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News

CREAM OF THE CROP ANNOUNCED AS DAIRY COUNCIL’S YOUNG COOK OF THE YEAR

CREAM OF THE CROP ANNOUNCED AS DAIRY COUNCIL’S YOUNG COOK OF THE YEAR Picture shows (L-R): Key Stage 4 student Niamh McCrossan from Aquinas Grammar School is congratulated by Harry O’Neill, Vice chairman of the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland and top celebrity chef Ian Orr, after being announced as the Dairy Council’s Young Cook of the Year 2013. The prestigious accolade was awarded to Niamh, who beat off stiff competition to triumph over twelve finalists at a cook off in Thornhill College, Derry / Londonderry. Niamh took inspiration from this year’s theme, which celebrates that Derry/Londonderry has been awarded the honour of the first ever UK City of Culture, by creating a two course meal using Northern Ireland dairy products to entertain friends who will be watching the celebrations. more »
2013 NI Food and Drink Awards

The 2013 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards were launched on 30 January 2013. The PDF is available from the Publication section of the website. more »
COCA-COLA TO REWARD DESIGNATED DRIVERS

Safety-conscious Designated Drivers will have something extra to smile about this Christmas with the news that more than 250 pubs, clubs, hotels and restaurants will be giving away free non-alcoholic beverages this festive season, courtesy of Coca-Cola. more »
Tasty Career prospects in Food and Drink Sector for Students hungry to learn

Improve, the Food and Drink Sector Skills Council has launched the third year of ‘Tasty Careers,’ a campaign designed to educate young people about the wide variety of excellent careers opportunities available within the food and drink manufacturing sector. more »
Moy Park Awarded Processor of the Year

Moy Park was awarded the top title of 'Processing Business of the Year 2012' at the prestigious Meat & Poultry Processing Awards in Birmingham. more »
SUNBLEST LAUNCHES ‘BREADPAN’ HUMOUR CAMPAIGN

SUNBLEST LAUNCHES ‘BREADPAN’ HUMOUR CAMPAIGN The search is on for Northern Ireland’s funniest one-liner. Top comedy duo Conor Grimes and Alan McKee have helped Sunblest launch a new campaign to find Northern Ireland’s best one-liner. ‘Breadpan’ humour was unveiled by the brand to celebrate their new look packaging and commitment to ‘put a smile’ on faces right across the province. The comedy duo were on hand to kick off the new initiative and encourage the would-be comedians out there to share their wittiest one liner. The best jokes will be in with the chance of winning some great prizes, while the ‘funniest funny’ will be chosen to appear in Sunblest’s advertising next year. For more details on how to get involved in the ‘Breadpan’ humour campaign, check facebook.com/sunblest. more »
DON’T FORGET THE SCHOOL MILK, MUM!

With children now beginning their new school year, the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland is reminding parents and children to take advantage of the school milk scheme. Many schools provide break time milk through the EU Schools Milk scheme which means that a carton of school milk is offered to parents for less than 20p a day. more »
DAIRY COUNCIL GREETS ARRIVAL OF MILK CUP TEAM WITH MEXICAN WAVE!

Mexico, one of the first international teams to arrive for this year’s Milk Cup were greeted with a refreshing glass of milk by tournament sponsors, the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland before taking on their first match on Northern Ireland soil in a friendly against Carrick Rangers. more »
‘MILK IT FOR ALL IT’S WORTH’ TOUR COMES TO BELFAST!

The Dairy Council for Northern Ireland has launched the latest stage of its ‘Milk in Action’ campaign with the announcement of an exciting park tour set to take place throughout Belfast. more »
Minister Farry Launches Innovative Action Plan for the Food and Drink Industry

Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry launched the Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector Plan during a visit to Moy Park’s processing plant in Craigavon. more »
DAIRY COUNCIL GETS THE MILK CUP MOOOVING FOR 2012

The Dairy Council for Northern Ireland has kick-started its sponsorship of this year’s Milk Cup by getting the ball ‘moooving’ and celebrating the world renowned tournament that is now in its 30th year. more »
DAIRY COUNCIL GIVES ‘COOL’ RECEPTION TO CYCLIST’S SUCCESS

