FOOD and drink producers in Derry have less than three weeks to enter a competition which is offering a staggering prize of £30,000 free marketing support and brand visibility at George Best Belfast City Airport to the winner.
The airport, in partnership with Food NI and Derry City and Strabane District Council, is urging local food and drink producers to submit their entries to be in with a chance of being crowned Northern Ireland’s Best food or drink product. The closing date for entries is Friday, 3rd March.
The competition is open to food and drink producers based in Derry and across Northern Ireland, with the £30,000 prize including £20,000 of branding on site at Belfast City Airport and £10,000 of online support through the airport’s digital channels.#
To take part in the competition, producers can download an entry form from www.belfastcityairport.com/foodni and should submit their entries via email to [email protected]. Derry City and Strabane District Council and each of the other 10 local councils will then select three products from each area to progress through to the next stage of the competition.
The chosen products will then feature on the airport’s Facebook page, with the most popular from each council progressing to the final. This will take the form of a tasting session judged by a panel of food and drink experts.
Katy Best, Commercial and Marketing Director at Belfast City Airport, commented:
“The continued growth of our local food and drink trade is hugely important to the Northern Irish tourism industry and the airport is a committed champion of our local producers.
“We are very pleased to partner with Food NI on this exciting initiative to continue the success of the NI Year of Food and Drink.
“With 2.67 million passengers from all over the world travelling through the airport each year, the winning producer will have full exposure to a fantastic level of footfall and visibility.
“With less than three weeks remaining to enter, we would urge all producers to submit their application.
“The competition will help to significantly raise the profile of all the shortlisted products, not just the winner, and we are working closely with all local councils to ensure the geographical reach of the competition extends right across Northern Ireland.”
Michele Shirlow, CEO of Food NI, said:
“This competition is a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of our most talented and exciting food and drink producers, who are vital to Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector.
“Our local products are world class and last year they really began to receive the recognition they deserve, both nationally and internationally, through the NI Year of Food and Drink.
“The prize of £30,000 in marketing offered by Belfast City Airport is huge and will make a real impact on the business of the winning company.
“We are extremely grateful to the airport for its support and would encourage all producers to apply – and help secure high levels of visibility for their products.”
Aeidin McCarter, Head of Culture at Derry City and Strabane District Council, said:
“The council recognises what a fantastic opportunity this is for local producers – our region boasts some incredible produce and the airport’s marketing support would make a huge impact on businesses in our area.
“We look forward to receiving entrants from the Derry City and Strabane District Council area and would like to thank Belfast City Airport and Food NI for providing this great opportunity.”
For more information on how to enter and to download an entry form, please visit www.belfastcityairport.com/foodni
The George Best Belfast City Airport can also be found on Facebook (George Best Belfast City Airport) and Twitter (@BelfastCity_Air).
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