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Eleven companies from Northern Ireland will be offering a rich harvest of speciality food and drink at IFE 2011 in Excel, London, 13 – 16th March. The Northern Ireland Naturally stands N1520 and N1506 in the speciality and regional food from Britain section will showcase some of the finest food products on offer from the lush pastures of Northern Ireland and will see a number of exciting new product launches, product extensions, re-launches and re-packaging launches.

Hannan Meats picked up Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for their quality pork produce at the prestigious BPEX Foodservice Pork Product of the Year Competition 2011 in London.

In what was a hotly contested competition, Moira-based Hannan Meats beat off entries from the UK’s top pork and bacon manufacturers to secure three Gold Awards for its French Trimmed Dry Cured Bacon Rack, Sweet Cure Gammon and Sausage Roll; a Silver Award for its Stuffed Pork Fillet, and a Bronze Award for its Luxury Ribs. In addition, the French Trimmed Dry Cured Bacon Rack, produced under the company’s Moyallon Brand, achieved the coveted third place in the overall competition.

Banbridge-based coffee roaster Ristretto has been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to develop new products for export. The company has recently secured its first business in the Republic and is now following up enquiries from Scotland.

Over 9000 decision makers from the Irish food service sector will have a sizzling opportunity to sample a range of products from eight Northern Ireland companies on the Northern Ireland Naturally stand (J19) at CATEX.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster recently announced a ?2.7million investment by Greiner Packaging Ltd which aims to create 12 new jobs.

Northern Ireland-based Willowbrook Foods has scored a major export success with the first food range produced at its new Food Innovation Centre in Killinchy, an integral part of an ongoing ?5 million expansion.

Leading Northern Ireland meat processor Linden Foods Ltd has opened a new ?10million facility in Dungannon in County Tyrone. The state-of-the-art retail packing and product development facilities will bring new capabilities to Linden Foods’ operations, allowing it to enhance its competitive position and lead the way in terms of new product development and innovation in the meat processing sector.

A total of 14 local food and drink companies are being assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to expand exports at two international shows.

County Londonderry-based artisan bakery, Genesis Crafty has just launched an exciting
‘pic-a-nics’ on-pack promotion in association with Warner Bros to promote the launch of the film maker’s new family release, Yogi Bear 3D, which will hit cinema’s UK-wide on 11th February. The film stars Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake as the voices of Yogi and his buddy Boo Boo.

Label One, one of the UK and Ireland's leading suppliers of labels and multi page labels for the food, pharmaceutical and agrichemical industries, has officially opened new
state-of-the-art premises in Belfast.