Northern Ireland blazes a trail at Great Taste Awards

From home town bakeries and butchers to some of the province's largest food producers, Northern Ireland has once again shown its abilities on a national stage. 40 Northern Ireland food and drink companies have secured more than 160 gold awards for 115 products in this year's UK Great Taste Awards.

The awards are promoted and organised locally by Invest Northern Ireland for the Guild of Fine Food. In the 2010 competition 33 Northern Ireland companies won 87 golds and just one '3 star' award.



This year, five local companies secured the top award of three stars: Alfie Murray Family Butchers in Killyleagh; Ann's Pantry, Belfast; Dale Farm Dairies, Cullybackey, Ballymena and Cookstown; Hannan Meats, Moira, and McCartney's Butchers, Moira. Alfie Murray Family Butchers and Ann's Pantry, each gained two of the coveted 3 star awards.



One company, Hannan Meats in Moira gained a record 14 awards - one '3 star', six '2 star' and seven '1 star'. En Place Foods, Cookstown, an associated company of Hannan Meats, gained three '1star' awards.



Praising the outstanding achievements of the 40 Northern Ireland food and drink companies, Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster said: "The achievements of local food and drink companies in the 2011 awards are simply stunning. The companies have set a new record in terms of the total gold stars secured and particularly in terms of the number achieving the coveted '3 star' award.



"It's also the first time ever that six local companies, mostly smaller entrepreneurial businesses across a broad range of sub-sectors, have secured the premier award in this most important and widely respected event for the food industry in the UK and Ireland.



"The awards demonstrate the vibrancy of the local food and drink industry, particularly in terms of new products and, most importantly, the ability of our companies - both large and small and including several recently started enterprises - to compete and win outside Northern Ireland.



"It is also very encouraging that every county in Northern Ireland now has at least one gold star winner. This shows the importance of the food industry to Northern Ireland, especially in predominantly rural communities.



"The lesson for many of the successful companies not currently trading outside Northern Ireland is that they have the potential to develop business in Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland and further afield.



"I would urge the 2011 record breakers to take advantage of Invest Northern Ireland support which can help them to explore the extensive export opportunities available."



In September, the judging panel will decide the overall UK and regional winners including Northern Ireland. The local '3 star' winners will be considered for both the UK overall and Northern Ireland regional titles.

Northern Ireland Great Taste Award Winners 2011

· Abernethy Butter Company, Dromara - 1 Star for Abernethy Butter Fudge



· Alfie Murray Family Butchers, Killyleagh - 3 Stars for Alfie's Green Leaf Ulster Lamb Leg; 3 star for Alfie's Green Leaf Ulster Boneless Lamb Loin; 2 Stars for Alfie's Rib Eye Steak 10oz; 1 Star Alfie's 10oz Chump Steak; 1 Star Beef Sausage with Cracked Black Pepper; 1 Star Pork Sausage with Garlic.



· Ann's Pantry Home Bakery, Belfast - 3 Stars for White Soda Spelt Farl; 3 Stars for Guinness Oven Wheaten; 2 Stars for Low GI Multiseed Bread; 2 Stars for Chicken and Leek Pie; 2 Stars for Spelt Meal Oven Soda.



· Bailie's Hand Roasted Coffee, Belfast - 2 Stars for Tiamo Espresso (92% Arabica); 2 Stars for Silvio Espresso; 2 Stars for Guatemalan Chimaltenango Bourbon Coffee; 1 Star for Camomile Flower Tea; 1 Star for Earl Grey Tea; 1 Star for Fairtrade Loose Leaf Tea; 1 Star Colombian Somondoco Coffee; 1 Star for Costa Rican Coffee; 1 Star for Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee.



· Bella Jo, Ballycastle - 2 Stars for Bella Jo Fig Relish.



· Big Ted's American Cookies, Ballyclare - 1 Star for the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie.



· Blackthorn Foods, Belfast - 1 Star for Butter Fudge.



· Boozeberries, Dromore - 2 Stars for Wild Cranberry Artisan Liqueur; 1 Star for Blackcurrant Artisan Liqueur.



· Cloughbane Farm Shop, Pomeroy - 1 Star for Homemade Stuffing; 1 Star for Chicken, Ham and Leek Pie; 1 Star for Steak, Onion and Mushroom Pie.



· Crossgar Foodservice, Downpatrick - 1 Star for Crossgar Dorset Rack of Lamb French Trimmed; 2 Stars for Crossgar Dry Aged Sirloin 8oz.



· Dale Farm/United Dairy Farmers, Cullybackey, Ballymena and Cookstown - 3 Stars for Naturally Spreadable Butter; 1 Star for Mild Cheddar No 1; 1 Star for Mild Cheddar No 2; 1 Star for Mild Cheddar No 3; 1 Star for Medium Cheddar No 3; 1 Star for Vintage No 1; 1 Star for Summer Meadow Butter.



· En Place Foods UK, Cookstown - 1 Star for Moyallon Mild Cranberry Chutney; 1 Star for Red Onion Honey Pickle; 1 Star for Thai Chilli Marinade.



· Erin Grove Preserves, Enniskillen - 2 Stars for Apple Jelly with Cloves; 1 Star for Sweet Chilli Jam.



