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A Newry based company that has launches of their newest inflatable pub in Dublin, London and LA next month is at present on the lookout for a suitable Newry location for a launch as well!
Lisa McMahon Winters, who runs The Inflatable Pubs Global a Newry based company has just completed a deal with TV studio, Twentieth Century Fox, which will see her company launch an inflatable version of the iconic Moe’s Tavern, from The Simpsons TV series. They are also looking in to importing the "Duff" beer that Homer is so fond of.
The company's range will include a commercial and residential version that can be used at home.
Lisa explained, ‘ It has taken about two years to get this across the line, we had to negotiate for a brand licence with Fox, and then we had to get the whole interior layout designed exactly like the bar in the show.
The best explanation of an inflatable pub is that it's like a marquee but far more creative and adventurous, with a number of different types of bespoke designs and sizes available and they are often used at weddings, public and corporate events. If you want, you can even ask the company to design and create a replica of your favourite watering hole.
‘Effectively it is like a blow up marquee, and made from the same material as a bouncy castle, but the interior will be an exact replica of the one in the Simpsons, we are even hoping to be able to import and provide Duff beer like Homer drinks."
Lisa lived in America for a number of years, and brought the whole inflatable idea back to Ireland, and although she can produce replicas of any bar you want, this one is by far her biggest project.
‘We have done an inflatable Queen Vic for an EastEnders fan, and we can do The Rovers Return from Coronation Street or McCoys from Fair City, or even the ‘local’ from back home for emigrants. Next on the list is the Nags Head from only Fools and Horses.
‘We’re selling all over the world, and one of the most popular is the original Pub, The Mac and inflatable Wild West saloon , that is in big demand in the southern states of the USA.
‘When we get Moe’s on the market we will then be launching our retail version for more residential use, we are currently in negotiations the several multinational retail companies for this product, so if someone wants one that he can pump up on his kitchen table, have a party in, and then take it down and fold it away in the garage, we’ll be able to help."
Check out www.inflatable.pub for more information.
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Newry Junior Chamber in association with Newry Speakers Club are holding a Public Speaking Workshop this Thursday 27 April at Newry Conference and Banqueting Centre.
The event begins at 7pm and will finish at 9.30pm.
Whether your goal is to engage in client meetings, make a career as an inspirational speaker or to gain confidence speaking in front of an audience this is a great way to build confidence, overcome fears of speaking in public and increase your communication skills.
Due to the nature of this event, numbers are extremely limited so book early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets can be reserved via the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/njc-public-speaking-workshop-tickets-33731371440?aff=es2
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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has announced the launch of an exporting opportunity for local businesses which would see them provide free access to the Overseas Results Limited online system for up to 20 local businesses.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick said, “Overseas Results is an excellent example of how Council wants to assist our local companies to both begin and increase exporting”.
Councillor Fitzpatrick continued, “For anyone with a product or service who would like to identify real customers in a new market place, then this opportunity needs to be grasped”.
Any company located within the district can apply for a place on the programme by visiting overseasresults.com/nmd and completing the online application form before Wednesday 31 May 2017.
Applications will be scored on a first come basis and places awarded to eligible applications achieving the required marks. Successful applicants will be contacted by Overseas Results who will then identify and contact 12 customers in any overseas market the local company has selected. All customer contact is completed by Overseas Results using their resources in that country and any translation required is included free of charge.
Chief Executive Officer of Overseas Results Limited, John Magee said, “We invite entries from businesses across the district of any size and from any sector. This is the ideal opportunity to find out what an overseas market thinks of your products or services. There is not a faster, more effective way of exploring new markets”.
For more information on the Programme contact the Enterprise Regeneration and Tourism Department on 028 3031 3223 or 3031 3250
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Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty MLA has warned of the serious consequences of Brexit on Newry and Armagh having attended the Brexit and the Border Corridor Conference organised by East Border Region and local Councils. Mr McNulty warned of the possibility of 1200 local jobs being lost.