Dairy Council Gives 'Cool' Reception to Cyclist's Success The Dairy Council for Northern Ireland has celebrated the success of Kyle Johnston from Muckamore, providing him with refreshing milk as he crossed the finish line in first place at Custom House Square in the 'Pedal Around the Peninsula' race. Supporting the event, the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland highlighted the benefits of milk to help the body refresh and recover following the race, which saw cyclists go head to head around the Ards Peninsula in aid of local charity Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke. The cycle challenge was part of a larger Family Fun Day that took place at Custom House Square and was organised by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. Race winner Kyle Johnston from Muckamore is pictured with Caroline Reid. more »
Lorry for Life

Sunblest Lorry for Life raises much-needed funds for Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children Innovative approach to fundraising secures £20,000 more »
Mums enjoy Kingsmill ‘Mum Break’ at Balmoral Show

Sisters Lucy and Lauren Reel are pictured enjoying a sandwich with CarolinReid at the Kingsmill ‘Mum Break’ tent at Balmoral Show. Housed in a giant loaf, the Kingsmill ‘Mum Break’ offers mums who visit Balmoral a relaxing pit stop in the midst of the busy day out. more »
Calling all mums: Enjoy a Kingsmill ‘Mum Break’ at Balmoral Show

The Kingsmill ‘Mum Break’ tent will be an exciting new addition to this year’s 144th annual Balmoral Show. Balmoral Show is Ireland’s largest agricultural and food show that entertains the whole family and the Kingsmill ‘Mum Break’ tent will be at the heart of it. more »
Asda Presents Supplier Awards to Local Companies

Local producers who received their Awards from Asda. more »
Enjoy a Kingsmill ‘Mum Break’ this Easter Monday in Bangor

On Easter Monday, 9th April, Bangor will play host to its annual Easter event and this year there is an exciting new addition to the line up with the arrival of the Kingsmill ‘Mum Break’ tent. more »
Budding talent rises to the top at Dairy Council’s Culinary Olympics

Local Ballyclare Secondary School student Stephen Matthews aged 12 years old has been announced as the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland’s Young Cook of the Year 2012. more »
6000 ‘Tasty Careers’ in NI Food and Drink Manufacturing

After the success of last year’s campaign, Improve, the Food and Drink Sector Skills Council has launched the second year of ‘Tasty Careers’, designed to educate young people about the wide variety of excellent career opportunities available within the food and drink manufacturing sector. more »
Asda Launches ‘Chosen by You’ Northern Ireland

Asda is delivering on its commitment to grow its £115million annual investment in the local agri-food sector with the launch of ‘Chosen by You - Northern Ireland’ (CBY NI) - a dedicated range of food staples which will be produced by NI-based food companies after being tested and approved by local shoppers. more »
Northern Ireland's Agri-food Industry has an 'Appetite for Growth'

The inaugural Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) conference, entitled ‘Appetite for Growth’ will take place in Belfast on 22nd March 2012. The event which is sponsored by Invest NI, Ulster Bank, PwC and Morrow Communications, will look at how the local food and drink industry can contribute to the growth targets set out for the NI economy in the Executive’s Programme for Government. It will also discuss the potential offered by the formation of the new Agri-food Strategy Board, which is a joint initiative by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. more »
EXPORT FOCUS AT WILLOWBROOK FOODS PRAISED BY FIRST MINISTER

First Minister Peter Robinson praised Willowbrook Foods in Killinchy for its “outstanding achievements” in markets outside Northern Ireland. more »
Poll reveals NI mums simply don’t have time for lunch

Calling all mums to take a Kingsmill ‘Mum Break’! more »
Local brands make ‘Pit Stop’ to raise much-needed funds for NICFC!

