Two awards for Northern Ireland’s Linden Food in industry event

Linden Foods in Northern Ireland has won two category awards in the influential UK’s Meat Management Industry Awards.

Based in Dungannon, county Tyrone and now part of ABP, Linden Foods won awards as part of its collaboration with top food retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S). The awards were for Britain’s Best Meat Pie for its M&S MMMummy Meat Loaf and Best Beef Product for its M&S British Duke of Beef.

The awards reflect the longstanding and successful business relationship between M&S Food and Linden Foods, one of Northern Ireland’s most innovative producers of beef and other proteins.

The awards were among 18 announced in what is the UK’s leading competition for meat processors. Other companies with links to Northern Ireland included in the awards were Dungannon’s Dunbia – for minted lamb kebabs produced at its plants in Wales – and Cranswick Country Foods, which has a factory in Ballymena – for its Sainsbury’s British Pork Crackling Rib Roast. Cranswick was also chosen as Manufacturer of the Year and won the Best Poultry Product for its Aldi Specially Selected Butter Basted Roast Chicken Breast.

The initiative moved online for the first time this year as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic. Celebrity magician Ben Hanlin, co-presented the awards, adding a touch of magic to the proceedings.

Otherwise the ceremony followed the established format and recognised excellence across 18 categories.

Graham Yandell, publisher of Meat Management magazine which organises the annual awards, said: “Despite the challenges we faced in the run up these awards, it’s great to be able to recognise the amazing people, products, companies and organisations that make up this wonderful industry.

 “We had nearly 1,000 products entered and judged earlier this year and voting and nominations were once again very substantial across all the non-product categories.

Pam Brook, editor of Meat Management magazine, added: “Many congratulations to all our worthy winners, finalists and highly commended. In the most challenging of years, it’s great to be able to take the time to recognise some of the most important figures that help keep this country fed on a daily basis.