Northern Irish companies win Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards


Five Northern Irish companies gained six top category awards in the first Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards (IQFA). The awards, launched this year, recognise excellence in product development by food and drink producers in both parts of Ireland for major retailers and foodservice organisations.



The Northern Irish winners and their supermarket partners, were relevant, were:



White's Speedicook, Tandragee, county Armagh/Aldi Ireland - Luxury Fruit Porridge. The company, Northern Ireland's only oat miller, was also highly commended for its Oatilicious Jumbo Porridge produced for Lidl Ireland.



AJ's Apple Juice from Armagh Cider, Armagh, county Armagh - Cold Beverages Madden's Mellow Cider from Armagh Cider Company, Armagh - Cider



Avondale, Lurgan, county Armagh/Musgrave Retail Partners - SuperValu Irish Flavorita Tomato - Fresh Produce.



Linden Foods, Dungannon, county Tyrone/Lidl Ireland - Heat, Eat and Enjoy Italian Meatballs in Arrabiata Sauce - Ready to Cook.



Belfast Lager from Whitewater Brewing Company, Kilkeel, county Down - Lagers.



Two companies were also highly commended in their categories. Moy Park, Craigavon, county Armagh for its Pesto Fillets with Spinach and Tomato in Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry.



McColgan's of Strabane, county Tyrone was also highly commended for its Saucy Steak Pie developed for SuperValu.



Several Northern Irish companies were short listed by the panel. They were: - McErlain's, Magherafelt, county Londonderry for its sourdough bloomer for Musgrave Retail Partners; Streat, Newtownabbey for its double chocolate muffin for Spar/Henderson Group; Fivemiletown Creamery, county Tyrone for Deluxe Irish Cheese Selection for Lidl Ireland; Avondale Foods, Lurgan, county Armagh for SuperValu supreme coleslaw salad; Cottage Catering, Dromore, county Down for Deluxe sherry trifle for Lidl Ireland; Willowbrook Farm Foods, Killinchy, county Down for SuperValu supreme herby aromatic salad; Cloughbane Farm Shop, Pomeroy, county Tyrone for chicken curry for Spar/Henderson Group;K&G McAtamney, Ballymena, county Antrim for Bourbon steak stir fry for Spar/Henderson, Linden Foods, Dungannon, county Tyrone for Somerset style pork fillet medallion for Lidl Ireland; Whitewater Brewing Company, Kilkeel, county Down for Hoppelhammer beer; Armagh Cider Company, Armagh for Carson's Crisp Cider; and RubyBlue Liqueurs, Lisburn, county Antrim for zesty blackcurrant liqueur



The awards are unique and immensely important because they showcase product excellence and the high level of market-focused collaboration and co-operation between retailers and producers.



This collaboration is contributing to the continuing growth of Northern Ireland's £4 billion agri-food industry.



The awards were presented by leading Irish chef, Neven Maguire, and were organised by Food and Hospitality Ireland with backing from the UK Quality Food and Drink Awards.



The awards, sponsored by the Benson Group, attracted 350 entries from producers in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.