Entries open for 18th Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards

Northern Ireland’s food and drink companies are invited to enter the 2026 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards.

Held in partnership with Kinecx Energy, the awards are a key indicator of excellence across the industry, giving local food and drink manufacturers the opportunity to present quality new products to key retail customers, and showcase innovation and commercial excellence across a range of categories.

The awards are open to food and drink companies of all sizes, and all entries are free of charge. Categories for 2026 include Best New Product for micro, small, medium, and large businesses as well as awards that recognise excellence in areas across innovation in sustainability and healthy food, exports and supply chain.

Entries are judged by an expert panel of representatives from major supermarkets, including Asda, Lidl, Marks & Spencer and Tesco, alongside food and drink leaders. Winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony hosted by BBC Northern Ireland presenter Mark Simpson on Friday 27^th February 2026 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast.

Michael Bell OBE, Executive Director, Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) encouraged local food and drink businesses to enter before the 12^th January 2026 deadline:

“Northern Ireland food and drink is a major success story. We feed 10 million people, we support 113,000 jobs, we make a significant contribution to the local economy, and we are growing sustainably.

“The Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards is all about celebrating the products, the processes, and the people behind that success. Across 13 categories we are looking at every aspect of modern food and drink manufacturing and shining a spotlight on companies of all sizes who have demonstrated innovation, ingenuity and a commitment to quality.

“One of the unique appeals of these hotly contested awards is the fact that our judging panel includes leaders from major retail customers. So not only do entrants have to demonstrate quality, they are also showcasing new products that are ready to go on supermarket shelves and be enjoyed by consumers.   

“Outside of the product categories we have awards for sustainability innovation, supply chain excellence, healthy food, export launches and food safety. Through our Rising Star award, we are also shining a spotlight on our industry’s leaders of tomorrow.

“These awards are highly competitive and have become a key fixture in our industry’s calendar. Therefore, I would encourage companies of all sizes to take a look at the categories, and get entries in as soon as possible before the January deadline.”

Niall Martindale, CEO, Kinecx Energy said:

“The Food and drink industry is a key sector within Northern Ireland’s economy and we’re delighted to once again partner with NIFDA for the 18^th awards. The industry is renowned for bringing world-class products to market, thanks to its world-class people and commitment to quality.

“The Kinecx Energy network has been supporting the energy requirements of many companies in this sector since 2005, and we are playing a pivotal role in the transition to a lower carbon future for the local food and drink industry. We are committed to growing the circular economy in Northern Ireland, primarily with the introduction of biomethane into our network, and the food and drink industry is a key stakeholder in this ambition. ”

Additional event partners include Asda, Lidl, Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Food Standards Agency NI, DAERA, Invest Northern Ireland, Safefood, Birnie Consultancy, Sysco Software, Vickerstock and the Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland.

The closing date for entries to the 2026 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards is Monday 12^th January. More information on categories, and details on how to enter, please visit http://nifda.co.uk/awards