Dr Kate Semple, Programme Manager, CAFRE with Runner up prize winners James Scroggie (Armagh), Stephanie Reid (Ballygowan), George Moffett, Head of Agriculture Education, CAFRE, Kellie Rouse (Strabane), Keith Williamson Linden Foods, Catherine Hilland, M&S Sprucefield, Ian McMaw, Lecturer, CAFRE and Robert Shaw (Hillsborough)

BSc (honours) Agricultural Technology students, including Stephanie Reid from Ballygowan,  impressed industry judges with food products ranging from BBQ pulled duck sliders to A2 Strawberry milkshake to oven baked fruit bites and a host of innovative food products at their recent Supply Chain presentations.

The BSc (honours) Agricultural Technology degree students at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus participated in an innovative supply chain programme with beef and lamb processor Linden Foods and food retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S). As part of this programme, the students visited both Linden Foods in Dungannon and the Food Hall of the M & S store in Sprucefield. The students toured the respective facilities and were given presentations on various aspects of the supply chain.

Following these visits the students were challenged with a project to develop a supply chain for a new food product targeting the M&S customer. The programme culminates with a visit to Greenmount Campus by Linden and M&S staff who assess the student presentations on their project.

The Supply Chain programme is sponsored by Linden Foods and Marks & Spencer as part of its Farming for the Future education programme. The winning team are rewarded with a visit to M&S London headquarters where the students meet a range of M&S staff involved in food purchasing and new product development. The top three student teams will also receive awards at Balmoral Show.

The winning student team comprised of Declan McNally (Jerrettspass), Matthew Muldrew (Armagh), Michaela Quinn (Cookstown) and Andrew Reid (Crumlin) with their product of A2 Strawberry milkshake in 300ml and 1l pack sizes.