06/06/2014

Great Taste Awards Judging Session To Be Held In NI

Enterprise, Trade & Investment Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed the decision by the UK Guild of Fine Food to hold this year's Great Taste Award judging session in Northern Ireland, for the first time.

Invest Northern Ireland is sponsoring the three-day judging session this week in the Stormont Hotel, Belfast.

Speaking after welcoming the judges to Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster said: "I am delighted that the UK Guild of Fine Food has brought the judging of this year's Awards to Northern Ireland and invited many of the UK's leading food writers and stylists, as well as key buyers from major retailers such as Harrods, to take part.

"Holding the judging here is a marvellous endorsement of the quality of food and drink being produced by artisan enterprises and smaller companies. It also recognises the outstanding achievements of our companies in the Great Taste Awards.

"In two of the last three years, the Supreme Champion title has been awarded to local businesses, McCartney's Butchers and Hannan Meats, both based in Moira. Hannan Meats has also achieved more gold stars in the awards, 85, than any other UK company.

"In addition, two local companies gained two of the top UK awards, En Place Foods, Cookstown in the Best Ambient Product category, and Yellow Door Deli, Portadown in the first Farm Shop and Deli Signature Dish category in last year's awards.

"As a result of these achievements, Northern Ireland companies now have a tremendous track record in the creation of products that combine outstanding taste and innovation. I hope that holding the judging in Belfast will become a regular event."

(CD)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

24 October 2003
Cookstown based small business in the 'top ten'
Cookstown-based TES(NI)Ltd was one of the top ten finalists in a fierce competition for the prestigious title UK Small Business of the Year In Parcelforce's annual awards on 22nd October 2003.
07 January 2003
APT's export achievements recognised
The Institute of Export for Northern Ireland has chosen Belfast-based data compression specialist, Audio Processing Technology (APT), as the recipient of its prestigious Exporter of the Year Award for 2002.
06 November 2002
CITB scoops regional win in training awards
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) for Northern Ireland is one of the 29 Northern Ireland regional winners in this year’s National Training Awards Competition.
26 April 2002
NI urged to enter National Safety Awards scheme
The British Safety Council is inviting businesses and organisations in Northern Ireland to enter its National Safety Awards scheme. Six organisations in Northern Ireland are in line for awards with applications invited from large and small enterprises, and from public and private sectors. Last year more than 1,000 organisations were honoured.
06 March 2012
HiberniaEvros Makes Ireland’s Best Managed Companies List
HiberniaEvros Technology Group, the Irish owned managed services company, has been named as one of the country's 'Best Managed' companies in the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards programme. Twenty companies which demonstrated superior business performance were recognised at this year’s awards.