Belfast, 19th January 2012: Allied Bakeries is celebrating the success of its ‘Sunblest Veda Pit Stop’ – which offered Christmas shoppers the perfect winter warmer snack on the go, all in the aid of the bakery’s charity of the year. more »
COCA-COLA SURPRISE YOUNG PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND MAKING IT THROUGH TO FINAL STAGE OF OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY NOMINATION CAMPAIGN

Coca-Cola informs a selection of ‘Future Flames’ that they’re just one step away from carrying the Olympic Flame during London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay next year more »
From Presents to Parties

Everyone needs a little 'Sunblest Veda Time' this Christmas more »
NIFDA Calls for Action

It's time to stop analysing and start doing..... more »
INSTITUTEOF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY –Northern Ireland Branch

Update on a couple of recent IFST-NI relevant 'Happenings' more »
COCA-COLA’S ANNUAL DESIGNATED DRIVER CAMPAIGN

COCA-COLA’S ANNUAL DESIGNATED DRIVER CAMPAIGN TO GO LIVE IN 250 LICENSED TRADE PREMISES ACROSS NORTHERN IRELAND FROM NOVEMBER 28 more »
Food Manufacturing Excellence Awards

Willowbrook Foods Reaches Final of National Food Manufacturing Awards more »
Irwin’s rises to the occasion at marketing awards

Portadown based Irwin’s Bakery has been presented with a Marketing Excellence Award from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) at an event in Belfast’s City Hall. more »
Fareshare Launches in ireland

‘FareShare Community Food Network for the Island of Ireland’ launches with first depot in Belfast FareShare sources surplus food to combat poverty in local communities more »
45 NON PROFIT ORGANISATIONS GO HEAD TO HEAD AS THEY ARE SHORTLISTED AS PART OF ‘COCA-COLA 125 YEARS THANK YOU FUND’

PUBLIC INVITED TO LOG ONTO WWW.COCA-COLA.IETO VOTE FOR THEIR FAVOURITE PROJECTS more »
World First in Welfare for Moy Park

NORTHERN IRELAND - Moy Park, Northern Ireland's largest food processing company, with 13 production sites across Northern Ireland, England, France and Holland, will take delivery of the world's first Apollo Universal Generation 2, poultry collecting machine in September. more »
Superquinn

Responding strongly to the news that Irish Retailer Superquinn, has been placed in receivership, NIFDA Executive Director Michael Bell said: "I have worked with the food and drink Industry for 27 years and a failure of this scale is unprecedented in my experience. more »
DAIRY COUNCIL GETS THE BALL ROLLING TO LAUNCH MILK CUP

The Dairy Council for Northern Ireland celebrated its sponsorship of this year’s Milk Cup by getting the ball rolling in Belfast City Centre. more »
Finance and Personnel Minister meets NIFDA Representatives

The Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) welcomed Finance and Personnel Minister Sammy Wilson to the moy Park processing facility in Ballymena to talk about pertinent issues for the local food and drink industry. more »
Coca-Cola Celebrates 125th Anniversary

Yesterday Coca-Cola celebrated its 125th Anniversary and is providing £110,619 to non-profit community, voluntary and charitable organisations across the island of Ireland. more »
2011 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards

2011 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Award Winners Revealed. more »
2011 N I Food and Drink Awards Judging

Record Entries received for 2011 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards more »
Launch of 2011 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards

Northern Ireland’s buoyant food and drink sector is set to celebrate the cream of the local industry with the launch of its Ulster Bank backed Northern Ireland Food & Drink Awards 2011 more »
Business Coalition Launches Plan for 94,000 jobs by 2020

For the first time ever a new coalition of eight of Northern Ireland's leading business organisations have jointly produced a manifesto ahead of the Assembly Elections and the new Programme for Government. more »
Willowbrook Foods Food Innovation Centre

Willowbrook Foods Stir Up Exports with New Products more »
Labelone - Offical opening of New Site

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster officially opened Label One’s new state-of-the-art premises in Belfast, yesterday, Monday 10th January 2011. more »
NIFDA LAUNCH ROADMAP TO CREATION OF 15000 NEW JOBS IN AGRI-FOOD SECTOR

NIFDA, the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association has launched its manifesto for next years’ Assembly elections, proposing a plan for the creation of 15,000 new jobs in the agri-food sector. The manifesto, which outlines a series of measures designed to grow the agri-food sector strongly asserts that Northern Ireland is ‘good at food and drink’! more »
Britain's Best Dish

Do you think you have a mouth watering STARTER, MAIN-COURSE or PUDDING which you believe is a recipe for success? more »
ASDA Chosen by You Success

