Artisan foods take off at Belfast International showcase

Ditty's Home Bakery, the multi award winning Northern Irish craft bakery, is being featured in the recently launched showcase of artisan foods at Belfast International Airport.

Ditty's famous range of oatcakes and traditional Irish breads such as its wheaten loaf can now be purchased by travellers in the airport's Irish Quarter store in the Departures Zone.

Ditty's, based in Magherafelt, county Londonderry, is owned and managed by master baker Robert Ditty, a former UK Baker of the Year.

The popular store, part of the international Aelia retail operation, has also included two confits - pear and apple and fig and thyme - from Fivemiletown Creamery in county Tyrone to accompany its speciality cheese, among the first foods to be featured in the Irish Quarter. Fivemiletown's handcrafted Causeway range of flavoured cheddars has also been added to the store.

Michele Hunter, Irish Quarter manager, commenting on the new product listing, says: "Ditty's oatcakes and breads are renowned throughout the world for quality and taste.

"They are an ideal product particularly for tourists wishing to take home some unique Northern Irish flavours. Visitors can now enjoy great food combinations - Fivemiletown speciality cheese on Ditty's oatcakes with Fivemiletown confits.

"The inclusion of the artisan foods is proving to be immensely popular with travellers. We've also been running a series of samplings to enable them to enjoy these unique flavours from Northern Ireland. These are proving to be extremely popular and are helping to highlight the quality and variety of local craft foods."

Belfast International Airport is among the most significant retail operations in Northern Ireland from over five million people who regularly use the airport for flights to European and US destinations including New York.

Ditty's Home Bakery is a family owned and managed business that was established in 1963. The company has invested in developing business outside Northern Ireland and has a longstanding commitment to new product development often in association with other artisan businesses.

Ditty's Bakery employs over 70 people and has won numerous awards for its products including their Christmas mince pies being voted the best in Ireland in 2008. The oatcakes are exported worldwide to markets including Australia.