Food NI urges local producers to seize ‘once-in-a-generation’ BBC awards opportunity in Belfast
Chief executive Michele Shirlow has called on food and drink businesses across Northern Ireland to enter the BBC Food and Farming Awards as nominations open ahead of the 2026 ceremony in Belfast
A call to food lovers and producers across Northern Ireland to get behind a BBC search for the best food and drink here has come from Michele Shirlow, the chief executive of Food NI, the local promotion body.
Welcoming the BBC’s decision to hold the prestigious UK Food and Farming Awards in Belfast for the first-time in 20 years this October, Michele said: “It’s an unprecedented opportunity to show the rest of the United Kingdom the excellence of our locally produced food and drink and the talented people behind our most important industry. We must do everything we can to ensure the success of awards here.
“Nominations are now open, and we want to see local food and drink featuring prominently in the prestigious event’s eight categories. Now among the most significant and influential awards in the UK, there’s a golden opportunity to enhance Northern Ireland’s food and drink reputation especially in what remains the biggest single market for our fabulous produce.
“Since I became Chief Executive of Food NI over a decade ago, It’s been my ambition to ensure that the excellence of food and farming here is fully represented in the annual awards and on BBC Radio 4’s weekly Food Programme, easily the best programme of its type,” added Michele.
The 2026 awards are being held at Titanic this October, a decision influenced by Andrew Muir, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) minster, and Food NI’s Michele Shirlow. DAERA also providing funding to bring the event to Belfast. Head judge will be local celebrity chef Paula McIntyre.
New for 2026 is the BBC Radio Ulster Food Hero Award which will champion the best of local produce from across Northern Ireland. This award will celebrate local individual producers and social enterprises which are providing high quality, home grown, seasonal food that reflects Northern Ireland’s unique flavours and cuisine.
Local companies have been successful in the past, the most recent being William Mayne’s remarkable Bullhouse Brewery, which won Best Drinks Producer in 2024.