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Malt whisky and rare Irish bacon will take the place of wine and cheese at Europe's gourmet food show, Salone de Gusto, in Turin, Italy from 23-27 October.

Invest Northern Ireland is helping six client companies take part in the prestigious event.

A unique collaboration between one of these companies O'Doherty's Fine Meats from Enniskillen, and Diageo, the global drinks giant, has resulted in the joint launch of two innovative products ??“ a Parma ham-styled Fermanagh Black Bacon and a 12 year old malt whisky which will be launched together at Salone.
The whisky-bacon showcase followed an approach from Diageo to O'Doherty Fine Meats, developer of the richly flavoured and distinctively natural Fermanagh Black Bacon, long a preferred choice of gourmet chefs and retailers throughout the UK and Ireland.

Economy Minister Arlene Foster today praised Fivemiletown Creamery for its continued export success and growth.

Arlene Foster was speaking during a visit to the company. The Minister said: ???It is very encouraging that Fivemiletown Creamery, which is celebrating 110 years trading this year, continues to develop new international customers for its speciality cheeses. Orders have been received from Galeries Lafayette in France, Tony's Supermarkets in Boston and from outlets as far away as Asia.

A multi-faceted drive to help local food companies win business in France is being launched by Invest Northern Ireland over the next six months. Already planned is a major presentation of local food and drink at the SIAL exhibition in Paris and a visit to Northern Ireland by a delegation of top buyers from French grocery and food services companies.

Three local food companies have been listed by Rail Gourmet to supply products for catering operations on Iarnrod Eireann, (Irish Rail), train services throughout the Republic of Ireland.

Invest NI's Food Sector Marketing Advisor in the Republic of Ireland, Shane McArdle, lined up a number of local food companies to present their products to Rail Gourmet buyers who subsequently selected the following suppliers:

Caribbean cuisine from Belfast will be featured for the first time on the Invest Northern Ireland stand at the forthcoming SHOP exhibition in the RDS, Dublin from 29th September to 1st October.

Delicacies such as ???Run up and Run Down Sauce', Jerk sauce, a unique Jutney blend of Caribbean styles jam and chutney, and coconut bread, will be featured by Windrush Cuisine, a west Belfast business which is among seven food and drink companies launching at SHOP. Windrush Cuisine was formed in 2004 by Wendy McGuire, a trained chef whose family roots are in Jamaica.

Strangford Lough Brewing Company, based at Killyleagh in Northern Ireland, is to produce and market its successful range of beers in North America. The company, famed for its St Patrick's Gold, Best and Ale brands, has signed an agreement with a Vancouver company to market its products in North America.

A new company, SLBC North America, based in Vancouver, will spearhead the operation. It will mean Americans and Canadians will be able to raise a glass of St Patrick's Gold ale, from the saint's homeland next March.

Artisan baker Genesis, based in Northern Ireland, has grown its sales five fold in Great Britain over the past year, primarily as a result of significant contracts placed by Sainsbury and Waitrose for its handmade morning goods including pancakes and scones.

The family-owned and managed bakery, which is based in Magherafelt in County Derry, is celebrating its 40th anniversary in business and markets its products under the Genesis ???Crafty' brand

Caribbean cuisine from Belfast will be featured for the first time on the Northern Ireland group stand (E28-E30) at the forthcoming SHOP exhibition in the RDS, Dublin from 29th September to 1st October.

Healthy snack and functional foods company Good4U, based in Northern Ireland, is stepping up its marketing in Great Britain to build on the success of business secured from Sainsbury's and a string of awards for its innovative and wholesome products.

The company's unique Lentil and Bean Shoots, which gained a gold award in the recent Great Taste Awards, is now on sale in over 300 Sainsbury's across Britain. Lentil and Bean Shoots, a mix of lentil crimson, speckled pea, mung and aduki beans, are crunchy and delicious sprouts naturally high in fibre.

Polish sausages and cooked meats from a Northern Ireland processor are now on the deli counters of supermarkets in England and Scotland.

Kabanos is now supplying its products to CJ Laing in Scotland and Nicco Foods of Cheshire. The company has developed a 43-strong range of cooked meats and sausages using traditional Polish techniques.