Speaking after the conference, the MLA said, ‘The UK Government are playing Russian Roulette with our economy and there is a real danger that Teresa May’s stance on Brexit could see 4,500 jobs in the north lost, with 1200 of those jobs in the border region. This is not political scaremongering, it’s the view of the independent economic experts who presented at the conference today. In addition to this, the Irish Government warned that the lack of an Executive in Stormont is not helping the preparations for negotiations with the EU.’
‘I want to congratulate East Border Region, which is based in Newry and the local councils involved in organising today's conference. We heard from government officials from both North and South, as well as the cross border enterprise agency Intertrade Ireland and the University of Ulster. The warnings were clear, that the lack of an Executive is hampering progress. Put simply, it means we have no voice and no influence at one of the most critical times in Irish, British and European politics.’
‘The Island of Ireland is going to be massively impacted by Brexit and it is a real threat to our economic, political and social society. Civil servants have been working in the background, but this is no substitute for democratically elected politicians. In effect, they have been working in the shadow of a non-functioning assembly with the threat looming of a very hard brexit.’
‘On a monthly basis 200,000 vans, 177,000 lorries and 1.5million cars across our border frictionlessly. It doesn’t matter if you’re in construction, agriculture, financial services, the hospitality sector or the community and voluntary sector; Brexit will seriously impact the way you do business.’
‘Today’s conference was excellent, and even in the midst of all the warnings, I drew some hope. At least our local councils have the vision and foresight to get on with planning for and shaping a society post Brexit when the Executive is failing to do so.’
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A family owned business started at Derramore House in Bessbrook in 2011 is making great headway in the craft chocolate market with Fortnum and Mason as well as outlets in Brussels and Belgium wanting to stock their chocolate. Closer to home NearyNogs now based in Flurrybridge Business Park, Jonesborough will this week be found in the Food Pavillion at Balmoral Show with their wide variety of chocolate goodies.
As Shane Neary who runs the business with his wife Dorothy and older children points out the whole enterprise started “as a means to an end, for a fundraiser” Shane explains “Our oldest daughter was going to India to do some street work out with the kids in Dehli, so she needed some funds, so spontaneously on the night of the fundraiser, we had an old family recipe for making chocolate, from Dorothy’s grandmother so we decided to make it on the night and we raised a few hundred pounds selling the chocolate at the event.”
“There were people at the event who were getting married and they asked us to do a wedding favour in the same ingredients so we did that, so really it was a bit of a hobby and we started doing small craft fairs and things like that as a surplus income.
“However one of our other daughters August, developed a condition where she had to get blood transfusions in Daisy Hill every three weeks so I had to find alternative employment to help support the family”
Shane and his wife Dorothy decided to go into business together and they threw everything at the business, visiting every craft fair they could find. After a couple of years they used a credit card to purchase some chocolate making equipment.
And so their Bean to bar chocolate enterprise was started in earnest. Last year they acquired some private investment from an individual who liked what they were doing, liked the idea of a family business, saw something different and believed there was a market for it.
Shane continued “We invested in our own cocoa bean roaster, so instead of using a convection oven, basically a domestic oven, we got a cocoa bean roaster specially developed and designed in Germany. It does about 20 kilos in about 20 minutes whereas a convection oven would have done about two kilos in half an hour with temperatures constantly fluctuating and you’d have to open and close the oven.
“We are just in the middle of rebranding our products, we’ve just go a tempering machine which helps you create bars, more varieties of finished products like Easter Eggs. We’re coming into something new altogether. People will recognise what an Easter Egg is or a Chocolate Bar. They may not know what to do with cocoa nibs or cocoa tea, it’s a new kind of thing."
They have been asked by local catering colleges and schools, and foodies who want to come and do a tour, so that’s planned for the near future.
“From an educational point of view for schools, most people haven’t seen cocoa beans or cocoa buds, so we’d be explaining the process, the origin of chocolate”
Shane points out that there’s a huge difference between industrial chocolate and what NearyNogs are producing “Industrial chocolate is highly processed, it’s washed in alkalines, bleached, roasted at super high temperatures, basically all the wrong things you can do with food from a health point of view. It’s like any food stuff, if you burn it you lose the anti-oxidants, the good health properties.
