This follows a recent £2.8 million investment from the snack company, which opened a second site in 2020 to facilitate increased demand for its premium snack range.

Founded in 1996, Kestrel Foods has built a reputation for producing innovative, ethically sourced snack products, including dried fruits, nuts, and chocolate-coated treats.

Asda shoppers will be able to enjoy seven Forest Feast products including Slow Roasted Nuts such as Heather Honey & Sea Salt Cashews & Peanuts, Sea Salt & Black Pepper Nut Mix, and Sea Salt & Vinegar Roasted Nut Mix. They will also be able to enjoy some of the brand’s Chocolate Dipped Fruit range including Dark Chocolate Sour Cherries and Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Dates. Additionally, new premium dried fruit lines Preda Fair Trade Mango and Berries & Cherries.

Johnny Weir, Commercial Director at Kestrel Foods said: “From our hero product of Fairtrade Preda Mango to the Slow Roasted Nuts and Chocolate Dipped Fruit range, we believe there truly is something for everyone in our award-winning Forest Feast snack range.

“Sustainability is also very important to us, and we are proud to craft our products with ethically sourced ingredients, including Cacao-Trace Chocolate which ensures fair premiums and community investment in schools and hospitals.

“We are proud to secure our first national listings with Asda and look forward to nurturing this relationship in the months and years ahead.”

Cathy Elliott, NI Local Buying Manager at Asda said: “We’re delighted to welcome Kestrel Foods and their Forest Feast range of high-quality, delicious snacks to Asda stores across the UK.

“As a family-owned, local business with over 25 years of experience in crafting exceptional products, they bring a unique dedication to quality and sustainability that we know our customers will appreciate.

“At Asda, we are always focused on offering shoppers options that align with their evolving preferences, including more sustainable and ethically sourced choices. We’re excited to introduce the Forest Feast product lines to our stores and look forward to seeing how our customers respond to these standout snacks.”

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Asda’s latest Income Tracker has revealed that while there is more spending power for NI consumers, Northern Ireland remains the UK’s worst performing region when it comes to consumer recovery.

The average family here is left with £129 per week in their pocket to spend on goods, services and luxuries – £22 more than the same time last year.

However, despite leading the way in terms of spending power growth in Q3 (21.1%) the rate of recovery in Northern Ireland is slow and it remains the worst performing region in the UK.

The figures were revealed in the quarterly Asda Income Tracker report which was launched at a breakfast briefing in Belfast on Tuesday 22^nd October.

Independently compiled by Cebr (Centre for Economics and Business Research), Asda’s Income Tracker report provides an important barometer of day-to-day spending power, indicating how costs such as taxes, utility bills, transport costs and interest rates impact on the average family.

As the weakest performing region, Northern Ireland lags well behind the UK as a whole, where the average family now has £250 per week at its disposal, £29 more than 12 months ago (13% increase).

‘The region was particularly exposed to the cost-of-living crisis due to the structure of household income and spending’

On a more positive note, Northern Ireland has recorded five consecutive quarters of growth in discretionary household income, including a very strong 21.1% increase in growth in the last year alone.

While the spending power of the average UK household has now overtaken the pre-cost-of-living crisis peak of £246 (Q1 2021), this trend does not apply to Northern Ireland where discretionary income remains almost 11% below the 2021 peak. This remains the largest gap of any UK region.

According to Sam Miley, Cebr Managing Economist and Income Tracker author, the recovery has only just begun.

“The recent improvement in spending power for Northern Ireland is welcomed, but it should be noted that the average household remains considerably worse off relative to three years ago.

“The region was particularly exposed to the cost-of-living crisis due to the structure of household income and spending. Though the worst has now passed, with earnings growth solidly outpacing inflation, it may be several years before living standards in Northern Ireland are completely recovered.”

Speaking at the stakeholder briefing event which included economists, business leaders, and policy experts Joe McDonald, Head of Corporate Affairs, Asda NI said: “It is really encouraging to see sustained growth in local household incomes over five consecutive quarters and we very much hope this trend continues.

“However, unlike other UK regions, spending power in Northern Ireland households hasn’t recovered to pre-cost-of-living crisis levels, so we still have ground to make up.”

