NEWS

Richard Gilpin, Head of Farm Operations, Gilfresh Produce and Lorraine Drennan, Customer Service Manager, Asda Portadown As Halloween approaches, Co Armagh-based Gilfresh Produce is gearing up for its biggest pumpkin season yet, supplying over 70,000 pumpkins to all 17 Asda stores across Northern Ireland – including two new seasonal showstoppers: the pale and eerie Ghost Pumpkin and the giant XL Pumpkin, perfect for carving or autumnal displays. Founded in 1965 by Thomas Gil

Johnny Hunter, Commercial Director, Dougie’s Goodies and Stella Grant, Group Procurement Manager, McKeever Hotels sample the delicious treats which will be served to customers of McKeever Hotels across Northern Ireland. A Ballymena-based bakery with over 40 years of sweet success has landed its first major food service contract — with one of Northern Ireland’s best-known hotel groups. Dougie’s Goodies, founded in 1983, will now supply its range of handmade traybakes, pastries

Award-winning bakery launches festive dessert range earlier than ever to give customers a head start on Christmas cheer The countdown to Christmas has officially begun at Dougies Goodies, as the award-winning Northern Ireland bakery unveils its Christmas Dessert Range earlier than ever before — giving dessert lovers plenty of time to plan, pre-order, and indulge in the sweetest season of the year. From indulgent pavlovas and yule logs to melt-in-your-mouth roulades, each dess

IGNITE participant, Jenna Louise Dowds from Slemish College, pictured with Paula Bittles, Business Support Executive at Belfast City Airport and Gerry Kelly, CEO of NICSSA Belfast City Airport has launched the sixth year of its acclaimed IGNITE youth leadership programme, reaffirming its dedication to inspiring and empowering young people from across Greater Belfast and Northern Ireland. Originally designed to support 100 students, the IGNITE initiative has now successfully e

Overall winner of the Mid and East Antrim heat of Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch William Mawhinney, centre, pictured with, from left, judge Noel Mullholland and Councillor Jackson Minford, Mayor, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council A Carrickfergus entrepreneur has sailed to success after making The Ultimate Pitch to win investment for his innovative new business that carries out vessel hull inspections. William Mawhinney wowed judges at the Mid and East Antrim heat of Go Succ

Asda Ballyclare colleagues join celebrations as retailer marks 20th year anniversary in NI. Steven Henry, GSM, Trevor Wilson, Community Champion, and Helen Gault, Long Service Colleague Asda marks milestone anniversary with major price cuts, £1m community funding, and a £500m annual boost to local suppliers. Colleagues from Asda Ballyclare joined in celebrations marking 20 years of Asda in Northern Ireland, as the retailer reflected on two decades of investment in local suppl

DUP representatives (L-R) East Londonderry MLA Maurice Bradley, North Antrim MLA Paul Frew, and Councillor for Bann, Michelle Knight-McQuillan during a visit to Kilrea Bridge DUP MLAs Paul Frew and Maurice Bradley , joined by Cllr Michelle Knight-McQuillan , have visited the site of the Kilrea Bridge over the River Bann to meet residents and discuss the latest update from DfI Roads amid continuing disruption caused by the closure. The representatives met with local people fr

Chamber President Mark Wiggins with Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Councillor Jackson Minford with representatives of local businesses sponsoring the 2025 Ballymena Business Excellence Awards The names of the finalists for the 2025 Ballymena Business Excellence Awards have been announced, celebrating the innovation, resilience, and community spirit of local businesses across the Ballymena area. Organised annually by the Ballymena Area Chamber of Commerce and Ind

Fairhill Shopping Centre’s £10 million redevelopment has reached a major milestone with confirmation that Primark will officially open its new Ballymena store on Friday 5th December at 10am. The long-anticipated arrival of Primark marks a turning point for Fairhill and a renewed sense of optimism for Ballymena’s retail sector. The major fashion retailer’s new 29,000 sq. ft store is set to become the centrepiece of Fairhill’s multi-million-pound investment programme, which has

Marks & Spencer Chief Executive Officer Stuart Machin has praised Northern Ireland’s thriving food and drink industry, highlighting the region’s exceptional contribution to the retailer’s success across the UK. Speaking at the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Annual Dinner in Belfast last night — marking the first time an M&S CEO has addressed the event — Mr Machin celebrated local producers, long-standing partnerships, and announced major new investment plans for stores across

Participants Imogene Jones, Siobhan Davidson, Libbie Barnett, Courtney Shields, Lorna Ramsey, Clare Moore, Kris Steele, and Simon Anderson, pictured with trainer Laura McAuley Ballymena BID has joined forces with local company Knockdene Healthcare to deliver vital defibrillator and first aid training to town centre businesses, reinforcing Ballymena’s commitment to safety and community wellbeing. Staff from Wallaces, Front Page Bar, Camerons , and Ballymena BID took part in t

Fitzsimons Opticians’ senior optometrist and director, John Broderick, undertaking an eye examination A Ballymena optometry practice is marking World Menopause Day with the launch of a new dry eye service aimed at improving women’s eye health during menopause and perimenopause. Fitzsimons Opticians, based on William Street, has invested in state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to help identify and treat dry eye syndrome — a condition that experts say can affect more than hal

(L-R): Erhan Eren, Managing Director Europe at Wrightbus; Max Nastold, CEO of Kazenmaier Leasing GmbH; Tobias Fräde, Business Development Manager Trucks/Buses at Kazenmaier Leasing GmbH; Gregor Creslovnik, Sales at Wrightbus. World-leading bus manufacturer Wrightbus has strengthened its foothold in Germany by joining forces with renowned leasing firm Kazenmaier, in a move designed to accelerate the transition to zero-emission public transport across the country. The partnersh

CGI of the new Primark store at Fairhill Shopping Centre, Ballymena Primark has confirmed that its brand-new Ballymena store at Fairhill Shopping Centre will officially open on Friday 5th December at 10am. The eagerly awaited move marks an exciting new chapter for Primark Ballymena, which first opened its doors in the town in 1983. Relocating less than a mile from its long-standing home in the Tower Centre, the new store will double in size, covering 26,200 sq. ft of fashion,

Pictured are, from left, Dr Norman Apsley OBE, LEDCOM Chairman, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick and Ken...

Tesco has announced the expansion of its Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, ensuring thousands more pupils across the UK – including in...

Dobbies Garden Centres has officially opened its highly anticipated Christmas shops in Lisburn and Antrim, inviting customers to...

Pictured: Jim Allister KC MP, the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) In a robust rebuke to recent European Union demands, Jim...

Kinecx Energy Chairman Dr David Dobbin (second from left) and Kinecx Energy Chief Executive Officer Niall Martindale (second from right)...

Dining at Galgorm Building on its recent triumph at the 2025 AA Hospitality Awards—where it secured AA 5-star status and its Gillies...