Northern Ireland Food & Drink

10 March 2011

Record Entries received for 2011 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards

Record Entries for 2011 NIFDA Awards

Celebrating a record number of entries for the 2011 Ulster Bank backed  Northern Ireland Food & Drinks Association Awards are members of the judging panel front row (from left) Michael Bell (NIFDA) Nigel Hardy (Invest Northern Ireland) Ian Jordan (Ulster Bank) and Michael Moorehead (Department of Agriculture & Rural Development). Pictured behind are, from left, Declan Ferguson (Tesco) Claire Hodgson (Marks & Spencer) Kate Cairns (Ulster Farmers’ Union) Susi Richards (Sainsbury’s) and Mervyn Jones (ASDA).

Awards Chairman Michael Bell, executive director of NIFDA said, “The aim of the panel is not only to acknowledge companies both large and small who have demonstrated enterprise and endeavour but also to encourage other food and drink businesses to continually raise the bar and improve their performance.

“Our nine strong panel examined entries and tasted 62 samples drawn from over 31local companies and we can confirm the standard was extremely high. NIFDA would like to thank all panel members for their expert guidance and commitment to the awards judging process.”

Commenting on the range and quality of entries in all categories, Ian Jordan, Head of Business and Commercial Banking NI at Ulster Bank, principal sponsor of NIFDA awards said,” The high calibre awards entries reflects the number of dynamic, dedicated and hard working companies in Northern Ireland’s agri-food industry. Alongside our commitment to Balmoral Show, Ulster Bank is delighted to partner NIFDA in these important awards and we look forward to an excellent gala evening on 25^th March.”      

The bi-annual awards programme organised by the Northern Ireland Food & Drinks Association (NIFDA) is supported by principal sponsor Ulster Bank as well as retailers ASDA, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. Also partnering the awards are DARD, LMC, Ulster Pork and Bacon Forum, Invest NI, food and drinks sector skills council, Improve and the Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme.

The Gala Awards ceremony takes place on Friday 25^th March at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and tickets cost £100 plus vat. For details on table bookings please contact Joan Sherman at joan@nifda.co.uk or telephone 028 9024 1010