A Taste of Northern Ireland at Gulfood 2019
High quality, grass-fed dairy products, ice cream and sorbets, natural cider vinegar, pop-corn and gluten-free fruit and vegetable snack products, porridge oats and oat based cereals from Northern Ireland are being showcased at Gulfood from 17th February to 21st February in Dubai.
The showcase has been organised by Invest NI, the regional business development agency for Northern Ireland, which has had an office in Dubai since 1996.
Innovative foods will feature on the Northern Ireland stand in the Dairy - Hall 2 and the World Food - Trade Centre Arena - Sheik Saeed Halls at the show which is now among the world's most important in the food and drink calendar.
Northern Ireland is a long-time participant at the show, which has helped many of the UK region's companies to secure sales especially with major regional supermarkets including Spinney's, LuLu, Carrefour, Choitrams, Waitrose, Al Maya and major foodservice operators in the region.
Karl Devlin, Invest NI's Head of Business Development, Middle East and Asia commenting on the Northern Ireland showcase, says: "The Middle East is now a hugely important market for our food and drink industry.
"From 2015 to 2016,
for example, exports to the United Arab Emirates alone increased by an impressive 19%, growth* driven by new product development especially in sectors such as grass-fed beef and dairy, snack foods and free-from options for diet conscious consumers.
"Retail buyers, top chefs and journalists from the Middle East are now aware of the quality of food and drink readily available from visits we have organised to Northern Ireland, now increasingly seen as a gourmet travel destination after picking up the 'Best Food Destination' at the 2018 International Travel and Tourism Awards," he adds.
James Mackle Ltd will launch their award winning Super Premium Apple Cider Vinegar at Gulfood 2019. This product won the Golden Fork for Northern Ireland Product of the Year award at the Guild of Fine Foods Great Taste awards in 2018.
Northern Ireland companies already doing business in the Middle East include Linwoods, producer of healthy super foods, Free-ist, a leader in sugar and gluten free foods and Kestrel Foods, an innovator in dried fruit and nut snacks.
For further information please contact Karl Devlin +44 7767393316 or E: karl.devlin@investni.com or Sheethal Rishi +97 156115199 E: Sheethal.rishi@investni.com
The full list of Northern Ireland participants is:
Dairy - Hall 2
Greenfields Ireland, B2-18: Greenfields Ireland Ltd is an international dairy trading company. The company is a leading supplier of dairy ingredients, specialist milk products and finished dairy products throughout Europe, the Middle East, South America, the Far East and Africa. The company sources an extensive range of products including butter, AMF, milk powders and a range of cheeses on a worldwide basis. Greenfields also offer dairy products solutions to a wide range of industrial buyers/distributors of retail/catering products. www.greenfieldsireland.com
LacPatrick Dairies, C2-17: High quality dairy products for retailers, food service and industry customers across the globe. The portfolio extends to a large range of quality milk, cream, butter, buttermilk, yoghurts and desserts.
LacPatrick Dairies has over 1100 farm suppliers who supply in the region of 650 million litres of the highest quality milk in Ireland. Currently a market leader in West Africa and the Middle East with the LP brand, the company has expanded into international markets including the Far East and South America. The company has ambitious plans to further develop its product range with the introduction of the instantised and fat filled product ranges and also to build its presence globally utilising the full capacity of the newly commissioned, 7 tonne dryer and existing plant. Today the co-op has three different factories in Monaghan, Ballyrashane and the Artigarvan site where the market leading LP branded milk powder is produced. www.lacpatrick.com
World Food - Trade Centre Arena - Sheik Saeed Halls
Pinkfinch, S-M33 - Innovative range of gluten-free fruit and vegetable snacks. Real fruit but the same texture as a potato crisp. 1 of your 5 recommended portions of fruit and vegetables a day. High in Fibre, Gluten Free, 100% Vegan, Nut Free. Cloud Corn Popcorn available in Sweet Chilli BBQ and Sweet & Salty flavours. High in Fibre, Gluten Free, 100% Vegan, Nut Free. www.pinkfitch.eu www.cloudcorn.eu
Glastry Farm Ice Cream Ltd, S-M33 - At Glastry Farm we use our own cow's milk to create a range of luxury award-winning ice creams. We also have diversified into sorbets as a dairy-free alternative. All products are batch produced on the farm using the very best natural and local ingredients to give the ultimate ice cream experience. Glastry Farm products are now available in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for home delivery, retail, catering and food service outlets via the company Springbok Catering. www.glastyfarm.com Twitter: @glastryfarm
James Mackle Ltd, S-L34: James Mackle Ltdwhich is based in Co Armagh has been involved in growing and processing apples for over 60 years. We supply a wide range of B2B customers throughout the UK and Ireland. We have now added Apple Cider Vinegar to our portfolio of apple products for both B2B use and our super premium Natural Umber for retail. www.Naturalumber.com / www.mackleapple.com Twitter: @naturalumber / mackleapple.com
Lakeland Dairies, S-L34 - S-M33: A 100% farmer owned dairy co-operative, is a market leader in the production of dairy-based products for chefs around the world. Our portfolio of high performance products includes premium dairy cream, cream blends, milk, milk portions, milk powder, butter and ice cream. We supply to industry professionals in over 70 countries worldwide. www.pritchitts.com
Whites Oats, S-M33: White's has been milling oats in Tandragee on the same site for 177 years and its growth and development was the contribution to commercial milling made by successive generations of the White family. Its success is down to investment in brand, scale and technology- since 1841 it's never stood still. White's has developed a growing network of oat growers throughout the British Isles and has strong partnerships with around 55 Arable farmers growing both Organic and standard oats. A member of the soil association for over 20 years and one of the early pioneers of organic growing, White's is now the principal miller of Organic Oats in the UK. www.whitesoats.co.uk/ Twitter: @whitesoats