Northern Ireland Food and Drink - NIFDA

01/05/2026

Thanks to all who joined us at Stormont Parliament Buildings yesterday for the launch of Economic Impact Assessment of the NI agri-food sector.

A big thank you to Simon MacAllister, Partner at EY for taking us through the findings and special thanks to for hosting us at Stormont – and for sharing his reflections on his own experience of working in the industry earlier in his career as a butcher.

👉 View our most recent post to see the headline findings, or read the full report via the link in our bio.

01/05/2026

Yesterday, NIFDA welcomed guests to Stormont Parliament Buildings to mark the launch of the EY-Parthenon Economic Impact Assessment of the NI agri-food sector.

Thank you to Simon MacAllister, Partner at EY, for presenting the report’s findings and outlining the vital contribution Northern Ireland’s food and drink industry makes to the economy and UK food security.

And special thanks to Robbie Butler mla for hosting us at Stormont and for his reflections on his own experience of working in the industry earlier in his career as a butcher.

View our latest post for key findings, or read the full report via 👉 https://nifda.co.uk/feeding-the-economy-every-day-northern-ireland-food-and-drink-sector-delivers-7-3bn-to-the-economy-and-underpins-food-security-across-the-uk-and-ireland/

30/04/2026

Northern Ireland’s food and drink sector is doing far more than feeding people - it’s feeding the economy, supporting jobs, and underpinning food security across the UK.

From £7.3bn in economic value to supplying one sixth of the UK’s milk, beef and poultry, this new independent Economic Impact Assessment by EY-Parthenon shows why food and drink is one of NI’s most strategically important industries.

👇 Swipe for the numbers shaping one of NI’s most strategically important industries.

🔗 Read the full report to explore what this means for growth, sustainability and investment https://nifda.co.uk/feeding-the-economy-every-day-northern-ireland-food-and-drink-sector-delivers-7-3bn-to-the-economy-and-underpins-food-security-across-the-uk-and-ireland/

24/03/2026

SMEs working with Products of Animal Origin (POAO) – this one’s for you 🐄

This free 40-minute live session explores how to cut waste, improve efficiency and make smarter decisions.

Whether you’re curious or ready to dive in, this is your chance to get the lowdown, ask questions and connect with others interested in TRACE.

Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunch-learn-a-trace-info-session-tickets-1985137087467?aff=oddtdtcreator

23/03/2026

A night worth revisiting🎥

From innovation and ambition to sustainability safety, this year’s NI Food and Drink Awards showcased the talent, resilience and passion that defines our sector.

And what a celebration it was!

A huge thank you to our partner Kinecx Energy for all its support, helping us shine a light on all the people, products and processes driving our industry forward.

Congratulations again to all our winners, whose achievements continue to set the pace and inspire the wider food and drink sector.

Relive the highlights and see the full list of winners on our website👉 https://nifda.co.uk/awards/

19/03/2026

In Brussels earlier this month with the Northern Ireland Business Stakeholders Group, representing the views of NI’s food and drink sector. 🇧🇪

Important conversations on how current trading arrangements are working in practice – and where there’s still more to do. 📈

Thanks to everyone involved for the constructive discussions – more to come.

09/03/2026

From seaweed seasoning to carbon-tracked dairy, Northern Ireland’s food and drink sector is helping UK retailers meet the demands of modern supply 🌍

In our latest feature with Invest Northern Ireland for The Grocer, we explore how the NI Food and Drink Award Winners are leading the way using innovation, sustainability and manufacturing strength to meet the challenges facing buyers in 2026.

Take a look 👇

https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/promotional-features/why-uk-retailers-are-turning-to-northern-ireland-for-food-innovation-in-2026/716023.article

03/03/2026

A record-breaking night for Northern Ireland food and drink 🏆

As NIFDA marks 30 years championing the industry, the 2026 NI Food and Drink Awards welcomed our highest number of entries in history.

The awards continue to recognise the people, products and processes driving the largest manufacturing sector in our region.

Thank you to our principal partner Kinecx Energy, all our sponsors and every business that entered.

And a huge congratulations to all of our 2026 winners! 👏

View the full list here: https://nifda.co.uk/a-record-breaking-recipe-for-success-at-the-2026-ni-food-and-drink-awards/

03/03/2026

26/02/2026

A fantastic evening at the 25th anniversary of the City Food & Drink Lecture at Guildhall, London. 🎉

Industry leaders reflected on how the sector has evolved – from sustainability, supply chains to the growing role of AI and technology. 🤖🌍

We also heard from Professor Susan Jebb OBE, who posed the question: can our industry deliver better health outcomes in the next 25 years than in the last? 🥗

An important discussion for the future of our sector.

29/01/2026

Applications are now open for the Food and Drink Academy, delivered by Discover CAFRE in partnership with NIFDA.😌✨

This study first apprenticeship, starting in September 2026, allows school leavers to learn while they earn, gain hands on industry experience alongside a degree.

✔️ Employed from day one
✔️ Earn £22,000 per year
✔️ Graduate with a BSc (Hons) in Food and Drink Manufacture Ulster University
✔️ Work with leading food and drink businesses across NI

To find out more about the businesses involved and how to apply, visit https://www.cafre.ac.uk/student-courses/food-and-drink-academy/