Local Food and Drinks Producers Recognised at TASTE AND Food Heroes Awards

Local food and drinks producers have been recognised at the fourth annual TASTE AND Food Heroes Awards, hosted by Ards and North Down Borough Council at Bangor Castle. The event, recognising the local industry's achievements during 2024, saw a wide range of producers from across the Borough celebrate their successes alongside guests, including representation from the renowned Blas na hÉireann awards.

2024 was an extremely successful year for the Borough's food and drink sector with a range of regional, national and international awards received by local producers, restaurants and independent food retailers. Ards and North Down currently ranks third among Northern Ireland's local authorities for the number of awards won by our talented producers and second for awards won by hospitality and restaurant businesses.

This 2024 edition of the Taste AND Food Heroes Awards celebrated 15 producer winners, two retailers and 13 restaurant winners, who secured a total of 105 awards across a range of national and international standards from the most globally reputable competitions. In addition, our first award winner celebrated an MBE for services to the food and drink industry.

The two main awards on the night were presented to Bryan Boggs from Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt who won the Local Food Champion award and Robbie Neill from Stonebridge Farm who secured the prestigious Lady Dufferin Producer of the Year award, judged by the Clandeboye Estate.

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Alistair Cathcart, said:

"These awards are a celebration of what has been a very successful year for our food and drink sector. Our Borough boasts an increasingly strong and impressive sector that continue to do us very proud and the Taste AND Food Heroes Awards show that innovation, tenacity, and resilience are the hallmarks of our local food and drink producers."

For more information, go to Welcome to Ards and North Down - County Down, Northern Ireland