“Chocolate’s a fruit which a lot of people don’t realise. It’s like red wine, wherever it grows, it’s got different flavours. If you keep it in it’s original raw state it has it’s own unique characters. What we are trying to do is bring back the origins of what chocolate is and was.”
Direct Trade
While at present their beans are organic and Fairtrade what they really want to do is direct trade.
As usually happens in life a chance meeting with two guys on a bus between Newry and Rostrevor saw the Neary’s oldest daughter find that potential direct trade link.
She invited them up for a coffee so they started talking about what we were doing, and they said “Oh that’s funny, our family has cocoa farms.”
When they went back to Equador they got in touch and they ended up Skyping back and forward discussing direct trade and how to do that. Due to costs at present NewryNogs can only work with them through a middle man in Europe but they are planning a visit out in the near future to find potential workarounds.
As Shane says “That would be better for the farmer and better for us because we have got a relationship with the farmer. When you Skype them it’s not like a corporate meeting, he’s got his aunties and his uncles, wife and kids, they’re all there.”
With the rebranding they will soon launch a new range of bars, the next step for this ambitious family business with it's feet firmly on local ground. Plans are to have something on the packaging that will attribute to it’s origin being here in the Mourne Mountains, Slieve Gullion and Newry area so watch this space.
The Products
NearyNogs make 40 flavours of soft eating chocolate including Irish Cream, Whiskey Salted Caramel, Chai and they won a Blas Na hEireann food award for their Orange Basil and Poppyseed flavour.
They also make six ranges of hot chocolate including house blend, chilli, chai, cardamom and pure dark hot chocolate.
Where to Buy
Buy at nearynogs.com Finegan and Son in Newry, local markets and craft fairs as well as Studio Souk, Belfast, The Moody Boar, Armagh and The Salty Dog and The Drawing Room, Bangor.
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Newry-based Healthy Buildings (Ireland) trading as HBE has secured a £500,000 loan from the Growth Loan Fund. The Millvale Road based company will use the funds to create 10 new jobs and support the group’s BlueZone Technologies subsidiary, to further develop and market its innovative ‘manager’ software platform.
BlueZone Technologies is a specialist software solutions company that develops products for the management of Supply Chain, Health & Safety, Inductions and Compliance eLearning within the built environment.
Adrian Byrne, CEO, commented: “BlueZone Technologies has been developing our manager product for the past 18 months and launched it into the market in March. Research has shown that many customers want less software in their organisations. With each department having their own software packages to undertake one or two specific compliance tasks, this has led to data variations between systems, which makes decision-making and planning difficult. There is a clear demand for an all-in-one solution to optimise business operations.
‘manager’ is a unique system that can control, monitor, report and manage all aspects of health and safety within the built environment. BlueZone Technologies will help eliminate paper records and allow companies to access critical data about their estate, anytime and from anywhere. The program also includes a number of eLearning courses and an induction module for staff and supplier development.
Customer response to date has been excellent. We’ve started rolling manager out to a number of existing clients within our sister company, HBE, and we’ve recently secured contracts with two major brands, one in Northern Ireland and one in Scotland.”
Looking ahead Mr Byrne added: “The support from the Growth Loan Fund will enable BlueZone Technologies to continue with the software development and will support our marketing initiatives. We’re currently developing mobile apps and will add further eLearning modules to meet the needs of different sectors. Over the next two years we will build new relationships in Great Britain and Ireland and plan to break into mainland Europe. With busy times ahead, we expect to take on an additional ten staff this year, with four of these positions already filled.”
Jenna Mairs, Investment Manager at WhiteRock Capital Partners, commented: “With more businesses shifting to digital data management, Adrian and his team have created an innovative product that will be used by some of the world’s largest brands.
“The IT sector is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Northern Ireland economy and it continues to go from strength to strength. The company has ambitious targets for growth over the next two years and we look forward to supporting the firm’s future successes.”
Brian Murphy, Partner at BDO Northern Ireland, commented: “As advisers to the Group we are delighted that BlueZone Technologies has secured such a positive outcome to this funding round.
