Business

Artisan producers to showcase wares at Balmoral Show

Getting ready for the show are Jenna Stevenson from artisanNI with Mark Crimmins, Ulster Bank, Kelly Neill, Panacea Drinks, and Trudy Hodkinson, Hollah Preserving
Getting ready for the show are Jenna Stevenson from artisanNI with Mark Crimmins, Ulster Bank, Kelly Neill, Panacea Drinks, and Trudy Hodkinson, Hollah Preserving Getting ready for the show are Jenna Stevenson from artisanNI with Mark Crimmins, Ulster Bank, Kelly Neill, Panacea Drinks, and Trudy Hodkinson, Hollah Preserving

A SELECTION of artisan food and drink producers from across Northern Ireland will be given a platform to showcase their products at this week's Balmoral Show.

ArtisanNI in partnership with Ulster Bank will host the exhibit aimed at supporting the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink .

Attendees to the show - which runs from tomorrow until Friday - will be able to sample produce from a host of exciting food and drink companies including luxury artisan chocolate producer the Chocolate Manor; healthy drinks company Panacea Drinks and treat company Moditions Gluten Free bakery, which provides a range of alternative baked goods that are all gluten free.

Mark Crimmins, regional director, business banking with Ulster Bank said 2016 was "is a very exciting time for the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland and we as a bank want to let food and drink producers know that we are here to lend support and guidance across the sector from the small, start-up companies right the way through to our largest and most successful businesses and exporters".

“Alongside artisanNI, we have been working closely with food and drink companies who have been enrolled at the Entrepreneurial Spark Hatchery in Belfast and are thrilled that they will also have the opportunity to showcase their fantastic products to the thousands of people who flock to the show annually," he added.

ArtisanNI representative Jenna Stevenson added: “We have a fantastic array of food and drinks companies in Northern Ireland and I’m pleased that Ulster Bank are recognising their value and providing smaller, artisan suppliers with more opportunities to get their products in front of consumers.”

“Each year at the Balmoral Show there is a tremendous buzz among the food and drink companies and visitors are eager to sample the local products on offer. I’m positive that with the continued support from organisations like the Ulster Bank, the success being enjoyed in our local food scene will be sustained for many years to come and continue to boost our local economy in turn.”