Northern Ireland food and drink win Irish quality awards

More than 30 products from 22 Northern Ireland companies, both largeand small and across most sectors, were successful at the recent Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards 2015 in Dublin. The prestigious awards involving major retailers and discounters from across the island of Ireland saw clean sweeps for Northern Ireland in key categories including Cereals-Porridge (Whites Oats, Tandragee, county Armagh), Breads - Wheaten and Soda (McErlains, Magherafelt, county Derry and Linwood's Bakery, Armagh), Dairy - Yoghurts (Clandeboye Estate, Bangor, county Down), Cold Beverages - Soft Drinks (CocoMojo, Lisburn, county Antrim), Eggs (Cavanagh Free Range Eggs, Newtownbutler, county Fermanagh), and Ciders (DJ Juices and Ciders, Lisburn, county Antrim, Kilmegan, Dundrum, county Down and Mac Ivors, Craigavon, county Armagh. Other category winners from Northern Ireland included Moy Park, Craigavon, county Armagh in Poultry, Linden Foods, Dungannon, countyTyrone in Meat, Burgers and Meatballs, Willowbrook Foods, Killinchy, county Down in Salads - Prepared, TS Foods, Castlewellan,county Down in Side Dishes, and Glens of Antrim Potatoes in Vegetables - Unprepared. Among successful newcomers in the 2015 awards were New Found Joy of Craigavon, county Armagh specialising in small cakes and traybakes, Kilmegan Cider of Dundrum, county Down, Cavanagh Free Range Eggs, Newtownbutler, county Fermanagh, and Niche Drinks, Derry with its recently launched The Quiet Man single malt and blended Irish whiskies. Niche was also highly commended for its Irish cream liqueur produced for Tesco. Other major Northern Ireland companies winning awards were Dale FarmDairies, Cookstown, county Tyrone, for its cheddar cheese, Hovis, Belfast for its breads. The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards are the most important eventin the retailing food and drink industry in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards were launched in 2013 for the retail sector. They are based on the Quality Food Awards in the UK, launched in 1979. Expert judging panels are comprised of chefs, chef-lecturers, home economists, food writers, and consultants, restaurateurs, food technologists and representatives from regional food groups, all of whom bring their extensive knowledge to bear in the process. Northern Ireland successes at Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards 2015 TESCO SMALL PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Highly Commended - Madagascan Vanilla Greek Style Yoghurt - Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt, Bangor, county Down. Bagged Snacks Commended - Cinema Style Sweet Popcorn / Golden Popcorn, Newtownabbey, county Antrim. Bread - Small Breads and Rolls Highly Commended - Lidl Connell Bakery White Baps/ WD Irwin & Sons, Craigavon, county Armagh. Bread - Wheaten and Soda Breads Winner - SuperValu Sean's Brown Par-Baked / McErlain's Bakery, Magherafelt, county Derry Highly Commended - SuperValu Brown Soda Quarter / McErlain's Bakery,Magherafelt, county Armagh Commended - Aldi Stores Buttermilk Soda / Linwood's Bakery, Armagh, county Armagh. Cakes and Morning Goods - Small Cakes Highly Commended - Lidl Connell Bakery Buttermilk Pancakes / Hovis, Belfast Commended - Lidl Connell Bakery Mini Pancakes / Hovis, Belfast. Cereals - Porridge Winner - Lidl Deluxe Organic Wafer Oats / Whites Speedicook, Tandragee, county Armagh Highly Commended - Aldi Stores Instant Oat Sachets / Whites Speedicook, Tandragee, county Armagh Commended - Aldi Stores Organic Porridge / Whites Speedicook, Tandragee, county Armagh. Cheese - Hard Cheese Highly Commended - Lidl Rathdaragh Irish Extra Mature Cheddar / DaleFarm Dairies, Cookstown, county Tyrone Highly Commended - Lidl Rathdaragh Irish Vintage Cheddar / Dale FarmDairies, Cookstown, county Tyrone Cold Beverages - Soft Drinks Winner - CocoSoul / CocoMojo, Lisburn, county Antrim Highly Commended - CocoPassion / CocoMojo, Lisburn, county Antrim Dairy and Milk Products - Yogurts Winner - Greek Style Yoghurt / Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt, Bangor, county Down Highly Commended - Madagascan Vanilla Greek Style Yoghurt / Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt, Bangor, county Down Dairy and Milk Products - Eggs Winner - 6 Very Large Free Range Eggs / Cavanagh Free Range Eggs, Newtownbutler, county Fermanagh. Desserts and Puddings Highly Commended - Lidl Deluxe 4 Pack Shot Glass Chocolate Dessert /Cottage Catering, Dromore, county Down Free From - Sweet Highly Commended - Caramel Square / New Found Joy, Craigavon, countyArmagh. Fruit Commended - Dunnes Stores Irish Apple Tray / P. McCann & Sons, Craigavon, county Armagh Meat - Burgers and Meatballs Winner - Lidl Inisvale Selection Irish Hereford Cheddar and Onion Beef Burgers / Linden Foods, Dungannon, county Tyrone Meat - Poultry Winner - Good Kitchen Roast in the Bag / Moy Park, Craigavon, countyArmagh Quiches, Pies and Pasties Commended - Lidl Chef Select Single Serve Premium Beef and Stout Pies / Daily Bake, Armagh, county Armagh. Salad - Prepared Winner - Aldi Stores Specially Selected Mediterranean Salad Bowl / Willowbrook Foods, Killinchy, county Down Highly Commended - Aldi Stores Specially Selected Summer Green SaladBowl / Willowbrook Foods, Killinchy, county Down. Side Dishes Winner - Aldi Stores Specially Selected Cranberry, Apricot and Orange Stuffing / T.S Foods, Castlewellan, county Down Vegetables - Un Prepared Winner - Russet Potatoes / Glens of Antrim Potatoes, Cushendall, county Antrim Irish Quality Drink Awards Ales and Beers Highly Commended - Maggies Leap / Whitewater Brewing Co, Kilkeel, county Down Ciders Winner - Tempted? Strawberry Cider / dj's juice and cider, Lisburn, county Down Highly Commended - Irish Farmhouse Cider / Kilmegan Cider, Dundrum, county Down Highly Commended - Traditional Dry Cider / Mac Ivors, Craigavon, county Armagh. Liqueurs and Speciality Spirits Highly Commended - Tesco Irish Country Cream / Niche Drinks, Derry, county Derry Whiskies Highly Commended - The Quiet Man 8 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey / Niche Drinks, Derry, county Derry Commended - The Quiet Man Blended Irish Whiskey / Niche Drinks, Derry, county Derry.