“The investment by WhiteRock not only underpins the financial foundations of the business; it also enables the management team to establish the necessary structures for the successful launch and growth of the manager product throughout Great Britain. It represents an excellent opportunity for BlueZone Technologies to grow to the next level with a dynamic new partner and we wish the business and the team every success as they do so.”
The £50m Growth Loan Fund which provides loans to established SMEs is financed by Invest Northern Ireland and private investors, Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC).
WhiteRock Capital Partners LLP, which is authorised and regulated by the FCA, was established in 2012 to manage the Fund and is owned by a consortium of three partners – WhiteRock Finance Limited, NEL Fund Managers and Clarendon Fund Managers.
Companies seeking funding from the Growth Loan Fund must be based in Northern Ireland, demonstrating growth and generally be in the manufacturing, engineering or tradable services sectors. Loans will be typically unsecured and personal guarantees will not be sought.
The loans provided are expected to be complementary to existing sources of finance, including banks, trade finance sources and equity investors. Loans are provided on a fully commercial basis, with monthly loan repayments required over typically a five-year term. For more information about the Growth Loan Fund’s criteria please contact info@whiterockcp.co.uk or go to www.growthloanfund.com.
Follow BlueZone Technologies on Twitter @BluezoneTech1 or LinkedIn.
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Community-based groups in Newry which are making a positive difference to society are being encouraged to access a new £1M fund that is providing small, unsecured loans that are not currently available from traditional financial sources.
The ‘Building Better Futures’ fund will help charities, community and voluntary groups, and social enterprises. The scheme is being funded by the Building Change Trust, Ulster Community Investment Trust (UCIT) and Belfast Charitable Society, one of Northern Ireland’s oldest charitable organisations.
Nigel McKinney, Director of Operations at the Building Change Trust, said ''We've known for some time there has been demand from the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector for small, simple, unsecured lending. This collaboration shows what is possible when the focus is on meeting the needs of the sector and we're excited to see the work that will be done using this form of social finance.”
The joint Fund, managed by UCIT, one of the UK’s largest specialists in social finance, will provide access to flexible finance and encourage organisations to place financial management at the centre of their operations.
Damian McAteer, UCIT’s Vice Chair, added “UCIT is delighted to further extend its reach by partnering with the Building Change Trust and Belfast Charitable Society to help us meet much needed demand for smaller unsecured loans from within the third sector.
“The Fund represents a significant investment from within the sector by organisations that value community activity and social enterprise in all its diversity across Northern Ireland. This partnership is a positive move for the sector and we hope that it will encourage similar collaborations or even new investors for the fund.”
Building Better Futures provides unsecured loans of between £1,000 and £25,000 to help groups become more financially sustainable. The loans can be used for a wide range of purposes, including buildings and repairs, equipment purchase, making facilities more energy efficient or funding shortfalls in larger grant assisted projects.
Commenting on the fund Paula Reynolds, CEO of the Belfast Charitable Society, said “Since its inception over 265 years ago the Belfast Charitable Society has been to the forefront of tackling disadvantage and helping vulnerable people.
“Building Better Futures is about harnessing those same values of compassion and philanthropy for today’s society. By investing in grassroots organisations and providing access to finance that isn’t readily available elsewhere, groups will be able to continue to work directly with those in need.”
Building Change Trust was established by the Big Lottery Fund supported by a National Lottery grant of £10 million to help build community capacity and the promotion of the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland.
Further information about the scheme is available by contacting UCIT on 028 9031 5003 or visiting www.ucitltd.com
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Community-based groups in Newry which are making a positive difference to society are being encouraged to access a new £1M fund that is providing small, unsecured loans that are not currently available from traditional financial sources.
The ‘Building Better Futures’ fund will help charities, community and voluntary groups, and social enterprises. The scheme is being funded by the Building Change Trust, Ulster Community Investment Trust (UCIT) and Belfast Charitable Society, one of Northern Ireland’s oldest charitable organisations.
