Northern Ireland food-to-go firm soaring high after winning global award for its gourmet take on a ham and cheese toastie

Northern Ireland food-to-go manufacturer Deli Lites Ireland is on cloud nine after winning a global award for its gourmet take on a ham and cheese toastie at the World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) in Hamburg.

The Warrenpoint team was named as a winner in the ‘Ones To Watch 2024’ category at the event for its hot-to-go sandwich ‘Gourmet Irish Ham Hock and Mature Cheddar with Guinness infused Rarebit on Bretzel Sourdough’.

Deli Lites Ireland saw off competition from companies around the world to win the top prize at the world’s leading event for inflight catering, onboard services and passenger comfort.

The team created the sandwich to fulfil demand for restaurant-quality items for inflight catering. Whilst developing the sandwich, the team thought about how today's busy travel industry could seamlessly incorporate it into their menus, while also minimising food waste and ensuring ease of preparation.

The sandwich was praised for its use of locally sourced ingredients and consideration of the product's expansion beyond Ireland.

Deli Lites Ireland co-founder Jackie Reid attended WTCE in Hamburg to received the award: “As award-winning food to go experts, we understand the ever-evolving expectations of consumers and the challenges these can present to the aviation and travel industry.

"The focus of Deli Lites Ireland is to produce high quality, sustainable products, and to be awarded ‘Ones to Watch 2024’ for our gourmet ham and cheese toastie, that took both these things into consideration, is a huge win for our talented team.

Northern Ireland food-to-go manufacturer Deli Lites Ireland is on cloud nine after winning a global award for its gourmet take on a ham and cheese toastie at the World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) in Hamburg. Pictured at WTCE in Hamburg are innovation manager Gary McDowell, co-founder and chief sales officer Jackie Reid, business development manager Joe Harvey and Brian Murphy, managing director

"It was brilliant to be at the prize-giving ceremony in Germany and jet home with our award in hand. We’re all looking forward to celebrating this milestone moment together.”

Brian Reid, Deli Lites Ireland co-founder and CEO, added: “‘Ones to Watch 2024’ is the first global award win for Deli Lites Ireland and I couldn’t be prouder of our team for this achievement.

“This recognition has provided us with a huge boost as we continue on our mission to reimagine how the world experiences food on the move.”

The Warrenpoint team was named as a winner in the ‘Ones To Watch 2024’ category at the event for its hot-to-go sandwich ‘Gourmet Irish Ham Hock and Mature Cheddar with Guinness infused Rarebit on Bretzel Sourdough’

Deli Lites Ireland’s win at WTCE comes after two of the company’s new product development technologists were named among the UK’s top sandwich and food-to-go creators at the sandwich Oscars, the Sammies.

Newry’s Deli Lites Ireland produces over 30 million delicious food to go and artisanal bakery items annually that are sold globally.

In 2022, Deli Lites Ireland became the first sandwich manufacturer in the world to achieve certification as a BCorp company—a global initiative that evaluates businesses based on their involvement with people, communities, and the environment with the goal of transforming business into a force for good.