Asda Chief Applauds Local Food Companies for National ‘Chosen By You’ Success - NI Bakery Sector Rises to the Innovation Challenge more »
NI Sporting Stars Launch Dairy Council's Milk in Action Website

more »
'Tasty Careers'

Today saw the launch of the ‘Tasty Careers’ campaign, a new programme from Improve and supported by DEL and DARD. The programme has been designed to educate and inform young people about the significant career opportunities that exist within the food and drink manufacturing industry. Due to an ageing workforce, it is expected that 6,000 skilled workers will need to be recruited before 2017 – approximately one third of the current employment levels. Contributing about £3 billion a year to the local economy, food and drink is the single largest manufacturing industry in Northern Ireland. more »
Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland officially opens £93.5m facility in Lisburn

Plant Sets standards in sustainable manufacturing. more »
Jenny Bristow's Cookery Corner at Willowbrook Foods

Willowbrook Farm, Irelands leading processor of salads and vegetables, has recently re-launched their website introducing, amongst other areas, a new section with ideas from Irelands good food ambassador Jenny Bristow in; ‘Jenny Bristow’s Cookery Corner’. more »
The Perfect Summer Partnership

With the long awaited arrival of the Comber ‘earlies’, Wilsons Country potatoes and Golden Cow butter have come together to remind consumers across Northern Ireland that there is no better way to enjoy new potatoes than simply ‘spuds and butter’. more »
Queen's University Students available for Work Placement within the Food Industry

Queen's University Students available for Work Placement within the Food Industry. more »
NIFDA Select New Chairman

New Chairman Tony O'Neill more »
14th NIFDA AGM

The 14th NIFDA AGM will take place on Thursday 21 January 2010 at 11.30 am in LMC Headquarters, Lissue House, Ballinderry Road, Lisburn. more »
Coca-Cola drives home Christmas Safety Message

Coca-Cola drives home Christmas Safety Message more »
NIFDA 13th Annual Dinner

The 13th NIFDA Annual Dinner took place in the Ramada Hotel, Shaws Bridge, Belfast on Thursday 15th October 2009. more »
Deep RiverRock announces ‘splashing’ new Marathon deal

Deep RiverRock has renewed its title sponsorship of the Belfast City Marathon for another three years, it was confirmed. A record-breaking 17,500 people took part in the 2009 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon – and organisers are hoping to smash that record again in 2010. more »
Finnebrogue secures major sausage business with M&S

A local supplier to Marks & Spencer is celebrating after securing a multi-million pound contract to supply an exclusive range of top-tier sausages to the retailer’s 686 UK and Ireland stores. Downpatrick based Finnebrogue Estate has until now produced one third of the M&S sausage range and further investment in both state-of-the-art equipment and innovation has enabled the supplier to double its current business with the retailer. more »
Great Taste Awards

Judges in the prestigious Great Taste Awards 2009 picked Punjana, Northern Ireland’s biggest selling tea, for a series of gold awards. The company, a family-owned and managed business which has been blending and packing tea in Northern Ireland for over 100 years, gained a gold award for its Punjana Original tea bags. more »
They're Good, They're Little and They're Sausage-y

An innovative new Northern Ireland food company is excited about the launch of a truly unique sausage product in the market. more »
Winners of the 2009 NI Food and Drink Awards

The Winners of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards have been announced following a glittering awards ceremony in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast on Friday 13 March 2009 more »
NIFDA Pledges Support for Green Power Plant

NIFDA has pledged its support for the proposed Rose Energy biomass power plant, a project which could save the Northern Ireland taxpayer millions of pounds. more »
NIFDA & Tesco Join Forces

NIFDA Chairman Richard Moore, meets Cliff Kells, Commercial Manager, Tesco to discuss future projects. more »
NIFDA Educational Trust

Managers are invited to attend special evenings in schools throughout the Province to entice young people to think about careers within the Food and Drink Industry. more »
NIFDA Appoints their first ever lady Director

PRESS RELEASE The Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association welcome first woman elected to Board Of Directors more »

