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IFEX – IRISH
FOOD EXHIBITION (trade event)
Tues 29 April –
Thurs 1 May at the King’s Hall, Belfast.
IFEX is Northern Ireland’s food, drink,
hospitality and retail exhibition. Visit
us at stand number: B10A |
FOOD AND DRINK EXPO, BRIMINGHAM.
Sun 6 – Wed 9 April.
We experienced a busy time
at the Food and Drink Expo. It was great to meet
many of our established customers and were thrilled
to receive positive comments and feedback from
perspective buyers.
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JC STEWART FOODHALL,
MAGHERAFELT.
We scampered along
to JC Stewart’s on Saturday 12 April
to take part in their local supplier day.
It was great to meet with our local consumers
and spend time talking about all things
MASH. |
Keep a look out for the Tesco Taste Roadshow.
The "Health"
tour begins on Wednesday 23 April.
There will be lovely local food on offer including
Mash Direct.
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The
Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association
welcome first woman elected to Board Of
Directors
The Northern Ireland Food
& Drink Association are pleased to welcome
the first woman elected to their Board of
Directors.
Mash Direct co-director
Tracy Hamilton was invited to join the NIFDA
Board, which provides services to enhance,
promote, inform, educate and develop member
businesses within the food and drink industry.
READ
FULL INFORMATION |
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UFU
Schools' Competition sponsored
by Musgrave Retail Partners Eamon Taggart
(Fresh Food Controller, Musgrave Retail
Partners) with Kenneth Sharkey (President
Ulster Farmers' Union) and Martin Hamilton
(Mash Direct) launch the Ulster Farmers'
Union Schools' Competition sponsored by
Musgrave with the help of children from
Ballykeigle Primary School, Comber. |
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Mash
direct wins “The Taste of Ulster Service
Sector Award” Northern Ireland Food
and Drink Awards.
Local producers and manufacturers
gathered for the biennial event to celebrate
best local produce, suppliers and outlets
in the food and drink industry.
We were delighted to receive this award
at the gala ceremony, it is a tremendous
achievement for all involved at Mash Direct.
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BBC's Farmer of the
Year
Martin and Tracy travelled to
Birmingham for the Food and Farming Awards. What
a marvellous achievement for Martin to be the
first ever finalist from Northern Ireland for
the BBC’s Farmer of the Year. During the
evening they rubbed shoulders with the great and
good involved in the food and catering industry.
We think Martin will be cooking Christmas Dinner
this year, we have the proof…
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Minister
for Agriculture ~ Michelle Gildernew visits
Mash Direct. Monday 5 November |
From
Pigs to Potatoes for “Jimmy’s Farm”
~
Sunday 21 October
The early morning dew lifted
in the warm autumn sunshine – a perfect
day for another special visitor. We were delighted
to welcome Jimmy Doherty from the much acclaimed
BBC series “Jimmy’s Farm.” Jimmy
was keen to see how Mash Direct is bringing a
new dimension to the humble potato. After pulling
on his wellies Jimmy seemed very at home aboard
the potato harvester and was delighted to lend
a hand for a couple of hours out in the field.
The freshly dug potatoes were proudly delivered
to the factory wash bay and after swapping wellies
for white coat and hair net Jimmy got on with
the job and was keen follow the process through
the factory. No day would be complete without
a tasting of our Mash Direct award winning products
which seemed to go down very well with the production
team. We look forward to the spring time when
the new series entitled “Jimmy’s Farming
Heroes” will be broadcast across the U.K.
Mullahead
Ploughing Society.
We certainly experienced
a day rich in agricultural tradition at the 94th
Mullahead Ploughing Match on Saturday 25th February.
It was a great family day out not just for those
involved in the competition, but for all who enjoy
seeing the art of ploughing whether by tractor
or horse.
Alongside 14 local suppliers
we gave out free samples to the hungry ploughing
enthusiasts in the Tesco marquee. We had a very
busy day and were thrilled to talk about all things
“Mash Direct” to special guests including
local politicians who specifically asked to come
and find out more about us.
