Latest news

Nigel Barden, chief judge in the UK Great Taste Awards 2012/13, has acclaimed the achievements of Northern Ireland’s artisan producers.

Suki Tea, the leading loose leaf tea blender, has teamed up with Patisserie Valerie, the unique cafe / bakery business, to encourage more customers to enjoy the rich flavours of gourmet teas.

Hannan Meats, the Northern Irish meat processor, is to supply dry-aged beef to Fortnum and Mason in London for its restaurants and catering operations.

Whitewater Brewing Company, the Northern Irish artisan brewery, has launched Hoppelhammer, a new speciality beer made extensively from hops.

The new beer, which has an ABV of six per cent, was named the top product at the recent Belfast Beer and Cider Festival, an event organised by the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

Garvagh based Annie’s Traditional Food Ltd will create 10 new jobs over the next two years as part of a ?280,000 expansion announced by Invest Northern Ireland’s Chief Executive Alastair Hamilton.

Longstanding apple processor, MacNeice Fruit, based in Northern Ireland, has moved in to the cider business with the launch of two premium products.

MacNeice Fruit, a specialist in Armagh Bramley apples, now with PGI European name protection, has created a new brand, Mac Ivors and two bottled ciders, Mac Ivors Medium, a 4.5% ABV drink, and Mac Ivors Traditional Dry, a 5.6% ABV variety, to appeal to drinkers of traditional ciders or craft beers.

Northern Ireland’s Kearney Blue Cheese, an artisan producer, has been acquired by a leading local dairy business which aims to grow sales of the blue cheese in Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Proper Porridge, an easy-cook breakfast meal, has been developed by Northern Ireland-based Cloughbane Farm Foods, an award winning farm-based business.

The pre-prepared porridge of oats and milk is ready to enjoy after just five minutes in a microwave. Proper Porridge is produced in 280g plastic tubs and is currently available in four tasty flavours – Proper Porridge Original, which retails at ?1.25; Proper Porridge with cinnamon at ?1.35; Proper Porridge with dates ?1.35; and Proper Porridge with honey ?1.35.

Dale Farm Dairies of Northern Ireland has been successful in the annual World Cheese Awards. The company, Northern Ireland’s biggest dairy business, gained four medals for its cheddars.

To improve brand awareness of the local flour milling leader and position the company for future growth, Northern Ireland’s only independent flour company Andrews Flour undertook a business growth programme consisting of website re-development and package re-design.