Three Food NI Winners In Scottish Food & Drink Awards
Three Food NI member companies have won top awards in the annual Scottish Retail Food and Drink, the results of which have just been announced. Three of the winners are Food NI member companies.
The local winners in the influential competition which recognises and rewards outstanding branded and own label products in the £14 billion a year Scottish retail food and drink marketplace are:
Food NI members –
Thompson’s Family Teas of Belfast in the UK Producer category in Teas and Tissanes for its Thompson’s Scottish Blend, a tea crafted specially for this market;
Hellbent Chakalata South African style boerewors sausagesfrom Belfast in the Meat – Burgers and Sausages category from a UK Producer: and
Wilson’s Country, Portadown county Armagh for You Say Potato Fresh Cut Chips in UK Producer in Ready Meals and Accompaniments.
Food NI chief executive Michele Shirlow said: “I am delighted to see Northern Ireland companies achieving such outstanding recognition in a market which is among the most important and successful in Britain for our producers. Their achievements there highlight how vitally important it is to keep the trade channels open and unfettered between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.”
There was also a top award for:
McColgan’s Quality Foods, Strabane, county Tyrone for its goat’s cheese and caramalised red onion tart in UK Producer in Quiches and Pies; and Big Pot in Cookstown had two soups shortlisted.
The successful products, which are subjected by rigorous sampling by a panel of food experts, highlight the importance of the Scottish market to Northern Ireland food companies and also reflect the growing achievements of local food producers there .
Invest NI, the Northern Ireland business development agency, was among the high profile sponsors of the awards which were organised by a separate company with sponsorship from major manufacturers and other bodies.
The Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards were open to products available for sale in Scottish retail outlets, from the smallest farm shop or deli through Scotland’s 5,000 convenience and symbol stores to the largest supermarkets and discounters.
The food and drink industry in Scotland accounts for one in five manufacturing jobs with more than 18,850 food and drink businesses operating there, employing more than 115,400 people.
