Global food innovation award for Irish Black Butter
Irish Black Butter from Portrush has won the artisan category, in the World Food
Innovation Awards at the big International Food Exhibition (IFE) in London. The
company is a Food NI member.
IFE judges at the International Food and Drink Exhibition (IFE) named Irish Black
Butter, a small enterprise founded by Co Antrim businessman Alastair Bell to create
‘a new taste of Ireland’, the winner in the prestigious awards.
The multi-award-winning sweet/savour sauce was the only local product in the
awards that attract the attention of retailers and suppliers from the UK, Europe and
further afield.
Founded by Alastair in 2017, the sauce, which is made from Armagh Bramley
apples, has already collected a string of international food awards for outstanding
taste and premium quality including several UK Great Taste awards.
The IFE World Food Innovation Award recognises the most innovative food and
drink and ground breaking ideas from across the globe and provides business
opportunities in international markets.
Alastair, who has a farming background, says: “Winning the IFE World Food
Innovation Award was a fantastic boost for the business and will help to raise the
profile of Irish Black Butter around the world. We are already selling in a couple of
export markets especially the US.
The Co Antrim entrepreneur was up against artisan competitors such as Cheeses of
Wisconsin from the US; Opito Bay Salt, New Zealand; and SugarBean Candy from
the Bahamas.
Irish Black Butter also featured at the St Patrick’s Festival of culture, cuisine, and
music in Nashville, Tennessee, celebrating 30 years of the Sister City relationship
between Belfast and Nashville. Other local companies at the event are Boatyard
Distillery, Fermanagh
