Top speciality food companies across Northern Ireland won a record number of accolades this week at the Irish Great Taste Awards.

The awards, organised annually by the Guild of Fine Food Retailers, are considered to be the Oscars of the agri-food and drink industry.

This year’s winners include Mash Direct, Dale Farm Ltd and the Good 4U Food & Drink Company. A total of 14 local companies won 23 awards, considered within the industry to be the highest acknowledgement of craftsmanship in the making of food and drink.

The awards were given at a gala dinner held at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, Dublin.

Invest Northern Ireland will provide support to each company accredited with an award, ranging from research and development assistance to trade expansion. This forms part of its work with the Food Strategy Implementation Partnership, which is delivered with input from the Department of Agricultural and Rural Development.

The award ceremony took place after an International Speciality Food event, organised by Bord Bia and Invest NI, which allowed speciality food and drinks companies to meet over 150 potential buyers.

Ten local companies, who attended the event with support from Invest NI, managed to secure at least 20 potential produce listings with specialty food retailers outside Northern Ireland such as Fortnum & Mason, House of Fraser and Waitrose.

Maynard Mawhinney, director of food at Invest NI, said: “We continue to work with food and drinks companies to help them get in front of the right people and make the right contacts to improve their businesses.

“By attending these types of events and entering high profile awards like the Irish Great Taste awards, Northern Ireland food and drinks companies can take advantage of enhanced visibility and recognition which allows them access to the global market.”

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