Linwoods Superfoods Northern Ireland's top exporter

Linwoods, the Northern Ireland producer of health foods, has been named the region's export leader.

Based in Armagh, county Armagh and formed in 1965, Linwoods produces a range of healthy seeds, nuts and berries for global markets. The family company gained the Export Excellence Award at the recent Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association's (NIFDA) biennial awards.

The company started the development of a range of healthy products with the launch of flaxseed in the late nineties and now has a portfolio of 15 different premium blends and healthy seed snacks.

Today Linwoods produces a range of healthy superfood combinations, which are a convenient, easy and quick way to gain a wide range of essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. The award for export excellence was sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland.

Whilst still servicing the UK and Republic of Ireland home market, Linwoods now export products to more than 25 countries across the world, and has seen unrivalled growth in its healthy seed products, now recognised through the UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy and France as a leading health food brand.

A series of awards were announced at a gala event organised by NIFDA, a membership body which represents the region's food and drink industry.

The other awards were:-

Best New Product (Large Company) shared by Dale Farm of Belfast, Northern Ireland's biggest dairy business for its Protein Milk, and Linden Foods, Dungannon, county Tyrone for its steak for Lidl and other major retailers.

Best New Product (Medium Company) Scott's Bakery, Fivemiletown, county Tyrone for its gluten-free range.

Best New Product (Small Company) Pop Notch popcorn, Maghera, county Derry. Highly commended were Cavanagh Free Range Eggs, Newtownbutler, county Fermanagh, Farmageddon Brewery, Comber, county Down and Kennedy Bacon, Omagh, county Tyrone.

People's Choice - Punjana Tea, Belfast.

Outstanding Achievement - Prof. Chris Elliott, Director of the Global Institute of Food Security at Queen's University Belfast.

Supply Chain Excellence -Tyrone Quality Livestock/Dunbia, Dungannon, county Tyrone.

Training Excellence - Suki Tea, Belfast

Food Safety Award - Moy Park, Dungannon, county Tyrone.

Service Sector Award - Kettyle Irish Foods, Lisnaskea, county Fermanagh.