About Us

Taste of Ulster is a distinguished benchmark which promotes organistaions that supply quality local food and service across all sectors of the NI hospitality market. We inspect and accredit all of our members and only then can successful establishments enjoy the benefits of becoming a Taste of Ulster Member!

These members we believe, offer meals and local food items of excellent quality that reflect aspects of traditional or modern Ulster cuisine.

Approved applicants will receive a Membership Certificate of Achievement and a New Taste of Ulster Stoneware Plaque. Furthermore, all members will be included in the Taste of Ulster Guide and Taste of Ulster Website.

Vast quantities of the Taste of Ulster brochure are distributed free of charge throughout the year to all entry points into Northern Ireland, as well as Hotels and Popular Places of Interest.

Since Taste of Ulsters foundation in 1993 we have grown our membership to over 100 accredited establishments.

Taste of Ulster is the benchmark for quality food and service across all sectors of the Northern Ireland hospitality market.

Taste of Ulster is guided by a steering group, which is chaired by Nick Price of Nicks Warehouse, one of the original founders of Taste of Ulster in 1993. The steering group are committed to the pursuit of excellence in food preparation and service.

Please see below for the Taste of Ulster biographies:

Nick Price, Chairman Taste of Ulster, Chef & Owner of Nicks Warehouse

Nick Price was trained at Bournemouth Hotel School and went on to gain experience in France, the United States and England before returning home in 1978 to settle in Northern Ireland to open daft Eddy’s on Sketrick Island, Killinchy.

In 1983 Nick and his wife, Kathy, opened the very successful Nick’s Restaurant in Kilmood, County Down. The dream had always been to open a wine bar in Belfast and in 1989 Nick’s Warehouse was born and it has since become the heart of the Cathedral Quarter-a first choice for visitors and locals alike.

Nick’s desire to encourage the use of local produce and to improve training in the province has led to board membership of the Tourism Training Trust, an involvement in Taste of Ulster from its conception, a positive role in setting up the Framers Market at St George’s and even making his own cheese.

John A. Barrett Coca-Cola Bottlers (Ulster) Ltd

John is widely known throughout the business community in Northern Ireland. He is on the board of NIFDA (Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association); he is a council member of the CBI; a member of the Institute of Directors; sits on the Selection Committee of Common Purpose; is an active member of Queen’s University Chief Executive’s club and is a fund raiser for Caravan – the retail grocery national fund raising organisation.

John resides in Templepatrick and also has a home on the North Antrim Coast. He is married with two children.

When it comes to Northern Ireland’s soft drinks market, few people can equal John Barrett’s experience. Originally from Sussex, John joined Coca-Cola Bottlers (Ulster) Ltd in 1971, quickly working his way up through grass roots sales to establishing the company’s first telesales operation in 1975 – the first Coca-Cola operation internationally to introduce such technology. Posts including Sales Promotions Manager and National Accounts Manager and Head of Grocery Division followed, with John taking responsibility for overhauling the company’s distribution system in the later position.

As General Sales & Commercial Manager from 1996, John oversaw the development of the change management programme. John was appointed to Coca-Cola Bottlers (Ulster) Ltd’s Board in 2001, becoming Executive Director.

Michael Bell, Executive Director Taste of Ulster & Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association

Michael has some twenty three years experience in the food industry. He worked in the bakery trade in Northern Ireland and Malta for fourteen years. During this period he worked closely with major retailers and obtained a place on the senior management board of Ormeau Bakery.

He holds several food related qualifications and is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology. In addition to a passion for good food and drink, he enjoys sailing and hill walking. Until recently Michael was a director of Northern Ireland Food Chain Certification Ltd (NIFCC). He has been involved in developing NIFDA since its foundation in 1996 and has key player in developing Taste of Ulster.

Steven Millar, Department of Agriculture & Rural Development

Steven is Head of Supply Chain Development Branch within the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (DARD). He works mainly with producers and processors to improve communication, co-operation and competitiveness within supply chains.

He joined DARD in 1983 and has been in teaching, course management, finance, technology transfer and business development advisory roles.

Janice Gault, Northern Ireland Hotel Federation

Janice Gault is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin holding a Hons BA and a post graduate Diploma in management. She began her career in the handicapped services in Dublin before moving into industry, holding a variety of roles in manufacturing, eventually specialising in the commercial and customer service areas.

Originally from Londonderry, she returned to the province in 1995 working with John Cleland & Son, a large carton manufacturer and M&S supplier. Her next role was as the marketing director at Odyssey where she was part of the launch team for Northern Ireland’s landmark Millennium Project.

Janice took up the role of Chief Executive with the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation in 2002 and sits on a variety of boards representing the hotel sector. Her role is to represent the Hotel sector and ensure their needs are addressed within the civic and political forum. A keen traveller her hobbies include literature, water sports and travel.

Peter McArdle, Invest Northern Ireland

Peter Mc Ardle is currently a Client Manager in the Food Division of Invest NI, responsible for managing a team of client executives to develop 125 food-processing companies including small and start up businesses. Prior to this, for 4 years, he was Key Account manager for a portfolio of major food processing companies. A major part of his current responsibilities include food strategy and policy development and he is a member of the Interdepartmental Group and several cross departmental project delivery teams.

Prior to Invest NI, Peter was with LEDU for 15 years. He held senior and managerial posts for 13 of these in various industrial sectors, 9 years of which were in the Food Processing sector. Peter has been involved with Taste of Ulster since its establishment. He holds a MBA with distinction, a Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance, Post Graduate Diploma in Management with commendation and Post Graduate Diploma Marketing. He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and has won several business and all Ireland academic awards for excellence and strategy development. Married to Liz, Peter enjoys travel, reading and playing bridge.

Joe McDonald, Ulster Farmers’ Union

Joe graduated from Queens University Belfast with a BSc Honours Degree in Economics and an MSc in Agricultural Economics and Management.

He previously worked with local poultry company Moy Park, before joining the Ulster Farmers’ Union in 1995 as a policy officer with responsibility for arable and horticultural issues. He later worked as the Unions’ Milk Policy Officer, before becoming Communications Director in 2002.

His work includes promoting the benefits which agriculture brings to the local economy, consumers and the environment. He is a strong advocate of local produce and believes there is a growing interest among consumers in how and where their food is produced.

Kate Magill, Ulster Farmers’ Union

Kate joined the staff of the Ulster Farmers Union as a Policy Officer with responsibility for Legislation, Rural Affairs and Poultry sectors in January 2006.

In January 2007 Kate became Food Chain Policy Officer with responsibility for issues relating to the agri food supply chain.

As part of her portfolio, Kate is involved in promoting the needs of farmers and growers with Government, EU Officials and industry; helping to join-up the supply chain; the promotion of local food and seasonality.

Rosemary Lightbody, Northern Ireland Tourist Board

Colin Neill, federation of Retail Licensed Trade

The Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade has appointed Colin Neill as its new Chief Executive who took up the post on 18^th August 2008.

Larne man Colin has a highly impressive background and has left the position of Town Centre Manager in Ballymena to join the Federation. With over 20 years of managerial experience in the retail and tourism sectors, I have no doubt that having a thorough understanding of the issues facing the industry, and an excellent track record that Colin will prove to be a tremendous asset to the Federation and a first class advocate for the industry.

The Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade has appointed Colin Neill as its new Chief Executive who took up the post on 18^th August 2008.