath the Copper Sun’ lager under the Our Brewery by Get ‘Er Brewed identity. Get ‘Er Brewed at Randalstown in Co Antrim is vastly experienced and successful in all aspects of the brewing industry here. The team there helped to develop the recipe with Hellbent for the unique lager and then to produce the collaborative beer in handy cans.

“Our lager is a unique blend of South African flavours and hops. It’s African born, Irish made collaboration,” explains Louis. He says the move into brewing was “a logical development” for Hellbent. “It’s a step that’s been in our business thinking for some time. It made sound sense to develop a lager because our sausages and burgers are frequently grilled on barbecues. Our great beer, Beneath the Copper Sun, is ideal when grilling meats on the barbecue or for any other occasion,” Louis adds.

“We use Rooibos Tea from South Africa to give the lager a light floral and honey-like taste and its distinctive copper hue,” he continues. “It’s a light and refreshing drink that’s perfect for any barbecue or for dinking at any time,” he adds. Louis continues that the goal underpinning the new beer is “to unite cultures”. “South Africa is a mash to cultures – Dutch, French, English, Asian, Zulu, Xhosa to name a few, all mixing in the South African heat.

“The lager is a nod to this. It’s brewed in Northern Ireland from Belgian malts and based on a German lager recipe. This shows that good things can happen when cultures collide. All our products reflect a cultural collision from our focus on building relationships between Northern Ireland and South Africa “The beer really is one of a kind. It’s the first time that a lager has been infused with Rooibos tea, which is a firm favourite in South Africa. Rooibos is a uniquely South African tea made at Cederberg in the Western Cape region,” he says.

Rooibos is a herbal tea that’s seen as a good alternative to black or green tea, especially for people who want to avoid caffeine or tannins. It is also reported to rich in antioxidants, which may have health benefits.

“The brewery experimented with a small batch brew to ensure all the flavours worked together well. Once we were all happy with the quality and taste, the beer was scaled up to full production,” explains Louis. “Our challenge now is to increase awareness of the lager and grow sales here and further afield. It’s now an integral part of our growing portfolio of foods and drinks.

Louis and Schalk came to Northern Ireland to play rugby for Ulster and subsequently launched Hellbent, in 2018, to create “delicious culture collisions” of Irish beef and pork with South African spices. Both have also continued their roles in rugby through coaching local teams. Louis, a marketer from Johannesburg by profession, and Schalk, who hails from a farming background at Tzaneen in South Africa’s fertile agri-food Limpopo region, created the distinctive recipes for all their successful meats.

The Hellbent beef sausages have also won UK Great Taste awards and have been listed by leading supermarkets including Eurospar and Lidl in Northern Ireland, Tesco, Aldi and Lidl in the Republic. Boerewors – the name means ‘farmer’s sausage’ in Africaans – are traditionally made from 90 percent ground beef with spices such as coriander, black pepper and nutmeg.

Food NI members were in winning form at this year’s Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards. The winners were announced at an event in Dublin on Wednesday, 6th September, 2023.

Milgro Onions Onit Crispy Onions Original Flavour took the Gold slot. ONiT! There was a Silver award for their Crispy Onions Flame Grilled Flavour in the Meal Accompaniments section. Morelli’s Ice Cream won two Gold awards for their Simply Better Dunnes Stores’ Irish Made Butterscotch Ice Cream and Irish Made Carmelised Hazelnut Ice Cream. Their Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Made Mixed Berry Ice Cream took a Bronze prize.

In Ready Meals, Karri Kitchen Mango Chicken Curry was awarded Gold. Karro Foods’ Deluxe Pork Fillet Medallions with a Creamy Apple Cider Sauce for Lidl won a Bronze award. Carol’s Stock Market’s Free Range Chicken Broth and Slow Cooked Beef Bone Broth- both for Dunnes Simply Better range won Silver awards.

Jackson Roze Extra Strength Ginger Wine won a Silver Award as did Moocha Kombucha for their Organic Elderflower and Lemon Kombucha White’s Speedicook Oats Organic Oats for Aldi won a Bronze prize as did Clandeboye Yoghurt’s Madagascan Vanilla for Aldi. In Drinks, McCracken’s Premium Pilsner won Bronze

Congratulations to all!

A Derry based chef and artisan producer has won a Great Taste award for his acclaimed Stout City Loaf.

Food lecturer John Crowe who runs Carrick Foods based in Derry~Londonderry picked up a up a highly prized 2-stars in the prestigious Great Taste awards. Judges described the loaf as
having a “rich natural flavour” which was “above and beyond” delicious.
John said he was thrilled to have won the award adding that it was a dream come true.

He said: “I am so proud to be adding the prestigious black and gold Great Taste badge of honour to our rich dark succulent stout & date wheaten loaf (Stout City Loaf).

“Being recognised with a Great Taste 2-stars means so much to independent producers such as myself, as it makes all the hard work and determination worth it! Great Taste is the most recognised accolade for taste and quality in the food and drink industry, so it’s a huge moment.

“Our Stout City loaf uses the finest grade flours combined with the natural sweetness of rich caramel scented dried fruits. To contrast this, we sourced a locally crafted creamy oyster Stout (Foyster) from The Wall City Brewery.

“I have kept my childhood memories with me throughout my career, enjoying the connection with food, a sense of pride crafting, and creating food products that satisfy people’s hungers and desires.

“So when I had the opportunity to develop these products it felt so right, natural and true, both to look back, but also looking forward. 
“My journey has now come full circle culminating in the creation of these bespoke artisan food creations under the Carrick Foods brand reminding me that foods is rooted in traditions, flavours & family.”

Great Taste is a stamp of excellence organised by the Guild of Fine Food. All products in the line-up for judging are blind tasted before entering a robust, layered judging process. This year, judging took place over 89 days in Dorset and London, with a panel of more than 500 judges putting the products to the test. The line-up saw food and drink products submitted from an extraordinary 109 different countries across the world.

The Stout City Loaf is available from a range of independent stores across the North West.
RRP: £4.00 (400g)

For more information about Carrick Foods, visit https://tr.ee/XIiX8BldLV