More than 120 of Belfast’s prominent chefs, restaurateurs, and food specialists convened for a significant workshop aimed at determining the future trajectory of the city’s food and drink industry. This gathering featured notable figures such as Irish chef, restaurateur, and television personality Anna Haugh, as well as esteemed food industry veteran Paul Rankin. Together, they participated in a panel discussion moderated by Northern Ireland food ambassador Joris Minne, designed to ignite new ideas and insights among Belfast’s culinary leaders.

Other participants included Patrick Hanlon, a critic for the Sunday Times; Stevie McCarry, a sustainable seafood advocate from the award-winning restaurant and shop Lir in Coleraine; Conor Spacey, the culinary director of FoodSpace and an advocate for kitchen sustainability; and Peter Thompson, owner of Flout Pizza, along with Belfast Stories programme director Wendy Langham and Eimear Henry.

This workshop was organised by the Belfast Food & Drink Collective, established in 2023 with the primary goal of promoting the significance of fresh, local, and sustainable food, while also supporting the city’s aspiration to become a sustainable tourist destination.

Co-chair of the Belfast Food and Drink Tourism initiative, Paul Kane, remarked, “Belfast’s food and drink industry enjoys an outstanding reputation for quality, choice and value and we are consistently overwhelmed by the sector’s industry leaders for their passion and enthusiasm to look forward, to innovate and to embrace sustainability practices right across their businesses.” He emphasised the importance of the food and drink sector as a key economic driver for the city and underscored how it contributes to positioning Belfast as a premier tourism destination.

The event garnered support from several local authority bodies, including Belfast City Council, the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, as well as Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland. It marks the first of a series of specially organised workshops scheduled to occur this spring.

Andrew Muir, the Agriculture Minister, noted, “The event closely aligns with the Northern Ireland Food Strategy Framework, which I recently launched after securing Executive agreement. The Framework recognises the interconnectedness between food, health, the economy and the environment.” He stressed that the outcomes from this initiative, along with those from the Belfast Food & Drink Collective, are poised to benefit the broader agri-food industry, both in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland.

The upcoming event, titled "Future-Proofing Your Business: Practical Sustainability for Food & Drink," featuring sustainability expert Tina O’Dwyer, is set to take place on March 25 at Windsor Park.