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Empowering Local Communities is an Asda Foundation grant for local groups, aimed at supporting a broad range of activities which contribute towards transforming communities and improving lives, as well as funding to strengthen their volunteering.

With the help of the Asda Dundonald store, Men’s Minds Matter NI has been awarded with this grant for its ongoing support in the local community, as it focuses on suicide prevention and improving men’s mental health.

Men’s Minds Matter have used the funding to purchase polo shirts, which will be worn by its volunteers to help signpost the important work they’re doing in the community, on their mission to improve health and well-being amongst men in the local area.

Colin Murray, Club Secretary of Men’s Minds Matter NI said: “We were so thankful to receive an Empowering Local Communities grant from the Asda Foundation, this money helped us to purchase new club polo shirts, which enables our members to look and feel part of our group. We wear our polos with pride and these help to raise awareness of men’s mental health issues and let people know who we are and who supported us.

“We would like everyone to know and in particular men, if you are struggling with mental health issues or are concerned about your well-being you are not alone, you are not the only person to feel this way – do not struggle, reach out to someone for help, it’s good to talk. You can get through this and it’s perfectly natural not to be okay, everyone can feel this way at some point in their life.

“If you are a man aged 30+ and would like to come along to the Men’s Minds Matter NI group, we meet every Friday at 7pm in Tullycarnet Community Centre, Belfast and you will be very welcome. Please check out our Facebook page for more information and to see what we do.”

GRANT APPLICATIONS

Groups in Northern Ireland are invited to apply for the Asda Foundation’s second round of grants, which is now live until Friday 24^th May. Over £500k is available for groups to apply for activities throughout the summer period, from holiday clubs and community clean ups to foodbank supplies and breakfast clubs, there is wide range of support available.

Martin Kendal, Asda Foundation Communication and Impact Advisor said: “We’re delighted that Men’s Minds Matter NI has benefitted from this grant in such a positive way, and the Asda Foundation is proud to open its second round of grants, where £500k is available for local grassroots groups across the UK. The grants can range between £400 and £2000 and will need to be supported by a Community Champion at your local Asda store. In 2023, Asda Foundation grants supported 81 groups in Northern Ireland with funding totalling £77,270.”

“Supporting grassroot groups that are local to Asda stores is so important to the Asda Foundation – and we hope it will make a real difference to groups across the country. From volunteering support to helping purchase new equipment, if you are part of a group that could benefit from a Grassroots Grant, reach out to your local Community Champion.”

APPLICATION CRITERIA 

Groups in Northern Ireland are invited to apply for the second grant round which is live from now until Friday 24^th May. The applications must fit in with one of the following criteria:

• Empowering Local Communities Grant – for local groups aimed at supporting a broad range of activities which contribute towards transforming communities and improving lives, as well as funding to strengthen their volunteering.
• Under 18 Better Starts Grant – for local groups aimed at supporting a broad range of activities for children under the age of 18 which contribute towards transforming communities and improving children’s lives, as well as funding to strengthen their volunteering.
• Cost of Living Grant – for local groups aimed at supporting the increased running costs groups are facing as a result of the crisis. This grant aims to support groups with rent, utility, and essential costs, as well as funding to strengthen their volunteering.

All grant applications need to have the endorsement of an Asda Community Champion, who work out of Asda’s stores across Northern Ireland. Community Champions have limited grants budget per store and may not always be able to support an application for funding, but they will be able to discuss other support available.

Groups may apply for one Grassroots Grant per year and there are three different grant rounds taking place in 2024. Round 2 applications may be submitted to the Asda Foundation before 24^th May 2024, and activities must begin within six months of the application window closing date (i.e. by 24^th November 2024). All application guidance and criteria can be found online at www.asdafoundation.org

To find out more about the Asda Foundation, including eligibility for submitting a funding application, either contact the Community Champion at your local Asda store, or go to: www.asdafoundation.org

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Commenting on the launch of the school’s competition, UFU deputy president William Irvine said this year’s theme provides an opportunity to start a discussion about the importance of supporting local food productions and the unique family farm structure in Northern Ireland.

