White’s Speedicook porridge oats is named Northern Ireland’s favourite!
White’s, Northern Ireland’s porridge and oat cereal producer, is celebrating after Speedicook Porridge Oats came top in a recent blind taste test of four leading porridge oat cereals held in Northern Ireland.*
Of those sampled, 60% rated the taste of White’s Speedicook porridge oats as either ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ compared to 29% for the second most popular sample.
The results were announced at a breakfast morning in Belfast this week as White’s celebrated the return of Farmhouse Breakfast Week (January 26th – February 1st 2014), the annual celebration championing the importance of breakfast which is run by the Home-Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA).
According to the Home-Grown Cereals Authority’s (HGCA) own figures, 47% of people regularly skip breakfast during the week so Farmhouse Breakfast Week is all about getting everyone to enjoy a healthy breakfast more regularly.
James Mathers, General Manager, White’s Oats said: “White’s has been locally manufacturing quality porridge oats since 1841 and over this time has continually invested and improved its product range.
“I’m delighted that White’s Speedicook Porridge has come out as a clear favourite among consumers in Northern Ireland. We have an enviable record in producing great tasting porridge oats which has been recognised by the numerous Great Taste Awards we’ve received from organisations such as the Guild of Fine Food.”
The nutritional benefits of porridge oats – such as their high fibre and high beta glucan properties, which have been proven to lower cholesterol** has led to many endorsements from health professionals in recent years and a surge in their popularity .
Oats are one of a small group of superfoods*** because of their high concentration of vitamins and minerals. Oats are a complex carbohydrate that release energy more slowly into the bloodstream and so make the body feel fuller for longer, reducing the urge to grab high fat high sugar snacks in mid-morning.
Naturally low in fat, oats have no added salt or sugar and are low in calories with an average bowl of porridge containing just 103 kcal making it an ideal nutritious and healthy breakfast.
Along with taste, the group was also asked about texture, aroma and overall appearance. 56% rated the aroma of White’s Speedicook as either ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ compared to 22% for the next most popular sample. Turning to texture, 53.5% rated the brand as either ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ compared to 19% for the second most popular sample. Finally, when asked about overall appearance, 59% thought White’s Speedicook was ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ with 25% choosing the second most popular sample.
As part of the event, local celebrity chef Paula McIntyre demonstrated a number of delicious bespoke oat recipes developed specially for White’s.
Commenting she said: “Porridge remains one of the easiest and most delicious ways to start the day and you can enjoy great variety with it too! There are so many different toppings to enjoy, like a drizzling of honey, or a dusting of cinnamon or a handful of blueberries to name just a few.
“The importance of eating a healthy breakfast cannot be overstated. Farmhouse Breakfast Week is a timely reminder at the start of the year as we all try to get into good habits that eating a wholesome and healthy breakfast benefits us all.”
