More than 80 people from across the province were honoured in King Charles III’s first New Year’s Honours’ List, including notable names from the foodservice, manufacturing and agri-food industries.

Spar retailer, Peter McBride has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). The Omagh businessman received the award for services to the economy and to the community in County Tyrone.

A well-respected and renowned retailer, Peter is the current president of Retail NI, while the McBride Group runs 16 Spar stores throughout Northern Ireland and has won numerous awards.

Managing Director of Spar International, Tobias Wasmuht said: “Peter is a true Spar ambassador internationally, a great retailer, a leader for the independent retail sector, and a local champion for the communities he supports.

“On behalf of the fellow board members of the International Spar Guild of retailers on which Peter has served since 2019, I extend our appreciation and heartfelt congratulations to Peter and his family.”

‘HUMBLED’ TO RECEIVE HONOUR

Executive Director of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA), Michael Bell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the food and drink industry and to the economy in Northern Ireland.

Since its foundation in 1996, he has been instrumental in the development of the NIFDA and also led the development of the Northern Ireland Food Chain Certification Ltd and the redevelopment of Taste of Ulster.

Mr Bell, from Holywood, said he was “humbled” to receive the honour.

“Food and drink is my lifelong passion, from watching my late father in the family bakery to spending decades working in and on behalf of the industry,” he said.

“While I’m personally delighted, this is also recognition for Northern Ireland food and drink as a whole, and the 113,000 people working in jobs related to the sector. Food and drink is one of Northern Ireland’s most dynamic and successful industries, and our NIFDA members are among the most innovative businesses in NI.

“It is a privilege to champion this great industry and this honour is the icing on the cake,” he added.

Ursula Lavery, Technical and R&D Director at Moy Park, was appointed an MBE for services to the agri-food industry and to the economy in Northern Ireland.

‘This award is testament to the talented people I work with and everything we are doing’

Ursula Lavery MBE

The County Armagh woman joined Moy Park as a Marketing Executive in 1987 and having moved into the Technical and Quality Management side of the business the following year, has since then steadily built the company’s reputation as a leading food company with absolute commitment to animal health, food safety and quality.

Recognised as a leading authority on food safety and poultry research, Ursula sits on several advisory bodies and has received a series of industry awards. She said she was “very humbled” to receive the honour.

“I am absolutely delighted and very humbled to receive this honour. I am proud to be part of the Northern Ireland agri-food industry, and this award is testament to the talented people I work with and everything we are doing to drive food integrity, animal welfare and provide a sustainable supply chain for our farmers and customers.”

President of Moy Park, Chris Kirke also extended his congratulations to Ursula.

“Ursula is committed to achieving excellence across the supply chain, from farm to fork.

“She is a dedicated researcher, director and leader in our industry and on behalf of Moy Park we offer her our congratulations,” he added.

Other award recipients included former Ulster Farmers’ Union president, Victor Chestnutt, who was appointed an OBE for services to agriculture. The Bushmills man described himself as “an ordinary farmer” and said he accepted the royal honour “on behalf of all farmers in Northern Ireland”.

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With rising energy costs impacting businesses, the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association has highlighted that, while firms have tried to absorb as much inflation as possible, consumers could see higher prices for food and reduced ranges.

Michael Bell, Executive Director, Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) said: “The war in Ukraine has had a ripple effect on the food system globally, as costs for fuel, feed and fertiliser continue to rise. NIFDA members have been striving to keep a lid on prices, trying to absorb as much of this inflation as possible, but, with costs continuing to rise across the food supply chain, there is a real possibility of price increases and reduced availability of certain ranges.

“Energy costs are severely impacting our NIFDA members now and immediate assistance is needed to help food manufacturers through the winter. It is vital that the government has plans in place to ensure disruption is minimised for food manufacturers, and to support companies with spiralling energy costs. If action is not taken urgently, there will be serious concerns about the sustainability and viability of businesses here.

“Given the fact that the majority of food produced in Northern Ireland is consumed in Great Britain, this is something which requires national attention. It is vital that our industry remains equipped to keep feeding the nation. The government needs a strong focus on food to see how the industry can be supported and keep prices under control ahead of a difficult winter.

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“Since the decision to leave the European Union was taken, the food and drink industry has urged an approach that maintains frictionless movement of goods on and between these islands,” he said.

“Our supply chains are highly integrated both north-south and east-west, and we have consistently warned that new barriers to trade in either direction could be highly disruptive.

“NIFDA supports the Northern Ireland Protocol as it has been vital to ensuring continuity of trade in goods across the island of Ireland, and between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Crucially, it helped us avoid a catastrophic ‘no deal’ Brexit and secured Northern Ireland’s ability to freely export to both the EU and the rest of the UK.

“For a majority of our members, the Protocol is working. For a minority, there have been issues. Some of these have been addressed to an extent by the various ‘grace periods’, and NIFDA has been working with government to highlight areas where improvements can be made and processes streamlined.