Nigel McKinney, Director of Operations at the Building Change Trust, said ''We've known for some time there has been demand from the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector for small, simple, unsecured lending. This collaboration shows what is possible when the focus is on meeting the needs of the sector and we're excited to see the work that will be done using this form of social finance.”
The joint Fund, managed by UCIT, one of the UK’s largest specialists in social finance, will provide access to flexible finance and encourage organisations to place financial management at the centre of their operations.
Damian McAteer, UCIT’s Vice Chair, added “UCIT is delighted to further extend its reach by partnering with the Building Change Trust and Belfast Charitable Society to help us meet much needed demand for smaller unsecured loans from within the third sector.
“The Fund represents a significant investment from within the sector by organisations that value community activity and social enterprise in all its diversity across Northern Ireland. This partnership is a positive move for the sector and we hope that it will encourage similar collaborations or even new investors for the fund.”
Building Better Futures provides unsecured loans of between £1,000 and £25,000 to help groups become more financially sustainable. The loans can be used for a wide range of purposes, including buildings and repairs, equipment purchase, making facilities more energy efficient or funding shortfalls in larger grant assisted projects.
Commenting on the fund Paula Reynolds, CEO of the Belfast Charitable Society, said “Since its inception over 265 years ago the Belfast Charitable Society has been to the forefront of tackling disadvantage and helping vulnerable people.
“Building Better Futures is about harnessing those same values of compassion and philanthropy for today’s society. By investing in grassroots organisations and providing access to finance that isn’t readily available elsewhere, groups will be able to continue to work directly with those in need.”
Building Change Trust was established by the Big Lottery Fund supported by a National Lottery grant of £10 million to help build community capacity and the promotion of the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland.
Further information about the scheme is available by contacting UCIT on 028 9031 5003 or visiting www.ucitltd.com
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Newry's fresh food supplier, Around Noon, has won the Best Direct to Store Supplier Award for the second year running at the Henderson Wholesale Local Supplier Awards breakfast at Balmoral Show.
The company, which provides a selection of sandwiches and snacks to over 400 SPAR, EUROSPAR and VIVO branded stores across Northern Ireland, successfully reinvigorated Henderson Wholesale’s lunch and snack category in recent years, and continues to provide fresh, quality and affordable lunchtime solutions to the wholesaler.
Neal Kelly, Fresh Foods Director at Henderson Wholesale commented; “This is the fifth year of the Local Supplier Awards, and the most successful to date. We received a record amount of over 40 entries from 29 of the local producers, farmers and growers who supply to the company and our stores in Northern Ireland.
“We have seen some truly innovative and sustainable practices from our suppliers in the past year, which helps us to continually grow our fresh food offering in store for daily shoppers. The enjoy local range is expanding and reached sales of over £25.5M last year, and we wouldn’t be able to stock such a high-quality range without these suppliers.
“We’re delighted to reward them at the annual breakfast here at the Balmoral Show; I send my heartfelt congratulations to all winners, highly commended and shortlisted, and thanks to our independent panel of judges.”
The winners were decided by David Elliott, editor of Ulster Business Magazine, UFU Rural Affairs Committee Chairperson Freda Magill, Joy Alexander, Head of Food Technology Development at CAFRE and Sam Butler, Irish Chair of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists.
The judges scrutinised the entries across five categories which reflect the workings of Henderson Wholesale’s fresh ambition to always be passionate about local food, local people and local companies.
As platinum sponsor of The Balmoral Show, SPAR has been on site this week with a range of family activities, as well as taste-testing with Ulster University’s Food and Consumer Testing (FACT) Suite, sampling from other local food companies, and cookery demonstrations from brand ambassador, Paula McIntyre.
Paddy Doody, Sales & Marketing Director at the Henderson Group added; “The Balmoral Show is so important to us as a company as it gives us a chance to directly engage with our shoppers, potential shoppers and the cream of the crop of our local agri-food industry.
“The fifth annual Local Supplier Awards have been an enormous success and they solidify our commitment to the food and agri industries here in Northern Ireland. Congratulations to the organisers of the Show on such a successful four-day event.”
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