Global acclaim for innovative Northern Ireland cheese

Two new cheese products from Fivemiletown Creamery in Northern Ireland won international acclaim from judges in the International Dairy Federation's prestigious 2011 Dairy Innovation Awards.

The awards, announced at the World Dairy Summit in Parma, Italy, saw Fivemiletown Creamery's products listed as 'Best New Cheese' category finalists by a panel of high profile judges. Fivemiletown Creamery was the only Northern Ireland dairy company to be listed for the final stages at the summit in Italy.

The successful Fivemiletown cheeses were Goats' Boilíe with Pesto in Rapeseed Oil and Goats' Boilíe with Sundried Tomato in Rapeseed Oil, two recent innovations from the Northern Ireland company's extensive new product development programme.

Dr Mike Johnston, chief executive of Dairy Council for Northern Ireland and a member of the IDF judging panel, said: "Having two products reach the final stage of the awards is a stunning achievement for Fivemiletown Creamery. The listing shows that this small and ambitious company can compete successfully on the global stage in terms of innovation and quality. This is important because innovation is the key to the future growth of the global dairy industry.

"Fivemiletown Creamery can be justifiably proud to see its innovative cheese products successful in a competition that attracted entries from many of the world's biggest dairy processors. It positions the creamery for further growth in international markets."

Mervyn McCaughey, managing director of Fivemiletown Creamery, said: "Winning a listing for two of our latest products in such an important international event is a tremendous endorsement of the quality and innovation which now underpins the approach of the company.

"The recognition is a massive support for our strategic focus on developing Fivemiletown Creamery as among the most innovative and market-led cheese processors in the world. It really does showcase the company on the global stage.

"Our NPD team is looking at new ways to build on the success that we've been experiencing particularly in European markets with Boilíe, a unique marinaded goats' cheese. The new products introduce the cheese to a wider audience seeking an easily prepared convenience meal."

This year's awards attracted over 100 entries from 25 countries in 14 categories ranging from products to packaging, marketing and environmental sustainability. The categories ranged from new products and ingredients to breakthroughs in packaging and sustainability, as well as initiatives in health education and marketing.

The judging panel, which selected the finalists and winners in August, included Meiyan Yu - national secretary, Chinese National Committee of IDF; Dr Judith Bryans - director, The Dairy Council; Dr Mike Johnston - chief executive, Dairy Council for Northern Ireland; Christian Robert - director general, IDF; Jörg Seifert - technical director, IDF; and Geoff Platt - editor, Dairy Innovation magazine, FoodBev Media.

The International Dairy Federation is the industry's global voice and the pre-eminent source of scientific and technical expertise for all stakeholders in the dairy chain. IDF is represented in 56 countries and accounts for approximately 86 per cent of the world's milk production at present.

IDF aims to identify, elaborate and disseminate best practice at international level in order to guide the dairy sector and to harmonise members' work on a variety of issues along the dairy production chain including animal health and welfare, protection of the environment, nutrition, food safety and hygiene and food standards.

The Dairy Innovation Awards is a partnership between the International Dairy Federation and Dairy Innovation magazine.