NEWS

The newly launched M&S Too Good To Go bakery Surprise Bags Tuesday 15 September 2026 M&S Ballymena shoppers can now pick up more than £10 worth of surplus bakery products for £3.80 as the retailer launches a new partnership with Too Good To Go across Northern Ireland. The Ballymena store is one of 13 M&S Food locations taking part, with Surprise Bags containing three to four products from its in-store bakery that would otherwise be left unsold at the end of the day. Customers

Denny Smoked and Unsmoked Bacon Rashers, Carved Ham Slices and Carved Wafer Thin Ham Slices. Bacon made without nitrites is being introduced to Northern Ireland supermarket shelves as Denny launches a four-product range, with ham slices due to follow in October. The rollout began with smoked and unsmoked bacon rashers in Musgrave stores on Saturday 12 September. Both products are scheduled to reach Tesco stores in Northern Ireland on Monday 21 September. Carved Ham Slices and

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has called for more Northern Ireland-produced food to be served in schools, hospitals and other public sector institutions, arguing that taxpayers’ money could do more to support local farmers and strengthen the region’s food supply. UFU deputy president Glenn Cuddy said recent debate over the sourcing of chicken products used in Northern Ireland school meals should prompt a wider conversation about where food bought by public bodies comes from. The

Students heading into Freshers’ Week are being urged to look out for each other and know when to call for emergency help as universities welcome a new intake across Northern Ireland. Alcohol and drug charity ASCERT says the start of university life can bring new friendships, nights out and social events, but for some young people it may also be the first time they have consumed alcohol or faced pressure to drink more — or more quickly — than they normally would. The charity i

Inset: DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart Questions over the sourcing and labelling of chicken served in Northern Ireland schools remain despite fresh assurances from the Education Authority that halal-certified poultry is not being provided as a blanket policy, an MP has said. Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart is calling for greater transparency for parents and increased use of locally produced food in publicly funded catering, as she prepares to meet Education Authority (EA) o

Pictured (L-R) is Paula McIntyre, Pamela Minford (Castle Mall centre manager), Shona Burke (Head of Customer Service Operations at Choice) and Robin Swann MP. Families from Stiles Way in Antrim picked up ideas for making nutritious meals on a budget during a community cooking event with television chef Paula McIntyre. The demonstration, organised by Choice Housing as part of Shared Housing Week, focused on affordable, hearty food and practical advice residents could use in t

Councillor Tyler Hoey, Chairman of Mid &East Antrim Policing and Community Safety partnership is pictured with Elena Brewer, Training Officer at ASCERT; Sergeant Wickham-Thomas, Neighbourhood Policing Officer, PSNI; Christina Li, ASCERT and Colin Robinson, Training Services Manager at ASCERT. A new free training programme aimed at helping bar, restaurant, club and off-licence staff deal confidently with alcohol-related risks is being rolled out across Mid and East Antrim this

Four of the UK’s farming unions are demanding an urgent halt to Brazilian meat imports into Great Britain, warning that the country could become a destination for products displaced from European markets when new antimicrobial rules take effect next week. The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), NFU, NFU Scotland and NFU Cymru have jointly called on the UK Government to prohibit affected Brazilian products of animal origin from 3 September, bringing Great Britain into line with new E

GAME ON, Ballymena — Level Up Entertainment Centre has officially opened its doors, bringing a spectacular new place to play, eat, meet and make memories at Pennybridge. And while the neon-lit arcade is packed with games designed to bring out everyone’s competitive side, there is another big reason this new arrival could quickly become a favourite well beyond family days out. Wait until you see the Shake Bar. Level Up has paired its all-ages entertainment centre with a striki

(L-R) Laura McMinn, Tesco Northern Ireland Buying Manager, Alvin Donaghy, Commercial Manager at K&G McAtamney, Kenneth Herron, Tesco Northern Ireland Lead Fresh Buying Manager - Northern Ireland Product, Gordon McAtamney, Managing Director at K&G McAtamney, and Clare McCormack, Tesco Northern Ireland Assistant Buyer. Two long-established Ballymena meat businesses are supplying 12 products for Tesco Northern Ireland’s summer barbecue range, bringing decades of local butchery e

