Lagardère chief develops a Taste of Ulster
Article written by Sam Butler
Amaury Dehen, managing director of Lagardère Travel Retail UK and Ireland, has praised the quality and innovation of artisan food and drink producers in Northern Ireland.
He was in Northern Ireland for the official opening of a unique Taste of Ulster shop at Belfast International Airport, which now stocks food and drink from almost 30 local suppliers, mostly artisans and smaller businesses.
Located within the Aelia Duty Free shopping complex in the Departures Zone, the shop is a joint venture between Lagadere Travel Retail, Belfast International Airport and Food NI, the organisation responsible for Taste of Ulster. Aelia is part of Lagardère, one of the world’s biggest operators of airport duty free shops.
The group is a global leader in travel retail with a presence in travel areas across 29 countries on four continents through its various activities including its Aelia brand.
The Taste of Ulster shop was opened officially by Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell.
Mr Dehen said: “This important initiative for us within Belfast International Airport is a demonstration of our longstanding commitment to engage with the local business community in the regions in which we have retail operations.
“We believe it to be essential that our retail operations represent the best local merchandise available and contribute to economic well-being. The shop offers smaller companies access to almost three million passengers. The airport expects to be handling 4.9 million passengers.
“The Taste of Ulster shop represents a significant development of the relationship that we have had with several Northern Ireland businesses over many years.
“We’ve now extended this engagement to embrace Northern Ireland’s developing artisan food and drink sector, a sector including a great many companies which have achieved great recognition in international and national awards.”
Mr Bell said: “We are lucky to have such a fantastic array of fresh ingredients, a wide range of eateries, talented chefs, artisan producers and indeed a flourishing foodie culture here in Northern Ireland.
“With 2016 being designated the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink there has been no better time to showcase all that is great about local produce. The launch of the first Taste of Ulster range, by Food NI, within the Aelia Duty Free store at Belfast International airport will help both tourists and visitors to discover the great tastes of Northern Ireland.”
Northern Ireland companies featured in the Taste of Ulster Shop at Belfast International Airport
- Abernethy Butter, Dromara – handmade butters
- Ann’s Pantry, Larne – breads and cakes
- Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil, Limavady – rapeseed oils
- Eleanor Craig’s Fudge, Larne – handmade fudge
- Eringrove, Enniskillen – jams and chutneys
- Farmview Dairies, Belfast – dairy products including Kearney Blue cheese
- Gracehill Fine Foods, Ballymena – black and white puddings
- Hannan Meats, Moira – beef, bacon and ham
- Harnetts Oils, Waringstown – rapeseed and other culinary oils
- Johnsons Coffee, Lisburn – roasted coffee
- Kennedys Bacon, Omagh – bacon, gammon and ham
- Made with Love, Donaghadee – jams and relishes
- NorthCoast Smokehouse, Ballymena – smoked salmon and condiments
- Our Daily Bread, Belfast –wheaten and soda bread and bread mixes
- Papas Mineral Company, Bangor – traditional Northern Irish minerals
- Passion Preserved, Lisburn – relishes and chutneys
- PopNotch Popcorn, Draperstown – popcorn
- Punjana, Belfast – tea blends
- Suki Teahouse, Belfast – loose leaf tea and fruit infusions
- The Chocolate Manor, Coleraine – chocolates
Several Northern Ireland producers of spirits have been included by Aelia in the duty free. They are:
- Echlinville Distillery, Kircubbin– Dunville Irish Whiskey
- Hughes Craft Distillery, Lisburn – RubyBlue Irish Potato Vodka and fruit liqueurs
- Jawbox, Belfast – Gin
- Niche Drinks, Derry – The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey
- Rademon Craft Distillery, Crossgar – Shortcross Gin
