Ballyoak cheese, Genesis soda and Baronscourt venison sample success at UK Great Taste Awards

By Margaret Canning

Venison, brown soda bread and cheese from Northern Ireland have earned the top accolade of triple gold stars at the 2015 UK Great Taste Awards.

Fivemiletown Ballyoak cheese from Dale Farm, a brown soda loaf made by Genesis Crafty for Supervalu and wild sika venison French rack from Baronscourt Estate won the most coveted honours at the 2015 UK Great Taste Awards.

Manufacturers from the west of the province dominated the triple gold, with Co Tyrone laying claim to both the Fivemiletown cheese and venison, from deer kept in Baronscourt in Omagh. Genesis Crafty, meanwhile, is based in Magherafelt, Co Londonderry.

The awards are organised by the UK Guild of Fine Food - and 70 of the province's food firms won 200 gold stars in total.

Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell congratulated the successful companies.

"Food and drink is a dynamic and progressive industry that's positioned for even faster growth, particularly in markets outside Northern Ireland.

"It is an industry both I and Invest NI are keen to assist in achieving its undoubted potential.

"The Great Taste Awards highlight how small local businesses are increasingly catching the eye of major international retailers and food service organisations."