NEWS

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

The community of Glenravel are inviting the public from near and far to browse everything from handcrafted ceramics and woodwork to brownies, books and South African flavours as the Glenravel Summer Market returns to Martinstown Parish Hall this weekend. The community event takes place on Sunday, June 28, running from 11am until 4pm, and will bring together a diverse mix of local makers, artists, bakers and small businesses from across the area and beyond. With more than 20 t

Marks & Spencer’s is latest food-on-the-move innovation, the new Chocolate, Strawberry & Pistachio Creme Sandwich Marks & Spencer is bringing back its hugely popular Red Diamond Strawberry & Creme Sandwich after it sold more than one million units in just five weeks last summer, while also launching a brand-new chocolate and pistachio version in time for Wimbledon. The retailer announced the return of the fan-favourite sandwich alongside the launch of its new Chocolate, Straw

Regularly eating berries and other deeply coloured fruits and vegetables could significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attacks and type 2 diabetes, according to major new research led by Queen’s University Belfast. The study found that people with the highest intake of anthocyanins – natural compounds found in many red, blue and purple foods – had a 26% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared with those consuming the least. Researchers say the f

Lidl Northern Ireland has officially entered the hospitality sector for the first time, opening the doors of its new public house and off-sales, The Middle Ale, in Dundonald. The retailer’s first-ever pub welcomed its first customers on Thursday, marking a significant expansion beyond traditional supermarket retailing and creating eight permanent jobs in the process. Located beside the existing Lidl store in Dundonald, the new venue gives customers access to Lidl’s full range

More than 200 hospitality and food service businesses have closed across Northern Ireland since the beginning of the year, industry leaders have claimed, as support grows for a proposal to cut VAT to 10 per cent in a bid to protect jobs and struggling local firms. The Northern Ireland Food to Go Association (NIFTGA) has publicly backed South Antrim MP Robin Swann’s call for a Northern Ireland hospitality VAT pilot, arguing that businesses are facing unprecedented financial pr

The UFU is encouraging consumers to question the origin of the beef they purchase this World Cup. Local beef farmers are being urged to put the spotlight on the origin of the meat on consumers’ plates this summer, as the Ulster Farmers’ Union launches a new campaign amid mounting concerns over imports, falling farmgate prices and growing pressure on the beef sector. The UFU’s ‘Where Is Your Beef From?’ campaign is running throughout the FIFA World Cup and aims to encourage sh

Alcohol-related deaths in Northern Ireland remain at concerning levels, with health officials and addiction specialists warning that many people may be drinking more than they realise — particularly at home. As Northern Ireland Alcohol Awareness Week gets underway on Monday, 15 June, the Public Health Agency (PHA), community pharmacy teams and alcohol support organisations are urging people to take a closer look at their drinking habits and consider making small changes that

Families shopping at M&S could see noticeable savings on everything from salmon and mince to eggs, ketchup and freezer staples after the retailer announced a major £30 million investment in lowering food prices across more than 65 everyday products. The move marks one of the retailer’s biggest pushes yet to compete more aggressively for regular weekly food shops, with M&S insisting customers will still get the same quality ingredients and sourcing standards rather than a stri

McDonald’s Ballymena Ballymena’s McDonald’s restaurant is set to reopen tomorrow following a major £1.1 million transformation that has expanded the site, modernised operations and created 20 new jobs in the town. The popular restaurant at Braidwater Retail Park has been closed for six weeks while builders moved in for an extensive refurbishment designed to tackle one very modern fast-food problem — too many delivery drivers, too little space, and customers wondering where ex

L-R, Michael McKillop, MD of Glens of Antrim Group, Stephen Ferris, Chef & Glens of Antrim ambassador & Nigel Doherty, Produce Buying Manager, Tesco NI A major new Tesco contract has handed Glens of Antrim another significant boost, with the Ballycastle-based food producer launching a new convenience-focused potato range into stores across Northern Ireland after a three-year development programme and a £180,000 investment. The move expands the company’s presence in the fresh

Ulster Farmers' Union Beef and Lamb chair Brendan Kelly on his farm in Randalstown, Antrim. Beef farmers across Northern Ireland are facing mounting financial pressure, with some now losing more than £350 on finished cattle as sharp processor price cuts squeeze already fragile family farm businesses, the Ulster Farmers’ Union has warned. The UFU says the speed and scale of recent reductions in beef prices are becoming “impossible” for many farmers to absorb, particularly as c

Inset: Local woman Jill Stewart of Jill Bakes Clouds of softly whipped cream, crisp shards of sweet meringue, silky custard and juicy berries soaked in fragrant elderflower syrup come together in this irresistibly light summer dessert that tastes like sunshine in a glass. With strawberries at their sweetest and bright raspberries adding a sharp burst of freshness, this berry and elderflower Eton mess feels perfectly made for warm evenings, garden gatherings and those relaxed

Countryfile’s Adam Henson, Local chef, broadcaster and Head Judge Paula McIntyre and Sheila Dillon from BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme launch nominations for the awards at The Balmoral Show Northern Ireland’s food and farming industry is set for a major national spotlight after it was confirmed the BBC Food and Farming Awards will be hosted here for the first time ever later this year. The prestigious UK-wide awards ceremony will take place at Titanic Belfast in October 202