Food NI members successful in FreeFrom Foods Ireland Awards
Mash Direct, a Food NI member company, collected two golds and a bronze at the annual FreeFrom Food Awards Ireland 2019 in Dublin. And there was also a silver for Peppup Sauces, another member, in the prestigious awards.
Mash Direct, based on a family farm at Comber in Co Down, gained golds for its beer battered onion rings in the Ready-to-Cook category and in the Kids Choice for potato croquette. The bronze was for the company’s crispy vegetable bakes. Mash Direct was formed by husband and wife team Martin and Tracy Hamilton in 2004. Sons Lance and Jack now play key roles in the ambitious and highly successful business.
Mash Direct now leads the market producing an innovative range of delicious quick- serve mashed potato, vegetable and cabbage products as well as convenience dishes. The company’s products are gluten and dairy free.
Peppup Sauces, an artisan business run by Luca Montorio and based in Portaferry, gained silver for its flame roasted red peppers and basil sauce. Mr Montorio founded the small business in 2013 to develop and market authentic Italian style ketchup and sauces which are all free from fat, gluten and dairy.
The FreeFrom Food Awards Ireland were launched in 2015 by a team of food lovers, who have an in-depth and specialist knowledge of the FreeFrom Food marketplace. Now entering the 4th year – the awards recognise, encourage and reward the achievements of free from food producers and the excellence of their products.
The FreeFrom Food Awards Ireland were founded by John Burke – a lifelong Coeliac and veteran judge of the FreeFrom Food Awards in the UK.
John is also a judge of the FreeFrom Eating Out Awards in the UK.
Other local companies, Rule of Crumb in Antrim also won gold for chicken katsu curry fillet and bronze for gluten free fish cakes and Magherafelt retailer JC Stewart silver for a gluten free soda bread loaf.
