Invest NI recognition for Finnebrogue Artisan in NIFDA Awards
Finnebrogue Artisan, Downpatrick, county Down, a UK market leader in free-from and plant-foods, has won the Invest Northern Ireland sponsored award for the Best International /GB launch Award for its highly innovative Better Naked Bacon without the Oink.
The family business, which operates one of the biggest plant-based food operations in the UK, gained the title in the prestigious Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards (NIFDA) 2022.
The NIFDA Awards are run on a bi-annual basis. They recognise the excellent work being carried out across the local food and drink industry. NIFDA, a voluntary organisation, runs the awards as part of its commitment to the ongoing success of the industry. This year’s awards celebrated Northern Ireland’s innovative and sustainable agri-food industry.
The awards were presented at a gala event attended by around 400 business people from the industry and from other sectors.
Finnebrogue, best known for its ‘Naked’ range of bacon, cooked ham and pork sausages without nitrite’s and other chemicals which are listed by supermarkets across the UK, also saw its founder, the late Denis Lynn, named as winner of the Outstanding Contribution to the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Industry.
Mr Lynn, who was killed in a tragic accident last year, pioneered an impressive range of innovative food products, often setting market trends. He created one of Northern Ireland’s biggest and most successful food manufacturing businesses.
The winners in the awards were:
Large Company Product Award – Dale Farm, Belfast for Dromona Lactose Free Cheese
Medium Company Award – Genesis Bakery, Magherafelt, county Derry for Meringue a Tang Biscake
Small Company Award – Hinch Distillery, Ballynahinch, county Down for its whiskey. Highly commended was Karri Kitchen, Portadown for its mango chicken curry
Micro Company Award – Big Pot, Cookstown, county Tyrone for its soups and other convenience foods
(All above awards sponsored by Firmus Energy)
Service Sector Award – Brunch Box Sandwich Co, Belfast for mango and cranberry overnight oats
(Sponsored by NIFDA)
Outstanding Contribution to Northern Ireland Food and Drink – the late Denis Lynn, founder of Finnebrogue Artisan in Downpatrick, county Down
0utstanding Leadership in NI Food and Drink – Ursula Lavery of Moy Park, Craigavon, county Armagh for her role in coordinating industry Covid-19 guidance
Best International /GB launch Award – Finnebrogue Artisan, Downpatrick, county Down for Bacon without the Oink
(Sponsored by Invest NI)
Sustainable Agri-Food Supply Chain Award – Linden Foods, Dungannon, county Tyrone – for NI Wagyu Supply Chain
(Sponsored by DAERA)
Food Safety Champion Award – Dr Gerry McMahon, Moy Park, county Armagh
(Sponsored by Safefood)
Food and Drink Sector Skills Award – Moy Park, Craigavon, county Armagh
Highly commended – Johnson’s Coffee, Lisburn
Healthier Product Innovation Award – Karri Kitchen, Portadown
(Sponsored by Food Standards Agency)
Environmental Sustainability Award– Dunbia, Dungannon, county Tyrone and Green Fingers Family, Larne, county Antrim
(Sponsored by Re Gen Waste, Newry)
