Innovation and export on the plate at Food & Drink Awards

The awards are recognised as a crucial measure of commercial success for local food and drink manufacturers and processors, offering companies the chance to showcase their commitment to excellence in front of key industry stakeholders and customers.

A total of 11 awards were presented at the event, which was attended by over 350 guests including major retailers, government officials and industry leaders.

There were two winners in the ‘Ulster Bank Best New Product in a Large Company category’ - Dale Farm was awarded the prize for Protein Milk, along with Linden Foods for its Lidl Dry Aged Steak range. The award for Best New Product in a Medium Company was scooped up by Scott’s Bakery Gluten Free Range, while Pop Notch won the Small Company category. The Food NI People’s Choice Award went to the ever popular Thompson’s Punjana tea. Other award winners on the night included Linwoods, picking up the Invest NI Export Excellence Award and Moy Park, winners of the Safefood Best Innovation to Enhance Food Safety Award.

Professor Chris Elliot, director of the Institute for Global Food Safety at Queen’s University, Belfast was presented with the Ulster Bank Outstanding Contribution Award. Laura Hook of Dale Farm was recognised with the Food and Drink Sector Skills Ambassador Award, Suki Tea was presented with the Food and Drink Sector Skills Training Excellence Award, and Kettyle Foods picked up the Deloitte Service Sector Award.

Speaking at the event, Michael Bell, executive director of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, said: “These awards are among the most important in Northern Ireland’s entire business calendar, as some 100,000 private sector jobs depend on the agri-food supply chain. The industry has a turnover of £5bn every year, so its importance cannot be overstated.

“On behalf of NIFDA, I’d like to congratulate all our award winners, those who were specially commended and indeed everyone who was lucky enough to be declared a finalist at this prestigious ceremony.

“These local companies are trailblazers in the international food and drink sector, leading the way in agri innovation, education and supply chain excellence on the world stage, so it’s only right that we celebrate their achievements. “The judging was an unenviable task and throughout the selection process a clear customer focus, passion for great marketing and emphasis on training and development was evident from all the applications. The quality and variety of award winners on stage this evening is illustrative of why Northern Ireland produce is so highly valued and embraced across the world.”

Nigel Walsh, director, commercial banking, Ulster Bank said: “The 2017 awards come hot on the heels of the Northern Ireland’s Year of Food & Drink, and Ulster Bank is pleased to support them, as we continue to develop the momentum and profile that 2016 gave to the sector.

“Ulster Bank has sponsored these awards from the outset and it has been inspiring to see the quality and calibre of entries improve with each event. It reflects the progression and success of the food and drink industry in Northern Ireland – a sector with which we are proud to be so closely involved.”

Full list of award winners:

Ulster Bank Best New Product, Large Company

Dale Farm – Protein Milk

Linden Foods - Lidl Dry Aged Steak range

Ulster Bank Best New Product, Medium Company

Scott’s Bakery – Gluten Free Range

Ulster Bank Best New Product, Small Company

Pop Notch

Deloitte Service Sector Award

Kettyle Foods – King Arthur Rib

Invest NI Export Excellence Award

Linwoods

DEARA Agri-food Supply Chain Excellence

Dunbia

Food NI People’s Choice Award

Thompson’s Punjana Tea

Safefood Best Innovation to Enhance Food Safety Award

Moy Park

Food and Drink Sector Skills Training Excellence Award

Suki Tea

Food and Drink Sector Skills Ambassador Award

Laura Hook, Dale Farm

Ulster Bank Outstanding Contribution Award

Professor Chris Elliot