13 March 2009
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
WINNERS OF THE NI FOOD & DRINK AWARDS ANNOUNCED
THE winners of the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Awards have been announced following a glittering awards ceremony in the Ramada Hotel in Belfast.
Industry leaders and government ministers were among the guests at the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Awards, sponsored by Ulster Bank on Friday night.
Michael Bell, Executive Director of the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association, congratulated the industry as a whole as he revealed a record number of entries had been received for the 2009 awards.
He added: “The quality of local produce coming out of Northern Ireland is world class at the minute.
“Local food is extremely fresh and most importantly it is made to local tastes, which is really where the value of food is.
“This year we saw a record number of entries to the Awards, so innovation is thriving just like the industry itself.”
The event welcomed a wide range of prestige sponsors including Asda, M&S, Musgrave Retail Partners, Sainsbury’s and Tesco as well as a whole host of partner sponsors including Food Promotion Northern Ireland, Food & Drink Sector Skills, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Invest Northern Ireland as well as their principal sponsor Ulster Bank.
Richard Ennis, Ulster Bank Director of Corporate and Property, Northern Ireland said: “Ulster Bank is delighted to sponsor these awards which continue to highlight the importance for food and drink companies to meet the challenges of competitive pressures, during a time of economic uncertainty.
“Ulster Bank is committed to supporting this industry and recognises the creativity, drive and dedication of Northern Ireland’s food sector companies and the top class quality products they provide”.
THE WINNERS
THE TASTE OF ULSTER SERVICE SECTOR AWARD
WINNER Willowbrook Farm (Mash Piper)
What the judges said: “Could be piped on top of a pie - Very useful packaging in a piping bag - a clever innovation.”
John McCann Managing Director of Willowbrook Farm said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive this award, and it’s a genuine surprise. The brand is new, about six months old and is quite innovative.
“This product is a 1kg pack of mashed potato that comes in a pouch, pretty much like a baker’s pouch that would be used for icing. It enables our customers to ‘squeeze’ the mash out for convenience products – for instance, for processed food producers, it can be used for shepherd’s pies and various toppings.
“For restaurants likewise and it’s a great form of ‘budget control’ to use a product like this. Our main customers are Musgraves and Costco UK, for instance. So to get this award is a real boost for our business at this point in time.”
THE ULSTER BANK BEST NEW PRODUCT LARGE COMPANY
WINNER Linden Foods (Mini Roast Beef with Yorkshire Puddings)
What the judges said: “good party food”.
Gerry Maguire, Managing Director of Linden Foods said: “This is the second year in a row we’ve won in this category so it proves to us the real value of new product development (NPD).
“We are very happy about it. We launched our mini roast beef and Yorkshire puddings with M&S this year and were delighted that the product took off as it did. It gives us that necessary boost to keep going, to keep achieving world class products that our customers will love.”
THE ULSTER BANK BEST NEW PRODUCT SMALL COMPANY
WINNER Grace’s Irish Biscuits (Oatmeal Biscuits)
What the judges said: “Superb, 10/10 for product quality”
NORTHERN IRELAND REGIONAL FOOD PROGRAMME
BEST ORGANIC PRODUCER / PRODUCT AWARD
WINNER Culmore Organic Beef
What the judges said: “Trying to address the organic market”
David Laughlin, CEO of Culmore Organic Farm said: “It was a fantastic surprise for us to win tonight. We have put in so much hard work for months to produce this locally sourced organic product.
“We are the only company to do so. No other beef producers are selling their product to local butchers. It is something we are very committed to. We now intend to target higher end retail outlets on the back of winning this award.”
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
SUPPLY CHAIN EXCELLENCE AWARD
WINNER Sparky Pac (pre-packed local vegetables)
What the judges said: “Good supply chain, this company showed innovation and connection with the marketplace”.
Mark McKee, Director of Sparky Pac said: “This is a real accolade which we hope will boost further investment opportunities. The hard work has paid off and we’re delighted to be at the forefront of the vegetable industry here in Northern Ireland and to see it as something still very relevant especially in the current economic climate.”
ULSTER BANK OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO NORTHERN IRELAND FOOD & DRINK AWARD
WINNER Jim Dobson of Dunbia
Winner’s introduction by Noel Thompson: “Tonight’s winner has a remarkable story to tell, a story of growth foresight and innovation, which has taken him from the humblest of beginnings to command a mighty empire stretching across these Islands.
Jim started off in a wee butchers shop 34 years ago, but he had big ideas and the drive and ability to realise them.
“His growth was gradual but relentless. Each time he bought or built a new factory he instilled the same passion and principles.
Passion for quality and principle of hard work and good reward.”
FOOD & DRINK SECTOR SKILLS
FOOD & DRINK TRAINING EXCELLENCE AWARD
JOINT WINNERS Butchery Academy at Dunbia
Cheese Process at Dunmanbridge (Dale Farm)
Glenn Patterson, Training Manager at Dunbia said: “This award complements all the hardwork and commitment from the Board of Directors and the investors who believed in our product. We have a long-term strategy for taking Dunbia’s butchery skills forward so this award is a real boost.”
Jason Hempton, Commercial Manager of Dale Farm said: “We are very happy to get this recognition of all the hard work that takes place continually at our Dromona cheese plant. We have worked hard to improve product capacity to 15,000 tonnes per year. Our product is made using only finest quality milk resulting in high quality cheddar. This initiative further enhances our ability to continue growth which Dromona currently enjoys. ”
NORTHERN IRELAND REGIONAL FOOD PROGRAMME
BEST LOCAL FOOD AND/OR DRINK PROMOTIONAL EVENT
WINNER Curley’s / Kennedy Centre Taste Fest
Hugh Kennedy, Director of Curley’s said: “We’re delighted to win and want to take the opportunity to thank our suppliers. Our company logo is ‘buy local’ and it’s something we feel very strongly about.”
NORTHERN IRELAND GOOD FOOD IS IN OUR NATURE
THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
(voted for by the public)
WINNER Irwin’s Nutty Krust
Niall Irwin said: “It’s wonderful to get public recognition for a product, it’s the ultimate satisfaction for any company. The hard work of our staff cannot go unmentioned here. It’s down to them that the product tastes so good as they understand a very simple rule in food production; if the product doesn’t taste fantastic, people won’t buy it.”
Photos from the event are available on request from the NIFDA Office. Contact Joan on 028 9024 1010 or e-mail joan@nifda.co.uk