Northern Ireland’s Finnebrogue Artisan, a specialist in nitrite-free bacon, ham and sausages as well as plant-based options, has won the Product of the Year title in the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards 2021 which took place on 23 November.

Finnebrogue, which is based at Downpatrick, Co Down, gained the prestigious awards for its unique Naked Smoked Streaky Bacon, part of its successful Naked range of pork products which are now on sale in major supermarkets throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. In addition to its market leading Naked range, Finnebrogue has pioneered the development of plant-based foods and now operates one of the biggest plants for these products in Europe.

As well as winning the coveted Product of the Year at the event, Northern Ireland companies gained a series of major awards across many food and drink categories in what was another excellent year for local food and drink producers, both large and small and including several artisan enterprises.  

The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, held annually, recognise and celebrate the best in retail, wholesale and foodservice food and drink products available on the island of Ireland.

The other Northern Ireland winners were:

Armagh Cider Company, Portadown, Co Armagh – Gold for Armagh Craft Cider Sweet produced for Aldi

Big Pot, Cookstown, Co Tyrone – Gold for Vegan Butternut Squash & Chipotle Bean    

Burren Balsamics, Richhill, Co Armagh – Gold for Balsamic Sugar in Store Cupboard Items and Gold for Blackberry and Thyme Infused Balsamic Vinegar in Oils, Vinegars and Dressings.

Crust and Crumb, Derrylin, Fermanagh – Gold for Lidl Sourdough Pizza Half & Half – Goat’s Cheese, Onion & Spinach / ‘Nduja, Picante Salami and Red Peppers and Silver for Lidl Deluxe Tomato & Mozzarella Sourdough Pizza

Daily Bake, Armagh, Co Armagh – Gold for Lidl Deluxe Beef Ragu and Gold for Lidl Deluxe Chicken & Mushroom Risotto       

Deli-Lites, Warrenpoint, Co Down – silver for Pulled Ham Hock and Whole Grain Mustard Tosta in Foodservice Food to Go and Gold Aldi Carlos Mexican Bean Enchiladas, in Ready Meals and Bronze for Applegreen Salt and Chilli Chicken Wrap in Food to Go

Dunbia, Dungannon, Co Tyrone – Gold Lidl Deluxe Irish Pork Porchetta with Lemon and Herbs, Dunbia

Finnebrogue Artisan, Downpatrick, Co Down – Product of the Year and Gold for Naked Smoked Streaky Bacon and Bronze for Naked Unsmoked Back Bacon

Glens of Antrim Crisps, Cushendall, Co Antrim – Silver for Dunnes Stores Simply Better Hand Cooked Clogherhead Sea Salt & White Wine Vinegar Crisps and Silver Sweet Sriracha Chilli Crisps

Golden Popcorn, Antrim, Co Antrim – Bronze for Gourmet Crunch Thai Sweet Chilli 5 x18g Multipack in Snacks

Green Family Fingers, Larne, Co Antrim – Silver for Berry Bliss Raspberry Granola in Snacks

Hellbent, Belfast – Bronze for Boerewors Kith and Kind Sausages

Karro Food, Cookstown, Co Tyrone – Gold Lidl Deluxe Irish Stuffed Pork Fillet with Apple and Rosemary Stuffing.

Mash Direct, Comber, Co Down – Bronze Carrot and Parsnip Mash

Milgro, Coleraine, Co Derry – Gold for Flame Grilled Steak Flavour Crispy Onions and Bronze for Original Flavour Crispy Onions    

McColgan’s Foods, Strabane, Co Tyrone – Bronze for Lidl Deluxe Maple Cured Bacon and Gruyere Cheese Quiche, in Quiches

Pizzado, Portaferry, Co Down – Bronze for Choice Pizza

Rich Sauces, Newtownards, Co Down – Gold for Only Plant Based Ranch Sauce, Rich Sauces in Vegan/Vegetarian and Silver for Only Pland Based Chipotle Sauce, and Bronze for Only Plant Based Sriracha Sauce

TS Foods, Castlewellan, Co Down – Gold for Aldi Specially Selected Cranberry, Apricot & Orange Stuffing, and Gold for Aldi Specially Selected Smoked Bacon & Butter Leek Stuffing.

