Businesses linked to the Food Heartland initiative have been left “aggrieved” by what one councillor described as a decline in promotion, with a proposal now being considered to bring council gift hampers back into the conversation.
Independent Unionist Alderman Paul Berry raised the issue during a discussion about how Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council could improve support for the Food Heartland, its businesses and local products. The matter was discussed before the full council meeting on Monday, August 24, 2026.
Alderman Berry praised Director of Development and Community Wellbeing Paul Tamati and his team for their work. However, he said conversations with businesses attending events including Balmoral, Armagh and Lurgan had revealed a general feeling that the “edge has gone off from promotion” in recent times.
Businesses say hampers brought lasting benefits
Berry also referred to a report issued in April about council hampers. He argued that members should examine the issue again, saying the products had created benefits for businesses whose goods were included.
According to the alderman, some hampers were sent to influential recipients who continue to order from the businesses involved. He said some of those recipients lived outside Northern Ireland but had gone on to buy the products after receiving the gifts.
Berry said the commercial benefit had been “absolutely brilliant” and supported the idea of hampers making a return through the council. He also stressed that any future arrangement would need to be handled properly, adding that the process had been done correctly to date.
The wider question is how the council can use its own events and civic occasions to showcase local produce. Berry referred to staff recognition events and 100th birthday celebrations as examples where local products might be presented, while also seeking stronger promotion for Food Heartland businesses.
Dispute over number of hampers issued
The meeting also featured disagreement over the number of hampers distributed. Berry said that, over a five-year period, 129 hampers had been issued from the Deputy Lord Mayor’s offices. The source report describes the period in one passage as “201 – 2025”, while an earlier reference in the report covers 2021–2025.
DUP Alderman Baxter disputed the figure and said it did not reflect the findings he understood to be contained in an audit report. He said it was unclear where most of the hampers had come from and questioned whether the figure now in the public domain was misinformation.
Berry rejected that characterisation. He said his figure came from an April 2026 report concerning expenditure and coding. He clarified that the 129 hampers comprised 74 Food Heartland hampers and 55 other hampers issued over the five-year period.
He asked for the report’s information to be circulated again among councillors so members could consider the figures directly. Baxter said the matter remained part of an audit review and was expected to return for further discussion.
Report on Food Heartland ‘reset’ planned
Paul Tamati told councillors that his team had already agreed to bring forward a report on “a bit of a reset for Food Heartland moving forward”. He added that, if Berry wanted Food Heartland products to be pursued as gifts, officials were willing to discuss the proposal.
However, Tamati said any progression would depend on council approval. That leaves the next step with a future council report and the relevant approval process, rather than confirming an immediate return of the hampers.
Berry concluded by asking for a paper to be brought to the Economic Development committee. He said the purpose would be to set out the facts and help councillors decide how local products could be used at civic and council-related events while improving the profile of Food Heartland businesses.