“The competition will raise awareness amongst pupils on the origin of food and the all-important role that farming families play in society, producing food to feed a growing population, caring for the countryside, providing employment, supporting rural communities and the economy,” said William Irvine.

“NI farmers have a fantastic story to tell championing local food production. This competition will help pupils further understand the hard work and dedication that farmers put into producing high quality produce which they consume daily. It is vital that we remind consumers that the products they are purchasing in shops started on farm and why choosing local produce matters, looking out for those important logos and the product’s origin.

“Each year, the judges are continually impressed by the creativity, standard and volume of entries received, so much so, that the UFU has introduced additional prizes including third place and highly commended certificates. I would encourage all playgroups, nursery, pre-school, primary and special schools to participate in this year’s competition, showcasing their artistic talent.”

The UFU is pleased to have the continued support from competition sponsor, Asda.

Joe McDonald, Head of Corporate Affairs Asda NI added: “Asda has been a proud sponsor of the schools’ competition for several years, and we are delighted to be on board again this year.

“It is fantastic to see competition entries grow year upon year and the hard work, dedication and passion that pupils have to learn more about farming in NI. It is vital to continue creating an awareness of where our nutritious, home-grown produce comes from, and this year’s competition theme is a great opportunity to do so – educating pupils on the ‘farm to fork’ story and the importance of supporting local produce.”

BOIOFW is taking place on Friday 14^th (schools’ day), Saturday 15^th and Sunday 16^th June 2024.

“I would encourage all schools to consider organising an educational trip to a local participating farm on Friday 14^th June. The free interactive schools’ day provides pupils with the opportunity to experience life on a working farm while supporting farmers to deliver the ‘farm to fork’ story, reconnecting with consumers and reiterating their role as the primary food producers,” said the UFU deputy president.

The post UFU launches ‘supporting local produce in NI’ schools’ competition first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

UFU Deputy President, William Irvine encouraged all playgroups, nursery, primary and special schools to take part in the competition.

“This year’s schools competition theme ‘Farming through the seasons’ provides an opportunity for teachers and parents to start the discussion both in the classroom and at home about the importance of food and farming in NI and our unique family farm structure.

“The competition will allow pupils to learn more about how farmers work hard 365 days of the year throughout the various seasons to produce the nutritious, high-quality produce on our tables.

“The competition is open to all playgroups, nursery, primary, and special schools. This year’s theme relates to the UFU’s food and farming education resource “Dig in!”. Every year the judges are astonished by the creativity and standard of entries received.

“I would encourage all playgroups, nursery, primary and special schools to participate in what is a very worthwhile competition. It provides the opportunity for pupils to express their

creativity while learning about one of the most important sectors in NI.”

‘FARM TO FORK’ STORY

The UFU is pleased to have the continued support from competition sponsor, Asda for another year.

Joe McDonald, Head of Corporate Affairs Asda NI said: “Asda has been a proud sponsor of the school’s competition for a number of years, and we are delighted to be on board again this year. It is fantastic to see competition entries grow year upon year and the hard work, dedication and passion that pupils have to learn more about farming in NI.

“It is vital to continue creating an awareness of where our delicious produce comes from, and this competition is a great opportunity to do so – educating pupils on the ‘farm to fork’ story and ‘farming through the seasons’.”

The BOIOFW initiative is now in its 12th year and is the perfect partner for the schools’ competition. As part of the prize, the winner of each category receives free transport for their class to the nearest participating BOIOFW farm, and competition entries will be on display throughout the weekend for pupils to view their fantastic work.

Mr Irvine added that schools don’t need to be competition winners to visit a real working farm.

“BOIOFW is taking place on Friday 16^th (schools’ day), Saturday 17^th and Sunday 18^th June and I would encourage all schools to consider organising an educational trip to a local participating farm on the dedicated schools’ day. This free event showcases NI’s world-class ‘farm to fork’ journey and reconnects consumers with our farmers – the primary food producers,” he said.

Entry forms have been sent electronically to all playgroups, nursery, primary and special schools. Schools’ competition templates are available by visiting www.ufuni.org (education tab) with further details for this year’s event. The closing date for entries is Friday 24^th March 2023.

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