'A tremendous boost ': Northern Ireland food producers scoop record haul of Great British Food Awards
Newcastle-based Lick Gelato takes regional title for its ice cream in a can as local producers collect more medals than ever before
The awards just keep rolling in for Northern Ireland’s innovative and quality-led food and drink producers.
The achievements will help to reinforce the region’s reputation in Britain, Ireland and further afield as a source of delicious, unique and high quality tastes.
The latest acclaim for our food and drink came last week in the highly influential Great British Food Awards, which were launched in 2014 to “celebrate the very best artisanal produce in the food and drink industry, from flavoured gins and high-quality sausages to artisan breads and undeniably good cheeses”.
Lick Gelato from Newcastle, Co Down was chosen as Regional Winner for Northern Ireland for its unique Billionaire’s Gelato Ice Cream in a Can. It’s a family enterprise handcrafting Italian-style ice cream.
The artisan producer, which has won quite a few quality awards over the years, is owned and founded by Simon Welby, wife Jo-Ann, and their son Seth and is located on Central Promenade in the seaside town.
Established in 2015, Lick Gelato specialises in a wide range of flavours and includes Hillsborough Castle café among its regular customers.
Simon Welby says: “Winning this Great British Food recognition is a tremendous boost for our small business because the judging panel included some of Britain’s leading food experts.
"We were delighted, in particular, that our innovative ice cream in a can attracted the attention of the judges and led to our Regional Champion award.”
Great British Food Awards awarded more medals than ever before to Northern Ireland companies, especially in terms of gold and silver medals.
Local companies winning in the Great British Food Awards include: Abernethy Butter from Moira; Blackfire Hot Sauces, Belfast; Burren Balsamics of Richhill; Corndale Farm Charcuterie of Limavady; CRAIC Foods, Craigavon; Crawford’s Rock Seaweed, Kilkeel; Devil’s Churn, Ballycastle; Irish Black Butter, Portrush; Cavanagh Free Range Eggs, Newtownbutler; Cookie Jar, Newcastle; Dundarave Estate, Bushmills; Glebe Farm, Limavady; Krazi Baker Shortbread, Dromore, Co Down; Lo&Slo Sauces, Londonderry; Moocha Kombucha, Benburb; Suki Tea Makers, Lisburn; and Wilson’s Country, Portadown.