· Fane Valley Co-Operative, Armagh - 1 Star for Salted Butter.



· Fivemiletown Creamery, Fivemiletown - 2 Stars for Natural Goats' Log; 1 Star for Goats' Boilie Oil and Herbs; 1 Star Cooneen Wedge; 1 Star Extra Mature Cheddar.



· Glastry Farm Ice Cream, Kircubbin - 2 Stars for Glastry Farm Vanilla Bean Ice Cream; 1 Star Glastry Farm Pear Sorbet.



· Gracehill Fine Foods, Ballymena - 1 Star Gracehill Black Pudding.



· Hannan Meats, Moira - 3 Stars Moyallon Smoked, Sweet-cured Bacon Chop; 2 Stars for Hereford Burger 8oz; 2 Stars for Glenarm Organic Shorthorn Beef Chop; 2 Stars for Mighty Marbled Ribeye Steak; 2 Stars for Sirloin Steak; 2 Stars for Ribeye Steak; 2 Stars for Glenarm Shorthorn Burger; 1 Star for Moyallon Dry-cured Bacon Chop; 1 Star Moyallon Dry-cured Back Bacon; 1 Star for Moyallon Sweet Cure Gammon; 1 Star for Hereford Cote de Boeuf; 1 Star Rack of Beef; 1 Star Glenarm Organic Lamb Rump; 1 Star Moyallon Sweet Cure Back Bacon.



· Holmes Delicatessen, Craigavon - 1 Star for Shortbread.



· Hoy's Farmhouse Ice Cream, Templepatrick - 2 Stars for Sticky Honeycomb Ice Cream; 1 Star Peanut Butter Ice Cream; 1 Star Strawberry Ice Cream; 1 Star for Turkish Delight Ice Cream.



· Irwin's Bakery, Craigavon - 2 Stars for Rankin Selection Cranberry and Oat Griddle Scones; 1 Star Rankin Selection Tasty Cinnamon and Raisin Loaf.



· Kestrel Foods, Craigavon - 1 Star for Forest Feast Exotic Dried Mango; 1 Star for Forest Feast Carabao Coco Mango.



· Koffy by NorthSouth Coffee Company, Newry - 2 Stars for Mojoe Bean Coffee.



· Linwoods, Armagh - 2 Stars for Linwoods Spelt and Honey Loaf; 1 Star for Milled Organic Sunflower and Pumpkin Seeds; 1 Star for Linwoods Fruit Bread; 1 Star for Linwoods Spelt Soda Farls.



· McCartney's of Moira - 3 Stars for Corned Beef.



· Millar Meats, Irvinestown - 2 Stars for Co Fermanagh Home Reared Sirloin.



· Morelli's Ice Cream, Coleraine - 1 Star for Morelli's Double Cream Vanilla Ice Cream; 1 Star for Morelli's Cheesecake Ice Cream with Blueberries and Biscuit Crumb.



· Orchard Organics, Craigavon - 1 Star for Kay's Kitchen Handmade Organic Raspberry Preserve; 1 Star for Kay's Kitchen Handmade Organic Plum Preserve; 1 Star for Kay's Kitchen Handmade Organic Damson Preserve.



· Punjana, Belfast - 2 Stars for Punjana Original Tea Bags; 2 Stars for Punjana Fair Trade Tea Bags; 1 Star for Punjana Green Tea Bags; 1 Star Punjana Green Tea; 1 Star Punjana Loose Leaf Tea; 1 Star for Punjana Scottish Blend; 1 Star Tesco Finest Tea Bags.



· Quail's Fine Foods, Banbridge - 2 Stars for Rib Roast.



· Red Dog Foods, Kilkeel - 2 Stars for Sour Cherry Chilli Jelly.



· Ristretto Coffee Roasters, Banbridge - 1 Star Guatemalan Collection Coffee; 1 Star Peru El Guabo Organic Coffee.



· Sugar Craft Cakes, Bangor - 1 Star Traditional Cake.



· Suki Tea House, Belfast - 2 Stars for Red Berry Tea; 1 Star Rooibos Citrus Tea.



· Tayto Crisps, Tandragee - 1 Star for Supervalu Supreme Chilli and Pepper for Musgrave Retail Partners; 1 Star Handcooked Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar for Weber Shandwick.



· The Clandeboye Estate Company, Bangor - 1 Star for Greek Style Yoghurt.



· The Heatherlea, Bangor - 2 Stars for Boiled Fruit Cake; 1 Star for Wheaten Bannock; 1 Star for Split Almond Granola.



· The Yellow Door Bakery, Portadown - 1 Star for Ryefield Goats Cheese and Fire Roasted Pepper Focacio Bread; 1 Star for Traditional Irish Wheaten; 1 Star for Armagh Cider and Bramley Apple Soda.



· White's Speedicook, Tandragee - 2 Stars for White's Irish Oatmeal - Old Fashioned Oats; 1 Star for White's Organic Jumbo Oat Flakes; 1 Star for White's Real Fruit Porridge; 1 Star for White's Only Oats; 1 Star for White's Toasted Oats Strawberry and Banana Crunch.



· Whitewater Brewing Company, Kilkeel - 1 Star Clotworthy Dobbin Bottled Beer 5.0%.