Did you know that the enduringly popular ginger ale was actually born in Belfast? Longbridge Drinks Company lays no claims to actually inventing it but what they do declare is a promise to restore this celebrated beverage to the city from whence it came.
The name comes from the Long Bridge which crossed the River Lagan from 1688 to 1841 when it was replaced by the Queen’s Bridge. It was once the longest bridge in the British Isles. This iconic landmark bolstered trade and was enjoyed by strollers. Gone but not forgotten just like the ginger ale.
Belfast Ginger Ale has just carbonated water, sugar, lime juice, extract of ginger, natural ginger flavour, natural caramel and ascorbic acid. It is ready to drink by itself or as a mixer with a tipple of gin or whiskey.
Customers liked it so much they asked them to make a tonic, and so they did.
Belfast Premium Tonic is being made in small batches and is an artisan product with a refreshing blend of botanicals, with citrus notes. It’s low in sugar, while natural quinine from the Congo delivers that fresh, zingy flavour.
Thompson’s Tea is a fourth-generation family business, born and blended in Belfast since 1896.
It all started for them at a tea warehouse near Belfast docks, where founder Robert S. Thompson trained in the art of tea tasting and soon became known for his uncompromising devotion to quality.
Today, as the makers of Northern Ireland’s best-selling tea, Punjana, they have been proudly blending and packing their award-winning range in Northern Ireland for over 120 years.
As fourth generation Thompsons, they share a passion for quality and take great pleasure in selecting teas from only the very finest gardens in Assam, Kenya and beyond. It takes a certain amount of courage to choose what is best over what is most profitable, but they simply can’t be persuaded to do it any other way.
These tea leaves are naturally highly prized and command a greater price; there is a great sense of pride to producing a cup of tea that is just that bit better. To this day, each and every blend they produce is first tasted and then approved by a member of the Thompson family.
Their mission has always been to create the perfect everyday cuppa. A tea that has superior taste and flavour, but still affordable. Easier said than done…but give it a try, they think you’ll love it!
French Village is a family-owned artisan bakery supplying high quality, hand-crafted bakery products to a vast network of hotels, cafes, restaurants and other food retailers throughout Northern Ireland and beyond. They deliver freshly baked products 6 days a week.
If you can’t find what you are looking for on their online product list, they can tailor make products for any of their customers, should that be bespoke sized or flavoured bread products, company branded patisserie or even producing a whole new product just for you. After more than four decades in the business, they know their stuff.
Melting Pot is a family business based in Belfast, run by three sisters Cathy, Jenny and Dorothy. They made fudge throughout their childhood and in 2004 they decided to turn their passion into a business and the Melting Pot brand of fudges was launched.
The sister’s ethos is ‘less is more’. They keep it simple from the ingredient list right through to the packaging. The production process is also very simple, just like it was when they were growing up. The fudges are made in open pots and each small batch is hand beaten. This gives the Melting Pot fudge its uniquely smooth and creamy texture.
They come in a range of 14 flavours. All the flavours are natural and contain no artificial flavours, additives or emulsifiers. Ten of these flavours have won Great Taste Awards.
The sisters feel that their success is because they stay true to their roots, they only want to make fudge but make the best fudge possible.
Farming goes through its fair share of ups and downs, but the Ulster Farmers Union is always there to serve its members. The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is the largest democratic voluntary organisation representing farmers and growers in Northern Ireland. Its central objective is to promote their interests both at home and abroad through professional lobbying.
Today, the UFU has over 11,500 members. Members are supported by 23 regional offices and headquarters building in Belfast. The Union’s commercial subsidiary, Countryside Services Ltd, is located in Dungannon.
The UFU takes a close interest in rural affairs and services, and works with politicians both in the UK and internationally, and with other groups and organisations
to advance rural interests. It has particularly close links with consumer groups, countryside and wildlife bodies, animal welfare organisations and academics.
The Union works closely with the National Farmers’ Unions in England, Scotland and Wales, and the Irish Farmers’ Association in Dublin. Collectively the UK Unions support the Bureau de l’Agriculture Brittanique, giving local farmers a permanent staff presence in Brussels
The strength of the Union is clearly demonstrated by its ability to successfully represent the wide range of interests of farmers.
Established in 1722, Andrews Flour has since become the only independent flour mill in Northern Ireland. From their base in the heart of Belfast, Andrews produce a wide range of premium flours, including wholemeals, bread mixes and speciality flours.
The Andrews Flour range is sold to a number of bakeries and wholesalers throughout the island of Ireland in bulk and in 25kg bags. Their household brand ‘Mortons Flour’ is sold into all major retail stores and many of the convenience and independent stores within Northern Ireland in 1.5kg and 3kg packs.
Mortons Flour was established in 1835 when Robert Morton purchased an old distillery on the Galgorm Road in Ballymena. Andrews acquired the established Mortons Flour brand in January 1989 where it is now milled and packed at the mill on Percy Street, Belfast.
With over 295 years of experience and expertise combined with the additional advantage of the modern mill, this has ensured the continued success of the Andrews and Mortons flour brands over the years.
