Rapeseed oil wins top award at international show


Cold-pressed rapeseed oil from Broighter Gold gained the Overall Product of the Show and the Best Packaging awards at the recent International Food, Drink and Hospitality (IFEX) show in Belfast, Northern Ireland.





Broighter Gold rapeseed oil, launched last year as a farm diversification project by husband and wife team Richard and Leona Kane, gained the top awards competing against almost 100 products and services from Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The awards were chosen by an independent panel of judges headed by Michael Deane, the award-winning chef and restaurateur.





Mr Deane says: "Broighter Gold was a worthy winner because it stood out for its taste, quality, versatility and packaging. At IFEX, where there's thousands of new products and business solutions all under one roof, the Product of the Show awards are extremely valuable, as it showcases industry-leading products to over 4,500 visitors."





Leona Kane, the driving force behind the farm-based business at Limavady in County Derry, says: "The awards are a tremendous endorsement of our decision to start pressing oil from rapeseed grown on our own farm which means we have total traceability and control over the product, ensuring consistently high quality.





"Rapeseed oil is being used increasingly by leading chefs as an alternative to olive oil because of its content on Omega 3, 6, 9 and Vitamin E and also because it is probably the most versatile cooking oil. Broighter Gold oil also has half the saturated fat of olive oil," she adds.





Broighter Gold cold-pressed rapeseed oil is now being used extensively by top chefs in Northern Ireland and increasingly by high-end restaurants in the Republic of Ireland including, most recently, the renowned White Sage Restaurant in Adare, Co Limerick and the award winning Alexis Bar and Grill at Dun Laoghaire, near Dublin.





Established in 2011, Broighter Gold is an artisan business based at Broglasco, the Kane family farm, in Myroe, near Limavady, on the edge of Lough Foyle just above sea level on reclaimed land. The arable farm covers 360 acres - 120 are used to grow rapeseed.





The fertile ground grows high yielding crops of wheat, barley, oilseed and potatoes. Ireland's greatest find of gold artefacts from the Iron Age of the 1st century BC was found on the farm and is now held by the national Museum of Ireland.





Picture caption: Arlene Foster, Enterprise Minister, pictured with Leona and Richard Kane, Broighter Gold.



Other Northern Ireland Award Winners



Best Grocery Product - Foodservice



Gold - Irish Moiled Dry Aged Sirloin, Lissara Farm/Crossgar Foodservice



Best Grocery Product - Retail



Gold - Fair Trade Belfast Blue Pyramid's Tea, Suki Tea



Best Beverage Product



Silver - HoneyHill Apple Punch, The Armagh Cider Company



Best Irish Food Produce: North & South



Silver - Inch Abbey Dry Aged Sirloin, Lissara Farm/Crossgar Foodservice



Best International Product



Gold - Roquefort Xavier David Cheese, Pallas Foods



Silver - Comte Xavier David 14 Month's cheese, Pallas Foods



Best Product Packaging



Gold - Broighter Gold Rapseed Oil, Broighter Gold



Silver - Carson's Crisp Cider, The Armagh Cider Company



Best Sustainable/Environmental Product/Service



Gold - Triple Certified Darjeeling Loose Leaf Tea, Suki Tea