Tasty and healthy innovations from Northern Ireland at IFE
New gluten-free sauces, curries, an easy serve porridge and a natural coconut drink which blends aromatic spices and botanical herbs are among innovative food and drink from Northern Ireland companies exhibiting at IFE 2013 on Stand N1606 and N1620 from 17- 21 March 2013.
The products will be on show on the Northern Ireland Naturally presentation at IFE, now seen as an important platform for launching new ideas in food and drink.
Six of the eight companies on the stand, organised by Invest Northern Ireland, the region's business development agency, are regular exhibitors at IFE and have significant business in Britain, other parts of Europe and the US. All will be sampling products at the event.
Two newcomers to IFE from Northern Ireland this year will be CocoMojo, a Belfast-based company which has created a highly innovative and healthy drink based on coconut water, coconut milk, aromatic spices and botanical herbs and Petruzzi's Family Recipes Ltd who will be officially launching their Italian meatballs cooked and in sauceat the show. CocoMojo will be appearing in Britain and Europe for the first time at IFE.
The eight companies are broadly representative of key sectors in the Northern Ireland food and drink industry, the region's biggest manufacturer and one which contributes over £4 billion annually to the local economy and employs around 90,000 people across the fully integrated agri-food supply chain.
Most of the food and drink products are sourced by producers from suppliers within easy reach of their processing plants in Northern Ireland, a feature which ensures total traceability and provenance.
The processors also work closely with local farmers in the development of new products and techniques. This close relationship, in addition, enables companies to respond quickly to the requirements of individual customers. They are supported by world class logistics and transport services that ensure fast delivery to customers in Britain and elsewhere.
In addition, Invest NI has a portfolio of almost 400 food and drink companies providing an extensive range of products. Northern Ireland is now a major supplier of quality and innovative food and drink to international markets especially Great Britain and Ireland, the region's two most important markets.
Invest NI also has an office in London and has experienced food and drink business development directors in Britain who work closely with retailers and foodservice organisations.
The team organises an annual programme of 'meet the buyer' events and arranges visits to Northern Ireland for existing and potential customers in retail and foodservice to meet suppliers. The team can help food and drink businesses in Britain and abroad to identify potential suppliers in Northern Ireland.
The region, part of the United Kingdom, is already significant supplier of red meat, poultry, dairy products and convenience meals to major retailers in Britain such as
M&S, Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, discounters such as Lidl and Aldi as well as high-end stores such as Harrods, Fortnum and Mason, Selfridges, Waitrose and Harvey Nichols, Brakes, Compass and 3663. The companies also supply smaller outlets such as delis and farm shops across Britain.
In other international markets, Northern Ireland companies currently provide products to Walmart as well as discounters such as Big Lots and Cost Plus World Market. Regular customers for Northern Ireland food and drink in Europe include Albert Heijn in the Netherlands, France's Carrefour, Auchan and Leclerc, and SuperCor in Spain.
For further information contact Invest NI Business Development Directors:
Michelle Charrington GB Tel: +44 (0)78 1717 3514
E: michelle.charrington@investni.com
Robin Barnett GB Tel: +44 (0)78 1717 3513 E: robin.barnett@investni.com
Karl Devlin EU & RU Tel: +44 (0)77 6739 3316 E: karl.devlin@investni.com
Food and drink on the Northern Ireland Naturally stand N1606 at IFE 2013:
Avondale Foods (Craigavon) Ltd, Chestnut Farm, Dukestown Lane, Lurgan, Craigavon, County Armagh BT66 8TB
Manufactures and supplies the UK and Ireland's leading multiple retailers with side salads, vegetable accompaniments, soups, sauces and dips. The company has secured a series of UK Great Taste Awards particularly for its soups.
Contact: Dawn Cann & Colin Ferguson T: + 44 (0)28 3834 1619
Dawn Cann Mob: +44 (0)77 7030 3035 E: dawn.cann@avondale-foods.co.uk
Colin Ferguson Mob: +44 (0)78 5090 8564 E: Colin.ferguson@avondale-foods.co.uk
Cloughbane Farm Foods Ltd, 160 Tandragee Road, Pomery, Dungannon, County Tyrone BT70 3HS
Cloughbane Farm produces home reared beef and lamb, with prime cuts of beef matured for 28 days for food service and retail trade. Award winning home cooked foods including Puff Pastry Pies, Chicken and Broccoli Bake, Shepherd's Pie, Lasagne, Irish stew, accompaniments and wet salads and the recently launched Proper Porridge, which will be launched at IFE.