Whites Oats, Tandragee, Co Armagh – Bronze Deluxe Organic Water Oats for Lidl in Breakfast Products

Willowbrook Foods, Killinchy, Co Down – Gold Aldi Specially Selected Fiery Green Stir Fry

There is a reawakening on the banks of Lough Melvin in Co Fermanagh where a 225-year-old distilling dream has become a reality.

Scotts Irish distillery, located in Garrison in West Fermanagh, has produced a new Irish whisky based on the story of local man Angus Scott, who weaved his distilling magic on the waters around the village more than 200 years ago.

Scotts Irish Whisky will launch on the 25^th of November with a charity auction taking place for the first bottle. The charity auction is part of a night celebrating and outlining the future development plans of the London Irish Centre and in attendance will be patron of the Centre, Dermot O’Leary, as well as long-time supporter, celebrity chef Richard Corrigan.

The first batch of 3000 bottles goes on sale from the 26 November and is sure to become a collector’s item.

The whisky, which is described as appealing, approachable and of uncompromising quality, traces its lineage to Angus Scott, a native of Garrison who emigrated to America where he made his fortune distilling and selling bourbon in the new world.

Clarke Millar has won new business for its convenient ready meal snacks range from leading discounter Poundland’s Northern Ireland stores.

The company, which is based in Dunmurry, county Antrim is supplying Mulligan’s, a successful range of branded convenient, microwaveable snacks – burgers, hot dogs, chicken wraps and sub rolls and Millar Family Food sausage rolls (4 packs).

In addition to the quality snack foods, Poundland has listed the company’s flavoured milk range in Strawberry, Chocolate and Banana flavours. The drink is supplied in a 200ml carton with a straw, which is ideal for school lunchboxes.

Mark Hermsen, Commercial Director of Clarke Millar, a family owned food manufacturing business, describes the new listings as “an important expansion of the company’s longstanding relationship with Poundland”.

Clarke Millar is now among one of Northern Ireland’s leading manufacturers of convenient food and drinks. In addition to extensive business in Northern Ireland with major retailers such as Poundland, Iceland, Musgrave and Eurospar/Spar, the company has business in Scotland and in the Republic of Ireland.

As well as its meat snacking brands, the company has a premium flavoured milk range in Millar Moo which has enjoyed a tremendous near five-fold growth in 2021, and Zumi orange drink.

Multi-award winning Irish Black Butter is now available to chefs in hotels, restaurants and canteens throughout the island of Ireland from a new distribution deal.

The unique savoury/sweet spread made with Armagh Bramley apples, treacle and spices is now being distributed by Dublin-based La Rousse Foods, one of Ireland’s leading food distributors to the hospitality sector in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Commenting on the distribution deal, Alastair Bell, the founding managing director of Irish Black Butter, a unique spread which has won UK Great Taste Awards, included a coveted three stars, and Bla na hEireann Awards, says: “The agreement, a very significant business boost for us especially in the Irish Republic, a developing market with huge potential for us. It’s hugely encouraging for us to have won this listing with such an important food business in the Republic. We’ve been involved with La Rousse for some time and have supplied them with samples to test with their customers. We have seen chefs specially in Northern Ireland such as Michael Deane of Deane’s high profile and very successful restaurants in Belfast coming up with original dishes using Irish Black Butter as an ingredient.”

“The interest in the spread from customers has now encouraged La Rousse to decide to add it to its portfolio of products for the hospitality sector. As well as being popular as an ingredient for meals, Irish Black Butter is also successful as a condiment for cheeseboards,” Alastair adds.

The small company, which produces the spread in Northern Ireland, has developed distribution in the Republic to retailers through an agreement with Sheridan’s in Dublin, the country’s main supplier of a range of cheeses and accompaniments.

