Global recognition for Belfast plant foods pioneer

Darlene McCormick, the founder of That Protein in Belfast, a leader in innovative plant-based super powders and an award-winning high protein porridge, has been named ‘Best Plant Based UK Business Strategist’ by a global food and drink magazine.

Darlene, a clinical nutritionist, gained the impressive accolade from the influential LUXlife magazine in its annual food and drink awards. LUXlife, a premium lifestyle publication, circulates worldwide to almost 250,000 readers.

The recognition comes as That Protein was also successful in the annual Nourish Awards. The Belfast-based company gained a silver medal for a unique high protein organic porridge in the annual Nourish Awards for the UK’s best health foods. The innovative product has recently achieved low FODMAP certification for its porridge as suitable for sufferers of IBS and other digestion issues.

The important certification for That Protein for its natural oat-based porridge product follows rigorous independent testing by FODMAP dietary experts.

The low FODMAP certification for the organic porridge is the third achieved by the small Northern Ireland business for its products. It became the first in the UK last year to gain FODMAP approval for its award winning Blissful Raw Cacao Organic Super Protein.  The company’s Chirpy Chirpy Choca Mocha Super Protein product subsequently gained the accreditation.

Darlene says: “I am thrilled by this recognition from such an influential magazine, coming so soon after our new high protein porridge gained silver in the Nourish Awards less than a year after we introduced it to the marketplace.

“The double choc protein porridge is a specially developed blend of organic oats, plant protein, raw cacao, cacao nibs and the sweet superfood palmyra nectar and boasts a raft of health benefits including helping build and maintain muscle mass. It also reduces tiredness and fatigue and is high in fibre which is important as the daily fibre target is 30g a day,” Darlene, who studied plant-based nutrition at Cornell University in the US, adds.

Darlene set up That Protein in 2014 on the back of a long-time dedication to a vegetarian diet.  She has created the recipes for all her product range.

Darlene McCormick of That Protein in Belfast named by a global food magazine as the UK’s Best Plant-Based Business Strategic