Food NI Members succeed in Irish Quality Food Awards
Eighteen Food NI member companies gained a string of top endorsements at the prestigious Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards in Dublin.
Heading the local successes was Genesis Crafty, the artisan bread and cake business, which gained at top Christmas Q Award for its Exquisite Mince Pies supplier to discounter Aldi. Genesis, a family-owned and managed business, also won the Wheaten and Soda Bread category for its Sean Brown Soda Bread produced for SuperValu and Centra.
One of Northern Ireland’s smallest companies, Camran Crafts of Carrickfergus was also named Dunnes Stores Simply Better Small Producer of the Year for its Orange, Mango and Gin Marshmallow. The company is a partnership between two friends.
The two companies were among 25 from Northern Ireland to be named among the winners and commendations in the annual celebration of the best of Irish food and drink.
Northern Ireland artisan producers swept the awards in key categories such as Cider, Ales and Porter and Liqueurs. Tempted Irish Cider, based in Lisburn, county Antrim, gained the platinum award for its recently launched Elderflower Cider.
There were other major awards for McCann’s Ciders in Portadown and Farmageddon, a brewery co-operative from Comber, county Down gained a platinum award for its Pale Ale and good for its Irish Export Porter. Niche Drinks in Derry was awarded gold for its Tesco Finest Salted Cream Liqueur.
The revival of the historic Irish Lumper potato gained Glens of Antrim Potatoes a category award in the Unprepared Salads category. The potato dates back to the 1840s.
There were category wins for other Food NI members as follows:
Avondale Foods, Lurgan – Cook at Home Potato Gratin for Dunnes Stores- Side Dish. Avondale Foods also received Highly Commended for their Dunnes Stores Simply Better Potato, Mint Yogurt Salad and Commended for its own brand Country Kitchen Sweet Chilli Noodle Salad in the Salad – Prepared Category.
Golden Wonder, part of Tayto, Tandragee, county Armagh, for its Select Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar Crisps for Spar in Bagged Snacks – Savoury;
Dale Farm, Belfast in Cheese- Hard for Rathdaragh Irish Extra Mature Cheddar for Lidl;
Mash Direct, Comber, county Down for Veggie Burgers in Free-From Chilled
Irish food and drink producers were honoured at the fourth awards during a ceremony hosted by Ballymaloe chef and cookery writer Rachel Allen at the Mansion House in Dublin.
“Winning the Christmas Q and a category award were marvelous endorsement of the quality of our breads, cakes and pies,” said Brian McErlain, managing director of Genesis Crafty.
Michele Shirlow, Food NI chief executive, added: “I am delighted to see so many of our member companies successful in the highly influential Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, a competition that’s closely monitored by leading retailers in both Ireland and Great Britain.
“Winning an Irish Quality Food and Drink Award has proven to be a tremendous marketing tool that will help our companies extend sales with major retailers in the Republic of Ireland and increase awareness in Britain of the superb food and drink now being produced in Northern Ireland.”
The awards themselves are organised into two distinct sections: Irish Quality Food Awards — products for the multiple and independent grocery retail market — and the Irish Quality Drink Awards: Alcoholic drinks for the retail sector.
The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards are partnered with trade magazine Easy Food. The awards are also sponsored by the Coeliac Society of Ireland, Dairymaid, Invest Northern Ireland, and the Italian company Sacla.
Food NI Winners in Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards 2016
GOLD WINNER – CHRISTMAS Q
Aldi Exquisite Mince Pies
Genesis Crafty, Magherafelt, county Derry
DUNNES STORES SIMPLY BETTER SMALL PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Orange, Mango and Gin Marshmallow
Camran Artisan Crafts, Carrickfergus, county Antrim
Bagged Snacks – Savoury
SPAR Select Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar Crisps
Golden Wonder, Tandragee, county Armagh
COMMENDED:
Aldi Brasserie Thai Sweet Chilli Crisps
Golden Wonder, Tandragee, county Armagh
Bread – Wheaten and Soda Breads
SuperValu & Centra Sean Brown Soda Bread
Genesis Crafty, Magherafelt, county Derry
Cereals – Porridge
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Lidl Deluxe Organic Wafer Oats
Whites Speedicook, Tandragee, county Armagh
Cheese – Hard
Lidl Rathdaragh Irish Extra Mature Cheddar
Dale Farm, Belfast
Christmas Q – Bakery & Desserts
Aldi Exquisite Mince Pies
Genesis Crafty, Magherafelt, county Derry
Coffee
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Continental Coffee
Johnsons Coffee, Hillsborough, county Antrim
Free From – Chilled
Vegetable Burgers – Mash Direct, Comber, county Down
Free From – Frozen
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
Pizzado Gluten Free Cheese and Tomato
Choice Pizza, Portaferry, county Down
Meat – Beef Steaks
COMMENDED:
Lidl Hereford Fillet Steaks
Linden Foods, Dungannon, county Tyrone
Meat – Innovation
COMMENDED:
M&S BBQ Grill Louisiana BBQ Spatchies
Moy Park, Craigavon, county Armagh
Meat – Poultry
HIGHLY COMMENDED:
M&S BBQ Grill Jamaican Jerk Spatchcock
Moy Park, Craigavon, county Armagh
Pizzas
COMMENDED:
Pizzado Pepperoni
Choice Pizza, Portaferry, county Down
Salad & Vegetables – UnPrepared
Irish Lumpers – Glens of Antrim Potatoes, Cushendall, county Antrim
Crispy Onions
Milgro, Coleraine, county Derry
Side Dish
Avondale Foods, Lurgan – Cook at Home Potato Gratin for Dunnes Stores- Side Dish. Avondale Foods also received Highly Commended for their Dunnes Stores Simply Better Potato, Mint Yogurt Salad and Commended for its own brand Country Kitchen Sweet Chilli Noodle Salad in the Salad – Prepared Category.
Soups
COMMENDED:
Vegetable Soup with a Spud
Morrow Foods, Cookstown, county Tyrone
Irish Quality Drink Awards
Ciders
PLATINUM:
Tempted Elderflower Cider
Tempted Cider Company, Lisburn, county Antrim
BRONZE:
Lidl The Crafty Brewing Company Crafty Dry Cider
McCanns Cider, Craigavon, county Armagh
Lidl The Crafty Brewing Company Crafty Medium Cider
McCanns Cider, Craigavon, county Armagh
Pale Ales & IPA
PLATINUM:
Farmageddon Gold Pale Ale
Farmageddon Brewing Co-Op, Comber, county Down
Stouts & Porters
GOLD:
Farmageddon India Export Porter
Farmageddon Brewing Co-Op, Comber, county Down
Liqueurs, Speciality Spirits & Fortified Wines
GOLD:
Tesco Finest Salted Caramel Cream Liqueur
Niche Drinks Co, Londonderry, county Derry