La Rousse Foods is an independent, 100 percent Irish-owned company, specialising in the supply of fine foods to premium food establishments since 1992. The distribution business now offers a wide range of fresh, seasonal and innovative produce from a network of local and international producers, always keeping informed of the latest food trends.

Clandeboye Estate in Northern Ireland has been named Product of the Year 2021 in the influential UK Quality Food Awards for its Madagascan Vanilla Greek Style Yoghurt, a product which was also chosen as Best Yoghurt earlier in the week.

Based in Clandeboye Estate, near Bangor in Co Down, the small company is Northern Ireland’s producer of luxury yoghurt for retailers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Clandeboye has developed a portfolio of natural and fruit-infused yoghurts from milk from a pedigree herd of Holstein/Jersey dairy cows which graze the estate’s rich pasture land.

This is the first time that a Northern Ireland company has won the coveted Product of the Year title in the prestigious UK Quality Food Awards. In addition to the quality award, the independent company has won UK Great Taste Awards over the years for its natural and natural fruit yoghurts.

Other Northern Ireland companies collected awards across all sectors in food production, making it one of the best-ever years for the industry here, the region’s biggest single manufacturer and one which exports products to over 60 global markets, the most important of which are Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Other Northern Ireland successes in the Quality Awards 2021 were:

Avondale Foods, Lurgan, Co Armagh

Winner for Suoergreen, Quinoa and Kale Salad for Asda

Commended for Extra Special Coleslaw for Asda

Dunbia, Dungannon, Co Tyrone

Winner – Unflavoured Beef Steaks Lidl Birchwood Steakhouse Selection Extra Thick Cut, Grass Fed 12oz Sirloin Beef Steak 36 Days Matured

Beef Joints Highly Commended Lidl Birchwood 28 Day Matured Beef Sirloin Steak with Parmesan & Thyme Butter

Burgers, Meatballs and Kofta Winner for Co-op Irresistible Rib and Brisket Burger with Creamy Vintage Cheddar and Caramelised Onion

Finnebrogue Artisan, Downpatrick, Co Down

Winner in Vegan Meat and Fish Substitutes for Plant Based Fishless Fillets for Asda

Winner in Meat Substitutes for Naked Without the Cluck No Chicken Kievs for Asda

Winner Plant Based Chorizo-Style Sausages for Asda

Highly Commended Naked Without the Splash No Fish Goujons

Shortlisted
Asda Plant Based Meat Free Sausages

Shortlisted

Sausages Asda Butchers Selection Maple & Bacon Sausage Squares

Mash Direct, Comber, Co Down – Commended for Curry Chips

UMI Foods, Armagh, Co Armagh

Winner in Prepared Vegetables for The Best Oak Smoked Cheddar & Sundried Tomato Mini Stuffed Mushrooms for Morrisons

The Quality Food Awards are designed to recognise and reward those products which are leading the way in the market. They have a strong influence on food retailing especially among major supermarkets.

Research shows the awards showcase the quality of a winning product and bring confidence to consumers and increase in sales. It shows that 74 percent of consumers would trust the quality of a food product carrying the quality logo; 72 percent of consumers had seen the logo before; and 68 percent said they were more likely to buy a product which had won one of the quality awards.

Plans have been approved for the conversion of the historic Titanic Pump-House in Belfast into a new whiskey distillery and world class tourist attraction. 

A listed building in the heart of Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, the Pump-House, along with its neighbouring dry dock, first opened in 1911 and is the world’s only authentic Titanic landmark. 

Now, Belfast drinks company Titanic Distillers has been given the green light by Belfast City Council to convert the Pump-house into a working distillery with associated visitor tour.

Included in the plans are the installation of three large stills on a mezzanine floor overlooking the original pumping engines which are situated deep in the pump-well.  

All the original pump equipment and associated internal historic features of the building will be retained and available to view as part of a visitor tour, with tourists also able to relax in the adjacent tourism centre, which will include an on-site ‘speakeasy’ bar and café with free wi-fi, gift shop, exhibition space and an enlarged mezzanine floor with tasting rooms.