We provided some entertainment
for the young children with the “Mash Direct
Potato Sculpting Competition”. The aim of
the competition was to form and shape our Mashed
potato, and then decorate with pieces of carrot,
cabbage, parsnip and turnip. Grateful thanks to
Frank Mitchell a very familiar face on our television
screen, for taking time out to judge the competition.
Best on show was a very well sculpted Tractor
by Robbie Clarke from Pontzpass. Robbie proudly
received at John Deere tractor for his handy work.
The teenagers were kept amused
with the “Spud Chuckin’ Competition”.
Top score of the day was an amazing 100 points
and winner of a MP3 was Mark Brown from Markethill.
We also had a colouring competition the winner
will be announced after entries close, mid March.
A big thank you to all the Mash
Direct team who worked so hard, we had a day to
remember at the Mullahead Match.
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Chapman’s
Farm Shop, Portadown.
Saturday
8 December.
We know how Santa’s little helpers
are so busy at this time of year, well so
are the team at Mash Direct. We were serving
up lots of delicious festive food at the
Christmas Fair in the Farm Shop. There was
certainly something to tickle everyone’s
taste buds. |
Happy Christmas
from all at Mash Direct.
Things at Mash
Direct have been a little hectic to say the least
the Christmas rush is evident everywhere.
Tastes of Britain Magazine. The
January 2008 issue features an article by Edwin
Oxlade all about “Mash Direct” check
it out on page 19 & 20.
Christmas
Cards. This year instead of sending Christmas
cards via the post we will be supporting Action
Cancer, Northern Ireland's leading charity working
to save lives and support people affected by cancer.
Burns Night
Suppers (25 January) are held all over
the world by anyone who has a connection with
Scotland, and even by some who don’t –
any excuse for a wee party! You can be very sure
that the combination of great traditional food
including Mash Direct Neeps and Tatties, good
company and a wee dram or twa will ensure a very
good time had by all!
Christmas
Party. A big thank you for the best Christmas
party ever last Friday night! Some of us spent
all day getting ready and others raced home, pulled
on our glad rags and party shoes in double quick
time. We enjoyed delicious food and a bit of craic
into the wee small hours. Fred and Ginger danced
oops - we mean Martin and Ann did a twirl –
next stop “Strictly come dancing,”
could Martin stick the pace?!
 Comber
Fair on the Square
There certainly
was the joyful spirit of Christmas at the first
ever Fair on the Square in Comber. We joined with
forty local business and crafty folk to promote
the very best of Comber. It was a great opportunity
to meet the community and share tasty Mash Direct
samples. We were thrilled to be constantly complimented
on the flavour and texture of our products.
BBC's Farmer
of the Year
The search is on for the BBC's
Farmer of the Year - part of the annual Food
and Farming Awards organised by the Radio 4's
Food Programme and Farming
Today. Over the next three weeks, On Your Farm
will feature the three
shortlisted candidates.
On Sunday 11 November it was
the turn of Martin Hamilton, a vegetable grower
who now sells millions of trays of mashed potato
and other traditional
dishes in supermarkets in Ireland,
Scotland and England. The inspiration for
his business, Mash Direct, came after he and an
engineer friend shared a
bottle of whiskey - barely three years later it
is far exceeding the early
expectations. Steve Peacock and the judges Robert
Clark, a retail analyst
and Christine Tacon, who runs the Co-Op's farming
business, spend time with
the mash magnate for On Your Farm.
Garden Gourmet, Botanic Gardens Belfast ~ 15
& 16 September
It is a rare occasion
when the words “World Record” and
“Potato” are heard in the same phrase
but Mash Direct aimed to achieve such a feat at
the Garden Gourmet Festival. While the family
event drew huge amounts of exhibitors and visitors,
it was Mash Direct who stole the show with the
‘Guinness World Record’ breaking “Champ
Eating Championship.” The objectives were
simple. The participants merely had to consume
as much Mash Direct Champ as they could within
one minute. After six heats, over two days a winner
emerged from the vast array of splattered mashed
potato and scallions to take his crown as the
“Champ Eating Champion” and ‘Guinness
World Record’ holder for the most mashed
potato eaten within a minute. The entire Mash
Direct staff offer their “Congratulations!”
to Ruari McCann for his mammoth achievement of
400g. We hope that you will all begin training
now, for next year’s event.
