Minister praises local food award winners

Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew MP MLA has presented local food companies with DARD sponsored awards at the prestigious NI Food and Drink Awards held at the Ramada Hotel, Belfast.

Comber based vegetable processors Sparky Pac Ltd were awarded the DARD Supply Chain Excellence Award for their vegetable operations whilst Glen Tender Ltd were also Highly Recommended in this category in relation to their breeding, processing and retailing of European Angus cattle.

In a separate award category sponsored by the DARD administered Regional Food Programme, Culmore Organic Farm were awarded the honour of Best Organic Product for their organic beef. All of the award winners were present to collect their accolades from the Minister.

On congratulating the entrants to the awards Minister Gildernew stated: “I have been very impressed with the high standard of all the entries to the various categories, demonstrating the enthusiasm of our agri-food industry to showcase new and innovative products particularly at this time when the global economic conditions do not easily lend themselves to business expansion.”

The Minister concluded: “My Department can offer a wide range of funding support to the food industry through the Rural Development Programme and I am pleased to note Sparky Pac’s recent award of £500,000 from the Processing and Marketing Grant Scheme. I would also encourage you to utilise the facilities and technology transfer advice that is readily available from CAFRE’s Loughry Campus to develop your businesses and products.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The NI Food and Drink awards are organised by NIFDA (Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association). NIFDA is a voluntary organisation, established in 1996, to represent the interests of its member companies in the local food and drink processing industry.
2. There were nine award categories at this year’s Awards. Other sponsors included Ulster Bank, Invest NI, Food Promotions NI and Improve Ltd.
3. Sparky Pac were recently awarded £500,000 through the Agricultural and Forestry Processing and Marketing Grant (PMG) Scheme that forms part of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. The money will help the company to expand their sales of fresh, pre-packed vegetables which are already supplied to Sainsbury's, Tesco and the Henderson Group.
4. The Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Further information on the Rural Development Programme and the assistance available can be found on a new dedicated website www.rdpni.info or by calling 0845 3044 509 to request an information pack.
5. All media queries to DARD Press Office, tel 028 9052 4619.Out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.