Finnebrogue Artisan wins Product of Year in Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards
Northern Ireland’s Finnebrogue Artisan, a specialist in nitrite-free bacon, ham and sausages as well as plant-based options, has won the Product of the Year title in the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards 2021 which took place on 23 November.
Finnebrogue, which is based at Downpatrick, Co Down, gained the prestigious awards for its unique Naked Smoked Streaky Bacon, part of its successful Naked range of pork products which are now on sale in major supermarkets throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. In addition to its market leading Naked range, Finnebrogue has pioneered the development of plant-based foods and now operates one of the biggest plants for these products in Europe.
As well as winning the coveted Product of the Year at the event, Northern Ireland companies gained a series of major awards across many food and drink categories in what was another excellent year for local food and drink producers, both large and small and including several artisan enterprises.
The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, held annually, recognise and celebrate the best in retail, wholesale and foodservice food and drink products available on the island of Ireland.
The other Northern Ireland winners were:
Armagh Cider Company, Portadown, Co Armagh – Gold for Armagh Craft Cider Sweet produced for Aldi
Big Pot, Cookstown, Co Tyrone – Gold for Vegan Butternut Squash & Chipotle Bean
Burren Balsamics, Richhill, Co Armagh – Gold for Balsamic Sugar in Store Cupboard Items and Gold for Blackberry and Thyme Infused Balsamic Vinegar in Oils, Vinegars and Dressings.
Crust and Crumb, Derrylin, Fermanagh – Gold for Lidl Sourdough Pizza Half & Half – Goat’s Cheese, Onion & Spinach / ‘Nduja, Picante Salami and Red Peppers and Silver for Lidl Deluxe Tomato & Mozzarella Sourdough Pizza
Daily Bake, Armagh, Co Armagh – Gold for Lidl Deluxe Beef Ragu and Gold for Lidl Deluxe Chicken & Mushroom Risotto
Deli-Lites, Warrenpoint, Co Down – silver for Pulled Ham Hock and Whole Grain Mustard Tosta in Foodservice Food to Go and Gold Aldi Carlos Mexican Bean Enchiladas, in Ready Meals and Bronze for Applegreen Salt and Chilli Chicken Wrap in Food to Go
Dunbia, Dungannon, Co Tyrone – Gold Lidl Deluxe Irish Pork Porchetta with Lemon and Herbs, Dunbia
Finnebrogue Artisan, Downpatrick, Co Down – Product of the Year and Gold for Naked Smoked Streaky Bacon and Bronze for Naked Unsmoked Back Bacon
Glens of Antrim Crisps, Cushendall, Co Antrim – Silver for Dunnes Stores Simply Better Hand Cooked Clogherhead Sea Salt & White Wine Vinegar Crisps and Silver Sweet Sriracha Chilli Crisps
Golden Popcorn, Antrim, Co Antrim – Bronze for Gourmet Crunch Thai Sweet Chilli 5 x18g Multipack in Snacks
Green Family Fingers, Larne, Co Antrim – Silver for Berry Bliss Raspberry Granola in Snacks
Hellbent, Belfast – Bronze for Boerewors Kith and Kind Sausages
Karro Food, Cookstown, Co Tyrone – Gold Lidl Deluxe Irish Stuffed Pork Fillet with Apple and Rosemary Stuffing.
Mash Direct, Comber, Co Down – Bronze Carrot and Parsnip Mash
Milgro, Coleraine, Co Derry – Gold for Flame Grilled Steak Flavour Crispy Onions and Bronze for Original Flavour Crispy Onions
McColgan’s Foods, Strabane, Co Tyrone – Bronze for Lidl Deluxe Maple Cured Bacon and Gruyere Cheese Quiche, in Quiches
Pizzado, Portaferry, Co Down – Bronze for Choice Pizza
Rich Sauces, Newtownards, Co Down – Gold for Only Plant Based Ranch Sauce, Rich Sauces in Vegan/Vegetarian and Silver for Only Pland Based Chipotle Sauce, and Bronze for Only Plant Based Sriracha Sauce
TS Foods, Castlewellan, Co Down – Gold for Aldi Specially Selected Cranberry, Apricot & Orange Stuffing, and Gold for Aldi Specially Selected Smoked Bacon & Butter Leek Stuffing.
Whites Oats, Tandragee, Co Armagh – Bronze Deluxe Organic Water Oats for Lidl in Breakfast Products
Willowbrook Foods, Killinchy, Co Down – Gold Aldi Specially Selected Fiery Green Stir Fry