Johnny McDowell, founder of Indie Füde, has been honoured with an MBE for his significant services to Northern Ireland’s food and drink industry. The accolade, announced in the King’s New Year Honours, was presented to him this week at Windsor Castle, marking a notable milestone in McDowell’s journey from a global finance professional to a passionate advocate for artisan food producers in the region.

Indie Füde, which McDowell launched in 2015 alongside business partner Laura Bradley, began as an online store dedicated exclusively to small-batch producers from across the island of Ireland. A year later they opened their first physical deli in Comber, and later expanded into Belfast. Today, the business offers more than 700 artisan products featuring a wide range of indigenous Irish foods. The delis also host supper clubs and food demonstrations designed to celebrate and promote local craftsmanship.

McDowell, a Queen’s University Belfast graduate with a Diploma in Accountancy, initially pursued a career in banking with international experience across Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific. However, driven by a desire to support local artisan food, he returned to his hometown to create Indie Füde. The company has since earned a reputation as one of the most comprehensive purveyors of Irish artisan food, playing a pivotal role in helping small producers gain their first foothold in retail. Many producers supplying Indie Füde have gone on to secure placements in major supermarkets locally and beyond.

The importance of McDowell’s work has been recognised through several accolades. Indie Füde was named Producers’ Champion at the 2022 Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards, acknowledging the company’s commitment to promoting independent Irish food products. More recently, McDowell was named the Local Food Hero for County Down at the Irish Restaurant Awards Ulster Regional Final 2024, further underscoring his impact on local food promotion.

In accepting the MBE, McDowell expressed his pride and gratitude, highlighting the dedicated teams in both Belfast and Comber who support the mission to champion world-class local food and drink. The Indie Füde team also celebrated the award on social media, applauding McDowell’s passion, humour, and hard work in elevating local producers to wider recognition.

Industry voices and local artisans widely credit Johnny McDowell’s efforts for helping to bring Northern Ireland’s artisan food sector to greater prominence, reinforcing the cultural and economic value of small-scale, locally sourced food production.