Tasty innovations from Northern Ireland feature in major UK food awards

Co Armagh-based White’s Oats, Ireland’s leading and most innovative oat miller, has been shortlisted for three products in the forthcoming UK Quality Food and Drink Awards (UKQFDA) 2026.

Famed for its White’s Speedicook porridge, a breakfast market leader for generations of local families, the company, now part of the Fane Valley Co-operative, has three products shortlisted for major awards: Choco Boost Protein Oats, Date and Coconut Porridge Oats and Gluten-Free Oat Flakes.

White’s has also featured regularly in the UK Great Taste Awards for a range of original food products.

The annual UK Quality Food and Drink Awards are often dominated by leading supermarket chains such as German discounters Aldi and Lidl, which put forward products from key suppliers, including an increasing number of Northern Ireland’s vibrant smaller food and drink enterprises.

Both Aldi and Lidl now operate successful schemes designed to help smaller and artisan food businesses win sales with customers across the island of Ireland.

Around a dozen innovative products from Northern Ireland food companies have reached the final stages of this year’s UK awards.

Success in the UK Quality Food and Drink Awards has led directly to new business with major supermarkets for a number of smaller producers from Northern Ireland.

Now in its 48th year, the UKQFDA is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in the UK food and drink industry. The annual event celebrates innovation, taste and production excellence across the sector.

Entries are judged by an independent panel of more than 100 industry experts through a rigorous judging process.

Winning a Quality Food and Drink Award, and displaying its distinctive logo on products, provides companies with a recognised mark of excellence in food and drink production and marketing.

The latest shortlist also highlights the role Northern Ireland food companies play as suppliers to major retailers including Aldi, Lidl and Morrisons, helping create new products and tastes for customers across Great Britain.

Other Northern Ireland companies in the running for major awards include:

Mash Direct, Comber, in Meal Accompaniments for its Skinny Fries;

Dunbia, Dungannon, in the Beef category for its British Aberdeen Angus Ribeye Steak;

Finnebrogue, Downpatrick, for Plant Based Pork Sausages, Double Wrapped Pigs in Blankets and Old English Pigs in Blankets, all for Aldi;

Dale Farm, Belfast, in the Christmas category for its Madagascan Vanilla Custard for Aldi;

Davison’s Canners, Portadown, for its Aldi Ultimate Belgian Chocolate Gold Coin; and

Karro, Cookstown, for Ultimate Crackling Gammon for Aldi.

Jim Mathers, managing director of White’s Oats, Ireland’s leading oat miller, says: “We are delighted to have three products listed in what is the most important awards for the retail industry in Great Britain.

“The recognition of our latest products will help to increase awareness of the quality and innovation of our oats among major retailers across the United Kingdom and further afield.

“We already supply to many of the leading supermarkets and are always keen to work with them on our portfolio of cereals for breakfast and all-day snacks.”

Jack Hamilton, managing director of Mash Direct in Comber also recognises the importance of the quality food and drink awards.

“It’s marvellous to see Skinny Fries, among our most successful innovations in recent years, featuring in the UK Quality Food and Drink Awards 2026,” he explains.

“We’ve already enjoyed considerable success with the product with many UK and Irish retailers,” he added.

Northern Ireland food and drink industry champion Michele Shirlow said it was encouraging to see local producers once again securing recognition in major UK awards.

“It’s fantastic to see so many of our member companies again coming out on top in an international competition with innovative and tasty foods, she adds.

“We’ve long encouraged and assisted our companies to benchmark their produce and production processes against other manufacturers in other parts of the UK and further afield.

“Our companies have already enjoyed considerable success in the UK Great Taste Awards, the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards and the Great British Food Awards.

“In addition, they are faring extremely well against the best on the island in the annual Blas na hEireann Irish National Food Awards, the finals of which will take place in Dingle, Co Kerry next month.

“It’s always marvellous to see our original food and drink winning recognition for excellence beyond our borders.

“We’ve also the highly influential BBC Food and Farming Awards being held in Belfast for the very first time shortly. It’s a very exciting period for our food and drink producers,” added Michele.

All entrants to the UK Quality Food and Drink Awards 2026 receive detailed feedback from an experienced panel of judges about how their products fared in the judging.