Contact: Lorna Robinson & Vicky Black T: +44 (0)28 8775 8246
Lorna Robinson Mob: +44 (0)77 9600 5007 E: lorna@cloughbanefarm.com
E: Vicky@cloughbanefarm.com W: www.cloughbanefarmfoods.co.uk
CocoMojo Ltd, 11A Notting Hill, Malone Road, Belfast, County Antrim BT9 5NS
CocoMojo has developed an innovative and natural coconut drink from a distinctively flavoured blend of coconut water, coconut milk, aromatic spices, tropical fruits and botanical herbs. The drink is being launched at IFE.
Contact: Patricia McNeilly T: +44 (0)28 9066 4215 Mob: +44 (0)77 6652 7862
E: hello@cocomojo.comE: patriciamcneilly2@gmail.com W: www.drinkcocomojo.com
Evron Foods Group Ltd, Carn Industrial Estate, Portadown, County Armagh BT63 5WD
Evron Foods Ltdis a food manufacturing company supplying a selection of chilled, frozen, and par baked, EasiWrap products to the wholesale, food service and retail markets.
Contact:Dominic Downey T: +44 (0)28 3839 0501 Mob: +44 (0)78 3117 6514
E:d.downey@evronfoods.co.uk W: www.evronfoods.co.uk
K Hughes & Co / Hughes Mushrooms Ltd, 118 Trewmount Road, Dungannon, County Tyrone BT71 7EF
Hughes Mushroomsgrows, processes and supplies a range of mushroom products included filled mushrooms. Established in 1965 Hughes Mushrooms is now one of Ireland's most successful mushroom marketing companies. It has been supplying Sainsburys for 10 years and currently markets 150,000kg of fresh mushrooms each week.
Contact : Emmet Hughes T: +44 (0)28 8778 4298 Mob: +44 (0)77 0947 1254
E: emmethughes@hughesmushrooms.com W: www.hughesmushrooms.com
Niche Drinks Co Ltd, 10 Rossdowney Road, Londonderry BT47 6NS
Niche Drinksis a market leader in the development of Irish cream liqueurs including the unique Shannon microwaveable Irish Coffee and Saint Brendan's Irish Cream Liqueur. The company also plans to develop an Irish Whiskey distillery in Derry, once the leading centre in Ireland of whiskey.
Contact: Fiona Miller T: +44 (0)28 7131 4763 E: Fiona.miller@nichedrinks.com
Petruzzi's Family Recipes Ltd, Unit 9, Abbey Business Park, Mill Road, Newtownabbey, County Antrim BT36 7EE
Petruzzi's Family Recipesare an Italian food company specialising in authentic Italian cooked meals. Our family recipes have been handed down for over 100 years and have travelled from Italy to Ireland via America. Our entry into the market is with our classic Italian meatballs cooked and in sauce. Made with 100% Northern Irish beef and the highest quality ingredients, our meatballs have freshness, flavour and attitude. Petruzzi's Meatballs: Italian Soul with Irish Attitude.
Contact:Melissa McCullough Mob: 077 1722 7005 E:melissa@petruzzis.comW: www.petruzzis.com
Rich Sauces, 34 Jubilee Road, Newtownards, County Down BT23 4YH
Rich Sauces, the Northern Irish manufacturer of quality sauces, mayonnaise and bouillon is launching a new Chipotle sauce at IFE 2013, adding the distinctive flavour of the US South West to sandwich mixes, wraps and paninis. The company, based at Newtownards in country Down, has already won business for the new sauce from a major manufacturer. The new sauce is the outcome of work by the experienced development team at Rich Sauces, now a leading supplier to foodservice customers and manufacturers in the UK, other parts of Europe and the US.
Contact: Pam Gourley T: 028 9181 9004 E: pam@richsauces.com W:www.richsauces.com