Record for Northern Ireland in Irish Quality Food and Drink Quality Awards

A record number of Northern Ireland products have been shortlisted for the final of the Irish Quality Food and Drink Quality Awards (IQFDA).

More than 30 products from major Northern Ireland producers such as Moy Park, Craigavon, county Armagh the region's leading poultry processor, Linden Foods of Dungannon, county Tyrone, a specialist in meats, and Dale Farm, Belfast, Northern Ireland's leading dairy business, with smaller and artisan enterprises have been shortlisted.

The smaller businesses include Genesis Crafty, Magheraleft, county Derry, Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt of Bangor, county Down, Northern Ireland's only yoghurt producer, Golden Popcorn, Newtownabbey, and White's Oats, Tandragee, county Armagh, Northern Ireland's only oat miller.

IQFDA, Ireland's most important awards for the food and drink industry, is now in its third year. Involving over 200 judges headed by Bruce Langlands, a food director of Harrods.

Mr Langlands says: "Unlike awards which judge products 'blind' so that you cannot see the packaging, we do the exact opposite. We demand that our judges know as much as possible about the food and drink that they are sampling so they can respond as a consumer would - with their eyes first, and then with their nose and their mouth.

"This means that all the judges know where a product comes from: a small producer or a large supplier; branded or own-label; from within Ireland or further afield; from a top-tier retail range or from a discounter. All this information informs our tasting and the passionate discussions that follow, but it does not dictate the winner. We don't play favourites - whoever wins simply entered the best product.

" Northern Ireland companies shortlisted in Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards 2015

Bagged Snacks Golden Popcorn , Newtownabbey - New Cinema Style Sweet Popcorn

Bread Wheaten and Soda Breads- Genesis Crafty, Magherafelt, county Derry - SuperValu Brown Soda Quarter and Sean's Brown Par-

Baked Cereals - Porridge Whiles Oats, Tandragee - Aldi Stores Instant Oat Sachets, Aldi Stores Organic Porridge, Lidl Deluxe Organic Wafer Oats

Cheese - Hard Cheese Dale Farm, Belfast - Lidl Rathdaragh Irish Extra Mature Cheddar Lidl Rathdaragh Irish Vintage Chedda Cheese -

Soft Cheese Fivemiletown Creamery, Tyrone - Lidl Deluxe Irish Brie Cold Beverages -

Soft Drinks Coco Mojo, Belfast - Coco Passion and CocoSoul drinks

Kerry Foods, Portadown - Golden Cow Butter Dairy and Milk Products - Yogurts and Creams Clandeboye Yoghurt, Bangor -Greek Style Yoghurt - Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt and Madagascan Vanilla Greek Style Yoghurt

Dairy and Milk Products - Eggs Cavanagh Free Range Eggs, Newtownbutler, county Fermanagh - Six Very Large Free Range Eggs -

Desserts and Puddings Slice of Heaven, Newtownards, county Down - Ruffled Raspberry Cheesecake Free From - Chilled Squeeze Wheatgrass, Warrenpoint, county Down -

Ready to Drink Wheatgrass Shot Free From -

Sweet New Found Joy, Portadown - Caramel Square and Rocky Road Meat -

Beef Linden Foods, Dungannon - Aldi Stores Specially Selected Sirloin Joint with Atlantic Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper Linden Foods, Dungannon - Lidl Inisvale Selection Irish Hereford Lean Diced Beef Steak Linden Foods, Dungannon - Lidl Inisvale Selection Irish Hereford Cheddar & Onion Beef Burgers

Meat - Poultry Moy Park, Craigavon, county Armagh - Good Kitchen Roast in the Bag

Pizzas Choice Pizza NI, Newtownards, county Down - Pizzado -

Sauces and Salad Dressings - Ambient Down Sauce Company, Downpatrick, county Down - Chilli Willi Mar

Vegetables - Prepared Milgro NI, Limavady, county Derry - Milgro Crispy Onions -

Vegetables - Un Prepared Glens of Antrim Potatoes, Cushendall, county Antrim - Foxton potatoes Glens of Antrim Potatoes - Russet potatoes

Tesco Small Producer of the Year Award Shortlisted Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt, Bangor, county Down - Madagascan Vanilla Greek Style Yoghurt Beers & Ales Whitewater Brewing Co, Kilkeel - Maggies Leap Ale Ciders Kilmegan Cider, Dundrum, county Down - Kilmegan Irish Farmhouse Cider Long Meadow Medium Cider, Loughgall, county Armagh - Long Meadow Cider Mac Ivors, Portadown, county Armagh - Traditional Dry Cider DJ Juices and Ciders, Lisburn, county Down - Tempted? Strawberry Cider Spirits Whiskies Niche Drinks, Londonderry - The Quiet Man 8 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey and The Quiet Man Blended Irish Whiskey