Events

Tesco Taste Northern Ireland 2012

Belfast’s biggest free consumer food festival is back! The fabulous Tesco Taste Northern Ireland Festival is returning to Custom House Square in Belfast on the weekend of 14th- 16th of September. Now in its fourth year, the 2012 foodie extravaganza looks set to be even bigger and better than before. more »
Appetite for Growth Conference

The Northern Ireland Food and Drink industry is poised for dramatic growth. The industry has the capacity to increase output by 40% to £5.6 billion by 2020 and in the process generate up to 15000 new jobs IF the correct actions are taken to facilitate and maintain this expansion. The inaugural Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association Conference will take place on 22nd March 2012. Entitled “Appetite for Growth”, this conference will provide an opportunity to hear how the potential for growth can be fulfilled. more »
Loughry Campus Bursary Awards

O’Neill – Excellent career prospects for CAFRE students Over 93% of students attending the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) get jobs or go on to further education within six months of completing a CAFRE course. more »
COCA-COLA TO GIVE OUTSTANDING YOUNG PEOPLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND THE CHANCE TO CARRY OLYMPIC FLAME

The Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Tour touched down in Victoria Square, Belfast on Friday 29th July 2011 to launch a nationwide search for inspirational young people -– Future Flames – to carry the Olympic Flame during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. more »
Agri-Food 'The Next Generation

Young Farmers are invited to attend the Agri-Food - The Next Generation evening on Wednesday 9 March 2011, 7.30 pm at CAFRE, Loughry Campus. more »
DARD Minister Meets with NIFDA

Minister Michelle Gildernew meets NIFDA Representatives. more »
'What Women Want'............

YOU may remember the film with Mel Gibson where he could read women’s minds- well Women in Business and Grafton Recruitment have taken this a step further by reacting to the demands of female job seekers and entrepreneurs by providing an innovative and interactive workshop to help women into work. Knowing yourself and successfully replicating those skills and experience on a CV or at an interview can be challenging. more »
Belfast Taste and Music Festival

Tony O’Neill, Head Chef at the Merchant Hotel gives Jenny Curran a ‘taste’ of what’s to come at the launch of this year’s Belfast Taste & Music Fest. The summer blockbuster returns to Botanic Gardens from 4th to 8th August 2010 to celebrate the best chefs, cuisine and food products Northern Ireland has to offer. more »
Supplying Tomorrow

Free Seminar to provide specific guidance to the Food and Drink Sector Supply Chain. more »
Congratulations to Mash Direct

Congratulations go to Tracy and Martin Hamilton, Mash Direct on the recent visit to their premises by the new British Prime Minister David Cameron more »
The 8th Northern Ireland Food and Drink Outlook Forum

The Changing Climate for Farming and Food. more »
Food Industry Synergy Workshop

Want to increase your bottom line? Want to save money on disposal costs and create new business opportunities? Do you value your resources? Then you cannot afford to miss the NISP Food & Drink Industry Synergy Workshop & Resource Efficiency Masterclass on Wednesday 11 November 2009 at CAFRE, Loughry Campus, Cookstown, BT80 9AA. There is no charge for this event. more »
13th NIFDA Annual Dinner

The 13th NIFDA Annual Dinner will be taking place on Thursday 15 October 2009 in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast, sponsored by Diamond Recruitment Group and a drinks reception sponsored by Mintel. more »
Members' Regional Meetings

NIFDA will be hosting two members' regional meetings in Belvoir Park Golf Club on Friday 12 June 2009. more »
Tenth Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards

The tenth Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday 13 March 2009 in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast. Watch this space for application form. For further information please contact the nifda office on telephone 028 9024 1010 or by e-mail info@nifda.co.uk more »
13th NIFDA AGM

13th Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association's AGM more »
2009 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards

Note on the 2009 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards Application Pack more »
12th NIFDA Annual Dinner

The 12th NIFDA Annual Dinner will take place in the Hilton Templepatrick, Templepatrick on Thursday 13 November 2008. The Guest Speaker will be Justin King, Chief Executive, Sainsbury's. To reserve your place or corporate table please contact joan on telephone 028 9024 1010 or by e-mail joan@nifda.co.uk more »
Terra Madre

Artisan food producers, farmers' representatives, chefs and food enthusiasts head for Terra Madre. more »