NEWS

Proposed site of new concept Lidl store in Ballymena with inset CGI of store entrance. Friday 30 October 2026 Lidl has revealed it has spent more than a decade searching for a second supermarket site in Ballymena, as fresh planning evidence outlines an £8 million investment, 50 permanent jobs and the retailer's intention to keep its existing store open. The discount supermarket chain says its current Ballymena branch, which opened in 2002, is now the third smallest of its 44

(L-R) Jonathan Mitchell, co-founder of Our Brewery and Michael Crealey, Lead Packaged Buying Manager at Tesco Northern Ireland, toast to the awarded Our Brewery range available at selected Tesco stores across NI. Wednesday 28 October 2026 An award-winning family-run brewery from Randalstown has expanded its presence on Tesco shelves across Northern Ireland, with two additional beers joining its range at 28 stores, including Ballymena, Antrim, Coleraine and Carrickfergus. Our

Friday 23 October 2026 Marks & Spencer has cut prices on a selection of British beef, lamb and pork products by up to 26%, helping shoppers save on everyday family meals while maintaining the prices it pays to farmers. The supermarket is adding more meat products to its Remarksable Value range, including diced beef, lamb mince and pork sausages, as part of a wider effort to make the weekly food shop more affordable. M&S says customers will receive exactly the same products, w

Tuesday 20 October 2026 Shoppers looking to save money on their grocery bills can claim up to £100 in discounts from Iceland and The Food Warehouse, with a limited-time offer available to new online customers until Saturday 24 October. The promotion gives customers £10 off their first online shop when they spend at least £60, followed by further discount codes worth a combined £90 to use across their next four shops. With Halloween approaching and Christmas preparations getti

Sunday 18 October 2026 Plans to open a new ice cream parlour within the historic Clotworthy House at Antrim Castle Gardens have been unanimously approved by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee. The proposal will see the building’s existing shop, reception and garden exhibition area converted into an ice cream parlour with an indoor seating area, offering visitors another place to enjoy refreshments at one of the borough’s major tourist attractions. Co

Slim’s Healthy Kitchen founder Gary McIldowney launches the search for a new tasting crew, giving food lovers the chance to sample the brand’s latest meal creations before they hit the shelves. Wednesday 14 October 2026 Food lovers across Northern Ireland are being offered the chance to sample new dishes before they reach customers, as Slim’s Healthy Kitchen launches a search for people to join its new tasting crew. The local food brand is recruiting enthusiastic tasters to t

(L-R) Irish Black Butter’s International Ambassador Alastair Bell, PRM Group Key Account Sales Development Manager Gary Hopkins, David Thompson, Buying Manager – Dairy at Tesco Northern Ireland and Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt Commercial Director Patrick Black. Tuesday 13 October 2026 Tesco Northern Ireland is expanding its range of locally produced dairy products, with new yoghurt, flavoured milk and award-winning cheddar being introduced in stores and online. The additions bri

Entrepreneur Sharon Gault celebrates with Cllr Dawn Higgins, Mayor, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, after she won the Causeway Coast and Glens Ultimate Pitch final, securing her place in the regional final with her business Kingsbarn Farm, which rears grass fed additive free meat Friday 09 October 2026 A traditional farm outside Dunloy has secured £1,000 in investment and a place in a Northern Ireland-wide business competition final after impressing judges with its

Ribbon cut by Aldergrove’s day one colleagues as transformed M&S store opens Thursday 08 October 2026 Shoppers at M&S Aldergrove can now enjoy a significantly bigger food store, with more than 2,000 additional products, a larger bakery and a new frozen food range following a major transformation that has increased the store’s size by 50%. The expanded store officially opened its doors at 9am on Thursday 8 October, with four familiar faces given the honour of cutting the ribbo

Alex O’Hara, centre, from The Castle Kitchen and Bar, Galgorm Collection, was crowned Cocktail Bartender of the Year at the inaugural Northern Ireland Hospitality School Cocktail Competition. Alex is pictured alongside judges, from left, Ashley Douglas, Director of Operations at the Northern Ireland Hospitality School, Paula McIntyre, celebrity chef, Paul Flynn, MCM Spirits and Giffards and Ryan Brown, Edward Dillon. Monday 05 October 2026 A Galgorm bartender has been crowne

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir launches the second phase of the Lough Neagh Water Quality Dashboard in Ballyronan pictured with (L-R) Patrick Murphy, Lough Neagh Science Advice Branch, DAERA and Stephen Prentice, NIEA Freshwater Monitoring and Assessment. Saturday 03 October 2026 An expanded public monitoring system is giving communities and scientists a much clearer picture of conditions across Lough Neagh — as those working around the lake warn that years of sustained action wi

Sunday 27 September 2026 Bushmills will become a giant showcase for food, drink, music and local creativity next weekend as one of the Causeway Coast’s best-known festivals returns with a new identity and an expanded programme. The former Bushmills Salmon & Whiskey Festival is entering a new chapter as The Giant Table, running from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October and bringing chefs, producers, makers, musicians and visitors together across the village. While salmon and whiskey h

Site for Lidl’s proposed new concept store in Ballymena Thursday 24 September 2026 Plans for one of Northern Ireland’s largest Lidl stores have come under fresh scrutiny after independent retail experts said they are not yet satisfied that the need for the major Ballymena development has been demonstrated — or that it would avoid significant adverse impacts on the town centre. The findings are contained in a detailed independent Retail Audit commissioned by Mid and East Antri

McDonald’s Ballymena where McHappy Day will be celebrated this upcoming weekend Wednesday 23 September 2026 Northern Ireland has emerged as one of the UK’s most generous regions in a new survey released ahead of the first McHappy Day in the UK and Ireland this weekend. McDonald’s commissioned the research before the fundraising day on Saturday 26 September, when £1 from every qualifying main meal sold will be donated to Ronald McDonald House UK and Ronald McDonald House Irela

Tuesday 22 September 2026 Ballymena’s Merchant Fish and Chips has been named among the UK’s top 40 fish and chip takeaways, putting the local business back in contention for one of the industry’s biggest national honours. The Merchant is one of just four Northern Ireland businesses to make the longlist for Takeaway of the Year at the National Fish & Chip Awards, which are now in their 39th year. Ballymena chippy back in national spotlight The recognition continues a strong ru

Monday 21 September 2026 Glens of Antrim Potatoes has ceased trading after administrators were appointed to the long-established County Antrim business, with almost all of its 95 employees made redundant. The company, which has operated for more than 50 years and has sites in Cushendall and Ballymena, supplied potatoes to major retailers across Ireland and also produced the Glens of Antrim Crisps range. Administrators appointed Stuart Irwin, Ian Leonard and Robin Coughlin fro

Monday 21 September 2026 McDonald’s customers in Ballymena will be able to help families with seriously ill children simply by ordering a qualifying meal this Saturday, as the restaurant chain brings McHappy Day to Northern Ireland for the first time. The fundraising day takes place on Saturday 26 September, with £1 from every qualifying main menu meal sold at participating restaurants donated to Ronald McDonald House charities. Money raised will help provide free accommodati

Sunday 20 September 2026 M&S has confirmed its newly expanded Aldergrove store will reopen at 9am on Thursday 8 October following a major transformation that has increased the shop by 50%. The expansion into the neighbouring service station unit will bring more than 2,000 additional products to the store, alongside new facilities and a significantly wider M&S Food range. Bigger store and wider food range Among the changes will be a larger in-store bakery, upgraded coffee-to-g

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