Josh Hall, Head of Category and Trading at Sysco Ireland, Bronagh McQuail, Moocha Kombucha, Pamela Martin, Category Manager at Sysco Ireland, Kyle Greer, Development Chef at Sysco Ireland, Ruchira Rangaprasad, FibreUp, Alastair Bell and Kathleen Bell, Irish Black Butter, John Sloan, Loada Balls, Claire O'Kane, Mussenden Sea Salt, Amy Stewart, Glens of Antrim Group, John Sloan and Curtis Sloan, Loada Balls A County Antrim food producer is among six Northern Ireland businesse

Thousands of people are expected to descend on Ballycastle later this month as the historic Ould Lammas Fair returns with four days of horse trading, street markets, live music, family entertainment, food and fireworks. Running from Saturday 22 to Tuesday 25 August, Ireland’s oldest fair will once again take over Ballycastle town centre and seafront, combining traditions stretching back centuries with a packed programme of modern entertainment. Among this year’s highlights ar

Aldi has hundreds of supermarkets across Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, yet Northern Ireland remains a conspicuous gap in its network — and a new competition ruling involving both Aldi and Lidl has put the reasons for that absence back under the spotlight. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally decided that Aldi, Lidl Great Britain and Lidl Northern Ireland should be brought under rules designed to prevent major supermarket chains using land

Inset: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt Northern Ireland shoppers could soon see fewer multibuy offers on unhealthy food and drinks under proposals aimed at tackling the region’s growing obesity problem. The Department of Health (DoH) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have launched a public consultation on introducing new restrictions on the promotion and placement of foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS), bringing Northern Ireland into line with measures already in place el

Visitors looking for a taste of local creativity, fresh produce and community spirit can find it all at Glenarm Community Market, which returns on the first Saturday of every month. Held in the heart of the historic village, in the Eglinton Yard Barn, the free market has become a popular stop for both locals and tourists exploring the Antrim Coast, offering everything from handmade crafts and artwork to locally reared food in a relaxed, family-friendly setting. A showcase for

Shoppers using the M&S store at Aldergrove can expect a significantly larger food hall, hundreds of new products and up to 25 new jobs after the retailer confirmed plans for a major expansion. The store will temporarily close at 6pm on Saturday 1 August while work is carried out, before reopening in the autumn following an extensive refurbishment. Store set to double in size The biggest change will see the existing M&S store expand into the neighbouring service station unit,

Summer camps across Northern Ireland have the chance to claim free ice lollies this summer as Iceland Foods launches a limited giveaway aimed at helping community groups keep young people cool during the school holidays. The supermarket chain is giving away 160 rocket ice lollies to each of 10 successful camps, with sports camps, school clubs and community-led summer schemes all eligible to apply. How to apply Camp organisers who would like to take part should email...

The Halfway House Country Pub The Halfway House Country Pub outside Broughshane has been recognised among the very best rural pubs in the United Kingdom after receiving a Highly Commended honour at the Grand Champions of the 2026 Countryside Alliance Awards in London. The prestigious recognition was announced on Wednesday, July 8, at the House of Lords, where the Carnlough Road venue represented Northern Ireland after being crowned Countryside Alliance Northern Ireland Champi

Most people in the UK are not getting enough fibre, despite it being linked to a lower risk of bowel cancer, and Marks & Spencer is hoping to change that with a nationwide campaign backed by Bowel Cancer UK. Running throughout July and August, the retailer has launched its Better with Beans campaign alongside a complete refresh of its beans and pulses range, making products such as chickpeas, green lentils, butter beans and kidney beans available in glass jars from just 55p.

Brendan Gallagher, Key Account Executive, Diageo; ​Steven ​Davidson, Commercial Investment ​Manager, Diageo; Megan ​Armstrong, General ​Manager, ​Belfast International ​Airport; ​Chris ​Annon, Company Director, Mount ​Charles. Passengers travelling through Belfast International Airport are increasingly choosing a final taste of familiar Irish brands before take-off, with sales of Guinness, Rockshore and other Diageo draught products surging by 53% at the airport’s Northern Qu