Local businesses celebrate excellence at Food to Go awards

THREE local food to go businesses have walked away with awards at the inaugural NI Food to Go awards, sponsored by Henderson Foodservice.

The ceremony was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast this week on Tuesday, November 19.

Joe’s Traditional Fish and Chips in Sion Mills took home the highly commended award for Best Fish & Chips to Go and their coffee house Milled Coffee House took home the award for Newcomer of the Year - Coffee Specialist.

Scoop and Cup in Strabane took home the winning award for Best Dessert to Go.

Wee Buns, based in Castlederg, picked up the award for Sustainable Food to Go Business of the Year as well as the highly commended prize for Best Bakery/Patisserie to Go.

Hosted by Q Radio DJ Ibe Sesay, the event celebrated excellence across 24 categories celebrating the growing diversity and vibrancy of the food-to-go sector in Northern Ireland.

NI Food to Go Association CEO Michael Henderson commented: “These awards recognise and celebrate the excellence and variety of food to go establishments in Northern Ireland.

"This is the first year that we have held these awards, and it was incredible to see the industry come together on the night to celebrate the excellence across the ever-evolving food to go industry.

"I’d like to thank our independent judging panel for their time and respect towards every food to go business that entered the awards, and I’d like to send my congratulations to every finalist, highly commended and winner. We are already looking forward to next year’s awards.”

Joris Minne was joined on the judging panel by Into Media Group business editor, Gary McDonald, CEO of Food NI, Michele Shirlow, business editor and food columnist John Mulgrew;, Reach PLC journalist, Sophie McLaughlin, chef Geoff Baird from the award’s title sponsor Henderson Foodservice, managing director from Evolve HR Solutions, Claire Loftus, manager of Ulster University’s Food and Drink Business Department, Dr Lynsey Hollywood, Emily McCorkell from Legenderry Food Group, head of sustainability at Zeus Packaging Declan Breen and Media Huis deputy editor in chief, Martin Breen.

The NI Food to Go Awards, which were established to celebrate the excellence and innovation in the region’s food-to-go businesses, are the first of their kind to be independently judged in Northern Ireland.

With 23 categories in total, the awards shine a spotlight on the very best of the sector, from independent eateries to larger food chains.

Michael Henderson added: “It has been a hugely successful inaugural year of the NI Food to Go Awards, and we are looking towards 2025 already.

"The industry is made up of so many successful businesses, and we know there are plenty more out there across Northern Ireland who have brilliant stories to tell.

"We will be announcing the details for the NI Food to Go Awards 2025 very soon, so watch this space."

The NI Food to Go Awards are proudly supported by title sponsor, Henderson Foodservice, alongside category sponsors Smartpay, Riada NI, Towergate Insurance, Flipdish, Délifrance, Stephens Catering Equipment, Evolve HR, Pro-Active Accounting, Eat Local, Frylite, Coca Cola Hellenic, BIOPAX, Zeus Packaging, Makro Belfast / Booker Wholesale UK and Stack Field Solutions UK.