Out and About with Purpose
Belfast Flavours x Food NI Learning Journey
Belfast Flavours recently hit the road with Food NI for a special Learning Journey, bringing members of the Belfast food and drink community face‑to‑face with some of Northern Ireland’s most inspiring producers. Together, we explored how heritage, sustainability and innovation are shaping the future of our food and drink – and how Belfast hospitality can turn that into real opportunity.
Food NI, through its Our Food. Power of Good campaign, has done incredible work championing local producers, raising the profile of Northern Ireland food and drink, and showing how our size, interconnectedness and passionate people can “do people, place and planet the power of good”. This journey built directly on that mission.
Draynes Farm – heritage, herd and low‑carbon dairy
Our first stop was Draynes Farm – 200 acres of heritage and innovation in action.
Farming since 1932, with deep roots in the local landscape.
Around 40% of the farm’s energy now comes from solar, with plans to go further.
Milk is produced with approximately 40% less carbon than the industry standard, showing how traditional family farming and modern sustainability can work hand in hand.
For Belfast Flavours members, it was a chance to see the story behind the milk and cream that underpin so many menus – and to understand how local sourcing can support both quality and climate goals.
SUKI Tea – B Corp leaves and global reach
Next, we visited SUKI Tea Makers, Northern Ireland’s pioneering B Corp tea business.
Celebrating 20 years in business and exporting to 22 countries – including Japan.
B Corp certified, with a strong focus on responsible sourcing and fully compostable packaging.
Every team member leads their own environmental project, embedding sustainability into daily decision‑making.
SUKI’s success shows how a Northern Ireland brand can combine ethics, flavour and design to compete on a global stage, while still staying rooted in local values and supply chains.
Hannan Meats – people, patience and premium produce
From tea to top‑tier meat, we then visited Hannan Meats, where patience, people and product quality are everything.
Supplying around 450 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, including multiple Michelin‑starred kitchens in Paris.
Paying farmers a 10% premium to support a more sustainable supply chain and reward quality.
Helping to launch 22 new food businesses through their in‑store platform, giving small producers a route to market.
As Peter Hannan put it, “Getting good people together is the most important thing – collaboration is key to growth.” That ethos mirrors what both Belfast Flavours and Food NI stand for: working together to lift the whole sector.
ERA Restaurant – local on the plate
The day continued with a meal at ERA Restaurant, where the focus is simple: good food, cooked right.
Our group enjoyed dishes that showcased Northern Ireland produce in a relaxed, modern setting – a reminder that collaboration between producers and chefs is where stories, skills and ingredients come together on the plate.
Hinch Distillery – heritage in every drop
We ended the journey at Hinch Distillery, exploring:
A range of tours and tastings designed for both locals and visitors.
The craft and patience behind their whiskey and gin production.
How the distillery blends heritage, place and innovation to stand out in a crowded Irish whiskey market.
For Belfast hospitality and tourism businesses, Hinch showed how a strong sense of place, storytelling and visitor experience can turn a product into a destination.
Why this journey matters
This Learning Journey was about more than a day out:
It connected Belfast Flavours members with producers who are leading on sustainability, quality and innovation.
It highlighted how Food NI’s work – from Our Food. Power of Good to its producer network – continues to elevate Northern Ireland food and drink at home and abroad.
It gave chefs, restaurateurs, bar owners and food businesses first‑hand insight they can take back into their menus, purchasing and storytelling.
A huge thank you to Food NI for partnering with us, to all the producers who opened their doors, and to the Belfast Flavours members who joined the journey. This is exactly what Belfast Flavours is here to do: connect, learn and champion the people behind our food and drink – so that together, we can grow something even bigger.
