Lunch! Judges Foot For Award-winning DELI LITES Plant-based Products
Northern Ireland’s leading food-to-go firm, DELI LITES Ireland, triumphed at the Lunch! Show’s Innovation Challenge Awards in London. The Warrenpoint-based company was presented with two awards for its new plant-based products: the delicious Guilt Free Doner Kebab and the tasty Coconut Mocchaccino Breakfast-on-the-Go. The double-win follows in the footsteps of DELI LITES’ Asian Bespoké Bowl, which took home the same title at last year’s awards.
DELI LITES, which has been building a reputation as a quality Irish artisan producer, competed against 110 new products to be recognised with the two coveted Innovation Challenge Awards. The brand was shortlisted as one of fifteen finalists, voted for by visitors and VIP buyers who attended the product showcase in the Innovation Challenge Gallery.
DELI LITES’ plant-based foods impressed the award’s industry judges at the highly competitive show during the live pitching event, which was designed to promote and celebrate new ideas in the marketplace. The judges hailed the guilt-free kebab as an “innovative and great tasting solution to a typically unhealthy indulgence”, while the Breakfast on the Go Mocchaccino was described as the “perfect option for time-poor commuters, as well as the Gen Z population”.
Commenting on the double-award win, DELI LITES CEO, Brian Reid, said:
“We are thrilled to receive two awards at the Lunch! 2019 Innovation Challenge Awards. These highly competitive awards are significant as they recognise our innovation and creativity within the food-to-go sector. Our plant-based selection is growing fast and with the recent investment in our new food hub, we are able to deliver the best tasting flavours in food-to-go products.
“We are very proud of our talented Food Innovation Manager, Gary McDowell and his team for presenting such a strong pitch, and securing the recognition the products deserve. Together we have built a business exporting world-class products across the UK, Ireland, Europe and further afield. We look forward to bringing more futuristic foods in 2020.”
This latest success comes on the back of multiple award wins for DELI LITES growing export range.
The Innovation Challenge annual awards was hosted by the contemporary food-to-go show, Lunch!. The ceremony was held in the Keynote Theatre in the ExCeL London convention centre.
DELI LITES produces more than 20 million products every year, including gourmet sandwiches, nutritious salad bowls, hot sandwiches and award-winning bakery treats. The business, founded by Brian and Jackie Reid in 1998, employs almost 300 and its customers include major retailers such as Sainsbury’s, Debenhams, Boots and Applegreen, as well as local food service companies.
