The 17th NI Food & Drink Awards
Northern Ireland’s food and drink companies are invited to enter the 2024 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards.
Held in partnership with firmus energy, the awards are a key indicator of excellence for food and drink manufacturers, giving local companies the opportunity to showcase innovation and excellence, and present quality products in front of key retail customers.
Other sponsors include Asda, Lidl, Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Food Standards Agency NI, DAERA, Invest NI, Safefood, Birnie Consultancy, Sysco Software, LMC Vickerstock and KPMG.
Companies of all sizes can participate in this year’s awards, free of charge, with 13 categories including Best New Product for micro, small, medium, and large businesses as well as awards that recognise excellence in areas across sustainability, exports, supply chain, healthier food and more.
Entries will be judged by a panel of representatives from major retailers alongside other industry experts. The winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony hosted by BBC Northern Ireland presenter Jo Scott on Friday 15th March 2024 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast.
Entries to the 2024 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards has now CLOSED.
Awards Night
Finalists
Contact Us
Key Dates 2024
Wednesday 10th January
Entries open
Friday 9th February
Entries Close
Friday 16th February
Judging Day
Friday 15th March
Awards Dinner & Presentation
A word from our host
Michael Bell OBE
Executive Director
Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association
“Northern Ireland is home to some of the most innovative and successful food and drink companies. The Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards are all about celebrating that success, and highlighting the very best food and drink products our region has to offer. The awards are also an invaluable opportunity for local firms to showcase their quality products in front of key customers and industry leaders.
Across the 13 categories in this year’s awards we are shining the spotlight on all the products, processes and people that contribute to the success of Northern Ireland Food and Drink. Our new Food & Drink Advanced Innovation Award recognises the progress https://www.infofakerolex.com local companies are making in the area of advanced manufacturing and digital transformation, and we are also introducing a new Leaders of Tomorrow award, celebrating the contribution of the outstanding young people who are driving the industry forward.
Given the importance of food and drink to the local economy, these awards are among the most important events in the Northern Ireland business calendar, and I would encourage businesses of every size to make the most of this opportunity, and get their entries in as soon as possible.”
A word from our sponsor
“Firmus energy are proud to be sponsoring the NIFDA awards again this year. Our local food and drink industry are renowned for producing world class products and the NIFDA awards provide an important platform to showcase Northern Ireland’s enormous talent in the food and drink’s industry, as well as recognising the value of the industry within our wider economy.
As Northern Ireland’s largest supplier of natural gas, firmus energy is playing an important role and supports NIFDA members as we collectively work to decarbonise energy and grow our circular economy in Northern Ireland, not least from the recycling of unavoidable food waste which is already being used to produce renewable gas in our local networks.”
Niall Martindale
CEO
firmus energy
2024 WINNERS
NORTHERN IRELAND FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS
Best New Product, Large CompanyMcColgan’s Gourmet Pork & Pancetta Sausage Rolls | Best New Product, Medium CompanyWilson’s Country Mashed Potatoes |
Best New Product, Small CompanyMilgro OniT! Cripsy Onions | Best New Product, Micro CompanyMoocha Kombucha for Mixed Berry |
Best Service Sector ProductBig Pot Co. for Potato & Leek Soup | Food Safety Champion AwardVictor Hazelton, Dunbia |
Best International / GB Product Launch AwardFavourit Cajun Seasoning | Healthier Product Innovation AwardLakeland Dairies for Comelle Dairy Ice Cream Mix |
Sustainable Agri-Food Supply Chain Excellence AwardABP Group | Advanced Innovation AwardAvondale Foods |
Rising Star AwardChloe Moore, Dunbia | Sustainability AwardCoca-Cola HBC |
Outstanding Contribution AwardBrian Irwin, Irwin’s Bakery | |
The 2024 Awards Ceremony
Location: The Crown Plaza Hotel
Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast
117 Milltown Rd,
BT8 7XP
Date: Friday 15th March 2024
Dress Code: Black Tie /Formal
Time: 6.30pm Drinks Reception
7:00pm Call to the room for all guests
7:15pm NIFDA 2024 Awards begins.
Ticket Prices
TICKETS ARE NOW CLOSED
If you have any changes or queries regarding your purchased tickets please email Karen at karen@nifda.co.uk
If you have any further queries regarding the Awards Night please reach out to Jill@nifda.co.uk or nifda@morrowcommunications.com
Categories and Finalists
Food Safety Champion Award (Sponsored by SafeFood)
The Food Safety Champion Award is open to any Northern Ireland food business or consortia.
