Development Plan to Help Position Ards and North Down as a Premier Food and Drink Destination

28th November 2023

Photo caption: Conal Stewart (Food and Drink Development Officer), Michele Shirlow (Food NI Chief Executive), Councillor Jennifer Gilmour (Mayor of Ards and North Down) and Colin Neill (Hospitality Ulster Chief Executive). Image: Graham Baalham Curry.
 
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Jennifer Gilmour, revealed the plan in front of some of the Borough’s leading food and drinks producers from the Taste AND Food and Drink Network, as well as industry bodies including NI Food and Hospitality Ulster, at Donaghadee’s Harbour and Co. restaurant.
 
The plan will be delivered over the next four years and has been developed in collaboration with the vital input of the Taste AND Food and Drink Network, alongside local and national food and drink stakeholders.
 
The aim is to position Ards and North Down as a premier food and drink destination on the island. This will attract more visitors to the area and support the development of the local food and drink sector, from producers to eateries, retailers and markets to distilleries, events and experience providers.

 
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Jennifer Gilmour, said:
 
“The food and drink industry has experienced difficult times over the last few years but with this plan, we can look forward to better days ahead as this sector proves to be resilient, robust and remains defiantly ambitious. Our food and drink businesses consistently demonstrate that they can work together in partnership and collaborate to yield success after success. This is evidenced by our growing reputation locally and regionally as a place to come and enjoy quality food and drink.”
 
“This local food and drink development plan is very different from the previous one adopted by the Council in 2018. The key differences are that this four-year plan has objectives, priorities and measures of success that have been fully shaped by active members of the Food Network who have worked alongside council officers. It is a plan fully owned by the business members of Taste Ards and North Down, and it charters a clear and ambitious direction of travel for the four years ahead.”

For more information and to view a digital copy of the plan, visit www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/food-destination-plan. Printed copies are available on request by emailing tourism.admin@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk. 

Find out more about Taste Ards and North Down.