38|Retail News|November 2016|www.retailnews.ie
Invest NI: Blas na hÉireann Awards
for the foodservice market, as well as a wholesale option. The company has two brands: their Kay’s Kitchen range of Organic Handmade Preserves and Chutneys focuses on speciality food stores, hamper companies, delis and farm shops, while the Orchard Organics brand is more mainstream retail. The elegant packaging upholds the company’s strong organic ethics and the quality taste of the organic ingredients is unmistakable. Orchard Organics’ range is free from preservatives and additives and is 100% organic. Papas Mineral Company Papas Mineral Company is a small local manufacturer of speciality drinks and cordials based in Bangor, County Down. The company was established in 1999, producing high quality drinks and cordials that are free from artificial flavours, colours and sweeteners. Ever since, Papas has become one of the market leaders in Northern Ireland. Customers say these nostalgic drinks remind them of their childhood. Their ever popular non-alcoholic ginger wine is made from a 100-year-old recipe. It packs a mighty kick when paired with whiskey to make a “whiskey mac”, but it’s equally good mixed with soda water. The spiced winterberry cordial is lovely with hot water in the colder months. Consumers can add it to red wine for an instant mulled wine, without the faff. The light and summery elderflower cordial is a winner with Prosecco and the newest concoction, Clove cordial, is already a firm favourite. Armagh Cider Company Ltd Armagh Cider Company was formed in 2006 with the aim of making cider and apple juice ‘from blossom to bottle’ on the home farm at Ballinteggart, just outside Portadown in Co. Armagh, where apples have been grown for five generations. The family business is pleased to have been the leading participant in bringing cider production back to Co. Armagh the home of the apple industry in Northern Ireland. Armagh Cider Company offer consumers authentic, hand crafted, completely natural apple products with genuine provenance and heritage behind them, that deliver on quality and taste. Their Carsons Crisp and Maddens Mellow ciders proudly display the PGI logo for the Armagh Bramley Apple. Consistency in competitions has helped Armagh Cider Company gain a reputation for producing quality ciders. The company has won several awards including Great Taste Stars, International Cider Challenge Medals, Irish Food Quality Awards and Blas na hÉireann (Gold, Silver and Bronze).
Since 2006, the product range has been substantially enhanced in response to consumer demand and is available throughout Ireland, as well as exported to Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and China. Burren Balsamics Burren Balsamics, the Northern Irish developer of a unique range of natural fruit infused vinegars, has doubled sales over the past year. The business, based at Richill in Co. Armagh, has launched a new Chilli and Honey addition to its existing seven-strong range of zesty fruit balsamics. The existing range features Bramley apple, rhubarb and ginger, strawberry and mint, blackcurrant, blueberry and blackberry and thyme. Susie Hamilton Stubber Susie Hamilton Stubber, founder and Managing Director of Burren launched the company in Balsamics. February 2014 to develop a market opportunity for flavoured balsamics. “These versatile bottles of flavour pack a punch and add endless possibilities to enhance salad dishes, stews and casseroles, marinades and soups. They are also delicious to just dip bread into,” she says. The vinegars use only natural whole fruits for flavour and are available in distinctive 250ml bottles. The products are also available in special gift packs. Glastry Farm Ice Cream An innovative Saint Brendan’s Ice Cream developed by Northern Ireland companies Glastry Farm Ice Cream and Niche Drinks, producers of Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream Liqueur, was Pictured are (l-r): Robin Young, St introduced to French Brendan's; Will Taylor, Glastry Farm Ice celebrity chef Jean- Cream; Hilary McClintock, Mayor of Derry; Christophe Novelli and French celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli. during his visit to Derry. Glastry Farm Ice Cream is located on a family dairy farm that has been run by the family of ice cream entrepreneur Will Taylor for over 150 years. The ice cream business was launched as a farm diversification in 2007 and has proved an immensely successful development. It already supplies its ice cream to hotels and high-end restaurants throughout Ireland. The new Saint Brendan’s Ice Cream is included in Glastry’s established portfolio of 20 ice cream flavours and three sorbets. Niche Drinks has been producing Irish Cream Liqueurs, Irish Coffee and Ready To Drink Cocktails of the highest quality for retail partners in Ireland, the UK, the USA and Europe since 1983.