SHORTLISTED:
Dunbia |
Moy Park Ltd |
The judges will consider any food safety initiative, developed by someone working within a food business between February 2022 and January 2024, that clearly supports the safety of their food products.
Initiatives may include the enhancement of food safety aspects of food production/processing, the introduction of innovative in-house food safety training, the identification and correction of food safety vulnerabilities, etc.
This award is aimed at someone who performed over and above their stated duties.
* Guidance & Questions – Food Safety Champion Award
Best Service Sector Product Award
The Service Sector Award is open to any company with a manufacturing base predominantly in Northern Ireland. This award aims to identify the food and drink companies who have taken up the challenge of providing new and better products to the Service Sector.
SHORTLISTED:
Lynas Foodservice |
Lynas Foodservice |
Genesis Bakery |
Big Pot Co Ltd |
Johnsons Coffee |
AROUND NOON |
The award is targeted at companies who have incorporated commercial solutions to enable them to reach new horizons by innovative applications of product development and service technologies.
- A maximum of ONE Product per company will be permitted.
- Only individual products should be entered and NOT a range of products.
- The product or innovation must, in the view of the judges, be commercial and supplied in a non-retail setting.
- The judges will consider both product innovation and process innovation or any combination of both.
- The innovation must have been launched into the marketplace during the period 1st February 2022 – 31st January 2024.
Best International / GB Product Launch (Sponsored by Invest NI)
For the Best International / GB Product Launch Award, the business must be selling product outside of Northern Ireland.
SHORTLISTED:
McColgan Quality Foods Ltd |
AROUND NOON |
FAVOURIT |
ATEC Enterprises Ltd. Noisy Snacks |
Genesis Bakery |
Dunbia |
Deli Lites Ireland Ltd. |
Crawford’s Rock Ltd |
Finnebrogue |
Moorcroft Foods Ltd |
The product(s) being sold must have been developed and / or manufactured in Northern Ireland and the product launch should have been initiated after 1st January 2022.
The business must have a minimum of SALSA accreditation.
* Guidance & Questions – Best International or GB Product Launch
Best Large Company Product (Sponsored by firmus energy)
The Large Company Product Award is open to any company with a manufacturing base predominantly in Northern Ireland. The award aims to identify the food and drink companies who have taken up the challenge of providing new and commercially viable products in a retail setting.
SHORTLISTED:
Moy Park Ltd |
Dale Farm |
Deli Lites Ireland Ltd. |
Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland |
McColgan’s |
The Judges will consider both product innovation and process innovation or any combination of both.
- To enter this category, businesses must have 251+ employees.
- Businesses must have been trading for at least 3 years up to 31st January 2024.
- The product must, in the view of the judges, be commercial and have been launched in the marketplace during the period 1st February 2022 – 31st January 2024.
- A maximum of TWO products per company will be permitted.
- Only individual products should be entered and NOT a range of products.
- Each product entered must be submitted on a separate entry form.
- Only ONE seasonal product will be permitted, should you enter more than one product.
* Download here – Guidance & Questions – Best Large Company Product Award
Best Medium Company Product (Sponsored by firmus energy)
The Medium Company Product Award is open to any company with a manufacturing base predominantly in Northern Ireland. The award aims to identify the food and drink companies who have taken up the challenge of providing new and commercially viable products in a retail setting.
SHORTLISTED:
Wilson’s Country Ltd |
Linwood’s Health Foods |
TS Foods Ltd |
The Judges will consider both product innovation and process innovation or any combination of both.
- To enter this category, businesses must have 51-250 employees.
- Businesses must have been trading for at least 3 years up to 31st January 2024.
- The product must, in the view of the judges, be commercial and have been launched in the marketplace during the period 1st February 2022 – 31st January 2024.
- A maximum of TWO products per company will be permitted.
- Only individual products should be entered and NOT a range of products.
- Each product entered must be submitted on a separate entry form.
- Only ONE seasonal product will be permitted, should you enter more than one product.
Best Small Company Product (Sponsored by firmus energy)
The Small Company Product Award is open to any company with a manufacturing base predominantly in Northern Ireland. The award aims to identify the food and drink companies who have taken up the challenge of providing new and commercially viable products in a retail setting.
