PROFESSOR Chris Elliott, founder and director of the Institute for Global Food Safety at Queen’s University, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award at the 14th Northern Ireland Food & Drink Awards in Belfast's Crowne Plaza Hotel.
More than 350 guests, including major retailers, government officials and industry leaders, attended the biennial awards ceremony at which Elliott (57), an international expert on food integrity, claimed the night's most prestigious gong.
The awards, organised by the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA), are recognised as a crucial measure of commercial success for local food and drink manufacturers and processors, offering companies the chance to showcase their commitment to excellence in front of key industry stakeholders and customers.
NIFDA executive director Michael Bell said: “These awards are among the most important in Northern Ireland’s entire business calendar, as some 100,000 private sector jobs depend on the agri-food supply chain. The industry has a turnover of £5 billion a year, so its importance cannot be overstated.
“Tonight's winning companies are trailblazers in the international food and drink sector, leading the way in agri innovation, education and supply chain excellence on the world stage, so it’s only right that we celebrate their achievements.
"The quality and variety of award winners this evening is illustrative of why Northern Ireland produce is so highly valued and embraced across the world.”
Others winners included Dale Farm, Linden Foods, Scott’s Bakery, Pop Notch, Kettyle Foods, Linwoods, Dunbia, Punjana Tea, Moy Park and Suki Tea, while Laura Hook (Dale Farm) claimed the Food and Drink Sector Skills Ambassador Award.
