Artisan spotlight in Northern Ireland grocery awards
Four smaller food companies are in the running for the first-ever 'Best Artisan Food and Drink' award for Northern Ireland producers.
The category has been created by Ulster Grocer magazine to reflect Northern Ireland's dynamic and highly innovative artisan food and drink processing sector. It features in the annual Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards, the region's biggest food and drink industry competition, which is watched closely by grocery retailers of all sizes.
The new Artisan category provides an opportunity for smaller processors to showcase their products to bigger supermarkets in particular and could result in business.
Shortlisted in the Artisan category are:
Irish Black Butter of Portrush, county Antrim, the developer of an innovative sweet/savoury spread made from Bramley apples, treacle, brandy and spices that was launched last November and is now on sales in many delis and farm shops in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain;
Mange Tout of Downpatrick, county Down, a producer of French patisserie, quiches, meat and fruit pies, traybakes and tartlets developed by Franck Bretche, originally from Nantes, who runs the bakery and a catering business with wife Tina. The company has recently begun selling the pies, breads and cakes wholesale to symbol groups and independent retailers;
Peppup of Portaferry, county Down, a producer of gourmet ketchup and pasta sauce. The company was formed in 2014 by Luca Montorio, originally from Turin. The company's products are widely available in farm shops and delis on the island of Ireland as well as from Booths in Lancashire.
Pizzado Choice Pizza, also from Portaferry in county Down, a producer of pizza kits that are now available in supermarkets in Northern Ireland. Established by Karen Boyd, the small company has recently expanded to include ready-made pizza bases.
They are included in the shortlist for other longer established categories for other producers and retailers. Other smaller companies are included in the Export category. They include: Cavanagh Free Range Eggs of Newtownbutler, county Down, an award-winning producer of free range eggs; Crust and Crumb, Derrylin, county Fermanagh, a processor of pizza bases and Heavenly Tasty Organics, Augher, county Tyrone, a producer of baby foods.
Larger companies shortlisted in other categories include Mash Direct, Comber, county Down, a major processor of potato and vegetable sides, Irwin's Bakery of Craigavon, county Armagh, Northern Ireland's largest independent baker, Tayto Crisps of Tandragee, county Armagh, a UK leader in crisps, Moy Park of Craigavon, county Armagh, one of Europe's leading poultry producers and Punjana of Belfast, a specialist in teas.
The Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards attracted record entries. Winners will be announced at the end of April.