SHORTLISTED:
Karri Kitchen Ltd |
Natural Umber |
Scott’s Crispy Onions |
Prep House Limited |
SLICED |
Milgro Crispy Onions |
The Judges will consider both product innovation and process innovation or any combination of both.
- To enter this category, businesses must have 11-50 employees.
- Businesses must have been trading for at least 3 years up to 31st January 2024.
- The product must, in the view of the judges, be commercial and have been launched in the marketplace during the period 1st February 2022 – 31st January 2024.
- A maximum of TWO products per company will be permitted.
- Only individual products should be entered and NOT a range of products.
- Each product entered must be submitted on a separate entry form.
- Only ONE seasonal product will be permitted, should you enter more than one product.
• Following initial screening by the Judging Panel, shortlisted entries will then go forward to the final stage of judging which takes place on Friday 16th February 2024.
• NB: Short-listed applicants will be invited to send 3 samples of their products (2 for consumption, 1 for visual/packaging) to the judging panel at CAFRE / Loughry College by Wednesday 14th February 2024. Details will be provided after the closing date.
* Guidance & Questions – Best Small Company Product Award
ENTRY NOW CLOSED
Best Micro Company Product (Sponsored by firmus energy)
The Micro Company Product Award is open to any company with a manufacturing base predominantly in Northern Ireland. The award aims to identify the food and drink companies who have taken up the challenge of providing new and commercially viable products in a retail setting.
SHORTLISTED:
Ballylisk Dairies Ltd. |
RADD Brands Ltd. |
Woodlab Distillery Ltd. |
Wild Atlantic Distillery Ltd. |
Peggy’s Family Farm |
Moocha Kombucha |
Moorcroft Foods |
The Judges will consider both product innovation and process innovation or any combination of both.
- To enter this category, businesses must have 0-10 employees.
- Businesses must have been trading for at least 3 years up to 31st January 2024.
- The product must, in the view of the judges, be commercial and have been launched in the marketplace during the period 1st February 2022 – 31st January 2024.
- A maximum of TWO products per company will be permitted.
- Only individual products should be entered and NOT a range of products.
- Each product entered must be submitted on a separate entry form.
- Only ONE seasonal product will be permitted, should you enter more than one product..
• NB: Short-listed applicants will be invited to send 3 samples of their products (2 for consumption, 1 for visual/packaging) to the judging panel at CAFRE / Loughry College by Wednesday 14th February 2024. Details will be provided after the closing date.
* Guidance & Questions – Best Micro Company Product Award
ENTRY NOW CLOSED
Advanced Innovation Award (Sponsored by Sysco Software & Birnie Consultancy)
The Advanced Innovation Award is to recognise food and drink businesses in Northern Ireland that have demonstrated exceptional innovation in the application of advanced manufacturing practice, including automation, digitisation, robotisation, data gathering, or other innovative approach.
This award celebrates the companies that are delivering the industry’s technological transformation, enhancing efficiency, sustainability and product quality, whilst also shaping the future of food production in Northern Ireland.
SHORTLISTED:
Foods Connected |
Avondale Foods |
Judges will look for companies that are shaping the future of food production, driving efficiency, sustainability, and innovation, while also positioning Northern Ireland as a global hub for food and drink technology.
To be eligible for the Food and Drink Advanced Innovation Award, applicants must:
• Be a food and drink business operating in Northern Ireland, including manufacturers, distributors, or retailers.
• Have implemented advanced manufacturing or data handling practices in the last two years.
• Be able to demonstrate a clear and measurable impact of these advanced practices, including improved efficiency, sustainability, product quality, or other relevant metrics.
A panel of industry experts will evaluate submissions based on the following criteria. Not all criteria have to be fulfilled in order to be eligible for the award.
• Positive impact on Business Performance
• Innovation and Advancement
• Sustainability and Environmental Impact
* Download here – Guidance & Questions – Food and Drink Advance Innovation Award
Outstanding Contribution Award
For the Outstanding Contribution Award, we ask applicants to nominate an individual who has made a significant impact to Northern Ireland Food and Drink industry.
WINNER ANNOUNCED ON THE NIGHT
On the nomination form, information should be presented around their notable achievements and their impact on the organisation and industry across financial, technical and corporate or community aspects.