Scottish Grocer, Edinburgh ~ 11 September
The Scottish Grocer Show
is the big event dedicated to Scotland’s
convenience retailing market. This was an ideal
opportunity to talk to retailers from the length
and breadth of Scotland about our award winning
products.
Speciality Fine Foods, Olympia ~ 2 September
An essential date for restaurateurs,
chefs, delicatessen owners, retailers, wholesalers
and distributors, the Speciality & Fine Food
Fair is dedicated to delivering the best the fine
food and drink industry has to offer. Mash Direct
had a presence at this impressive event at Olympia.
Hillsborough Oyster Festival ~ 1 September
The autumn season began
with the traditional Hillsborough Oyster Festival.
With this in mind we scampered along in the famed
Mash Direct vans adorned with bunny rabbits to
share our samples, educate, inspire all within
the impressive environment of the Castle grounds.
The Mash Direct team fitted in well with a day
organised for family entertainment, ranging from
a Canadian Boat Race to a Soap Box Derby.
Twin Taste Fest - West Belfast & Dungannon
~ 9 & 10 August
The Curley’s Food
Fest at the Kennedy Centre was a colourful affair
with a vast array of speakers during the breakfast
event. “The essence of this occasion is
to promote the truly wonderful wealth of top quality
produce from our province.” The event was
a runaway success and we were more than happy
to answer questions on various products and to
give away delicious samples to the throng of shoppers
on the day.
Mash Direct then travelled to the Oak Centre in
Dungannon for another Food Festival in the same
vein, providing more free samples and Mash Direct
product information. Eardley, Lance and Leanne
made sure that no one left feeling hungry.
Belfast Maritime Festival ~ 30 June & 1 July
The Mash Direct Team rolled
into the city for the Maritime Food Festival at
the Odyssey. The people of Belfast know good food
when they see it and we were worked off our feet
to appease the hungry festival-goers. Jenny Bristow
took time out with the Mash Direct team. During
the day Jenny shared her culinary expertise by
demonstrating how Mash Direct products add wholesome
goodness with modern convenience to everyday meals.
 Taste
of Dublin ~ 14-17 June 2007
Imagine foodie heaven –
stunning food prepared by world famous chefs,
superb drink and outstanding entertainment. That’s
exactly what the Taste of Dublin
is all about.
It is the place where all interested
and knowledgeable “foodies” can sample
the best signature dishes from a city’s
finest chefs and restaurants in the sophisticated
and relaxed atmosphere of a beautiful park. Alongside
the restaurants are a carefully edited range of
the very best drink and speciality food companies
from small producers through to big brand names.
We were delighted to have been specially selected
to attend the festival.
Is there any better to get over
a dreary June afternoon by sitting down to a steaming
plate of mashed potato? This seemed to be the
mentality of over 28,000 visitors who waded their
way to the Taste of Dublin Festival.
The adverse conditions
did little to deter the masses from Iveagh Gardens
and after two inclement days the visitors experienced
the feel good factor in the Dublin sunshine as
the Mash Direct team cooked up a feast to warm
the soul. The Red Cabbage and Beetroot, and Cheese
and Onion Mash proved to be extremely popular
and we were continuously complimented on both
taste and texture of all our products.
Belfast Children’s Festival ~ 27 May 2007
We were delighted to support
the Children’s Festival Weekend ~ “Young
at Art” at the Waterfront Hall. We sponsored
the children’s best-loved tale Cinderella,
the first performance ever in Northern Ireland
by Shona Reppe Puppets, Scotland |