“While politicians may debate constitutional implications of Brexit deals, we are concerned with the livelihoods of 113,000 people who are dependent on the prosperity of Northern Ireland food and drink. Simply scrapping the Protocol would only set us back.

“We must not forget that Brexit itself presented Northern Ireland food and drink companies with many major challenges, most of which have been resolved by the Protocol whilst offering new opportunities.”

“As our colleagues in Dairy Council NI and elsewhere have said, one size doesn’t fit all, and we need solutions agreed between the government and the EU that deliver on the four key industry tests of affordability, certainty,  simplicity and stability.”

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Northern Ireland’s food and drink leaders met with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Rt Hon George Eustice MP in Belfast this week to discuss the challenges facing the industry.

Speaking after the meeting, Michael Bell, Executive Director, Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) said:

“The Secretary of State has engaged with the industry on several occasions in various roles, and we are delighted to welcome him back to Belfast at what is a challenging time for Northern Ireland food and drink.

“Food manufacturers across the UK are dealing with multiple challenges at present. The sector has been experiencing serious difficulty in accessing labour across the supply chain, with farmers, processors and supermarkets all coming under additional strain. At the same time, firms are also grappling with rising energy costs coupled with difficulty in accessing Co2.

“We briefed the Secretary of State on these issues and exchanged views on the future direction of food and farming as the UK embarks on an independent agricultural policy post-Brexit, and the opportunities this presents for the sector.

“Despite the challenges the industry faces at present, we remain optimistic about the future. Food and drink is one of Northern Ireland’s key economic assets, supporting some 113,000 jobs locally and feeding millions of people across the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond.  We have the potential to grow even further and with the right support we can create even more sustainable jobs, and secure Northern Ireland’s economic recovery from the pandemic.”

Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

“I was glad to meet food and drink companies in Northern Ireland this week, to discuss our shared interests and how we work together to support them.

“We recognise the challenges facing producers, particularly in processing at the moment, and we will make sure that we put the needs of this unique food and drink sector at the forefront of our work to support the industry.”

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Business leaders at the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) Business Conference have heard how enhancing environmental sustainability, driving innovation and investing in advanced manufacturing will be key to boosting growth for Northern Ireland’s agri-food industry.

The virtual event, hosted by NIFDA and supported by HSBC UK and Invest Northern Ireland, was broadcast live to 100 delegates from across the Northern Ireland food and drink sector.

‘Pivotal time’

Speaking after the 2021 NIFDA Business Conference, Michael Bell, Executive Director at the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) said:

“This is a pivotal time for Northern Ireland food and drink. Our largest manufacturing sector is currently facing a multitude of challenges – including labour shortages, Brexit, Covid-19, new food policies from government and more. At the same time, firms here are operating in an ever-evolving market environment and adapting to new consumer, retail, and regulatory demands relating to healthier diets, reduced carbon footprint and continuing affordability of food.

“Our theme for this year’s conference was ‘fresh thinking for future growth’, and each of our speakers touched on how the industry in Northern Ireland can and must innovate its way through these challenges, and further boost growth.

Key messages

“One of the key messages to come out of the conference is the importance of enhancing the industry’s environmental credentials. For our customers and consumers, sustainability is no longer something that is nice to have – it is a must have. Likewise, improving our environmental footprint is likely to form a key pillar of future government food policy and support for the sector.

“While improving sustainability is a necessity, it also provides great opportunity for innovative firms. As our diverse range of expert speakers from across finance, retail, farming and government highlighted, Northern Ireland food and drink is already world leading when it comes to sustainability, animal welfare, quality and commercial success.

Working with government and partners across the food supply chain, we can be part of the solution on climate change, while continuing to grow and remaining competitive internationally.”

Buying patterns

Gillian Morris, Head of Corporate Banking Northern Ireland at HSBC UK added:

“Northern Ireland’s food and drink businesses are at the forefront of driving innovative change and adapting to new demographics, buying patterns and eating habits in a rapidly changing macro environment. They’re also focussed on adjusting their business models to make their operations more productive and more environmentally sustainable.  At HSBC UK, we’re committed to supporting local food and drink businesses as they endeavour to boost their growth even further.”

The 2021 NIFDA Business Conference provided an interactive forum for forward-thinking food and drink manufacturers and producers to engage with industry leaders, receive expert insights into emerging market and regulatory trends, and get practical advice directly applicable to their businesses.

Retail experts

Delegates heard from experts from across the food and drink supply chain, with retail expert Dominic Darby providing key insights into how food companies can innovate to meet the expectations of the modern consumer; markets analyst Dr Clive Black, Head of Research at Shore Capital explaining emerging market megatrends; and Gillian Morris, Head of Corporate Banking NI at HSBC UK sharing thoughts on how firms can finance for the future.

Also speaking at the event was former National Farmers Union President and AHDB Chair Sir Peter Kendall, who laid out some of the key challenges and opportunities for the sector as he prepares his report for the Independent Strategic Review of NI Agri-Food for the Northern Ireland Executive.

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