* Download here – Guidance & Questions – Outstanding Contribution Award
Sustainable Agri-Food Supply Chain Excellence (Sponsored by DAERA)
The DAERA Sustainable Agri-Food Supply Chain Excellence Award, is open to any Northern Ireland agri-food business or group of businesses that can demonstrate the creation or improvement of supply chain linkages that have delivered clear benefit to producers.
The award is open to any Northern Ireland agri-food business, industry representative body or group of businesses.
SHORTLISTED:
Fidela Coffee Roasters |
Moy Park Ltd. |
ABP |
The judges will look for innovative initiatives (projects/events/activities) that have created or improved supply chain linkages and increased cooperation and collaboration along the supply chain to deliver clear benefits to producers.
* Guidance & Questions – Sustainable Agri-Food Supply Chain Excellence
Healthier Product Innovation Award (Sponsored by Food Standards Agency)
The Healthier Product Innovation Award recognises the commitment of a Northern Ireland business to offer healthier products lower in calories, sugar, saturated fat and/or salt.
The challenge for industry is reducing a product fat, sugar and salt content while maintaining the taste, quality and appearance.
SHORTLISTED:
Free’ist |
Mash Direct |
Jackson Roze |
Green Fingers Family |
LAiRIE Ltd. |
SHS Group |
Wilson’s Country Ltd |
Moocha Kombucha |
Sliced |
Lakeland Dairies |
Deli Lites Ireland Ltd. |
PEPPUP Limited |
Judges will be looking at successes in reformulated pre-packed food products as well as newly developed pre-packed products lower in calories, sugar, saturated fat and/or salt when compared to similar products for sale in the Northern Ireland marketplace. Food businesses registered or approved in Northern Ireland across all sectors of industry are eligible.
Prior to completing this application, please confirm that:
1.The food manufacturer is registered/approved within Northern Ireland.
2. If submitting the food product under the reformulation category, reductions in calories, saturated fat, sugar and/or salt have been achieved without increasing the levels of the other nutritional components i.e. calories, saturated fat, sugars or salt.
3. If submitting the food product under the newly developed food product category, the product is lower in calories, saturated fat, sugars and/or salt when compared to the two similar products. Consideration has also been given to the quantity of the other nutritional components in the product i.e. calories, saturated fat, sugars or salt.
4. Nutritional information for the food product submitted for the award must have been calculated using an accepted method as set out in the Food Information to Consumers (EU) Regulation No. 1169/2011.
5. The food product submitted for the award has been available on the Northern Ireland market for at least three months. The food product can be either the food manufacturers own brand or a retailer branded product.
6. The food product is a prepacked product which complies with all relevant food legislation including food labelling legislation as set out in the Food Information to Consumers (EU) Regulation No. 1169/2011.
*Guidance & Questions – Healthier Product Innovation Award
Sustainability Award (Sponsored by KPMG Ireland)
The Environmental Award is open to any company with a manufacturing base predominantly in Northern Ireland. This award aims to highlight food and drink companies that have initiated projects to enhance sustainability and reduce their environmental footprint.
The award is targeted at companies of all sizes who have launched initiatives to reduce their impact on the planet, by making processes and products more sustainable.
SHORTLISTED:
DELI LITES Ireland |
Cranswick Country Foods Ballymena |
Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland |
Wilson’s Country Ltd |
Finnebrogue |
Moy Park Ltd |
* Download here – Guidance & Questions – Sustainability Award
Rising Star Award (Sponsored by Vickerstock)
The Rising Star Award sets out to both recognise and inspire the future leaders and change makers within the Northern Ireland Food and Drinks Industry.
SHORTLISTED:
Moy Park Ltd. |
Glens of Antrim Distillery |
Around Noon |
Dale Farm Ltd |
Finnebrogue |
S&W |
Linwoods Health Foods |
ABP Linden |
ABP Linden Retail |
Dunbia |
The candidate should meet the following criteria:
- The young professional should be aged 30 or under as of 8th February 2024.
- The young professional should demonstrate strong leadership qualities and the ability to inspire and motivate others in the food and drink industry.
- The young professional should have made a significant impact on the food and drink industry.
- The young professional should demonstrate the potential to become a future leader and influence in the food and drink industry.
The individual should be nominated by an employer or industry representative.
*Download Here – Guidance & Questions – Rising Star
