Yummy, yummy… New £.5 million 'Foodovation' centre opens at North West Regional College

A £500,000 facility has opened in Derry in a bid to capitalise on the city's recent foodie revolution.

'Foodovation' at the North West Regional College is a state of the art research and development centre aiming to help developed excellence in food innovation, science and technology.

The centre contains a food science lab, development and production kitchens, kitchen studio photography and videography, meeting rooms, a taste testing room and barista coffee training school.

It is fully equipped with the most advanced facilities and technology for food innovation.

The new food development centre is based in the Northland Road building of the Derry campus.

The centre has been developed with support from the Department for the Economy and Connected.

It aims to encourage small to medium sized food business and will provide interested parties with access to industry specialists with the technical advice to ensure their route to market is successful and sustainable.

It will build on the good work already done at the college, who have offered hands on advice and support to new businesses for a number of years.

The launch event was attended by a number of representatives from local businesses, Derry and Strabane District Council and NWRC.

Special guest for the event was celebrity chef Neven Maguire.

Well-known local chef Brian McDermott is the food development

He believes Derry has what it takes to become Ireland's top foodie destination.

"The area has very modest people, very honest people but very passionate and stubborn people which is what we need to get a food idea to the launch stage," he said.

"We're very excited for the region and what can be achieved.

"We can win Ireland's top foodie destination and this development of artisan food businesses could be the missing piece."

Neven Maguire, regularly seen on RTE, said the facility could help the Derry food scene build on it's recent success.

"It's a fantastic facility I think it's a huge investment from the College and they are showing great foresight because it will create more local employment and bring more food producers here," said Mr Maguire.

"It's an intimate space and the equipment is top end. I like that it's not too big, there's an intimacy here."

He said he had scene big changes in Derry over the last number of years.

"There's been huge changes in Derry in terms of food, there's huge momentum and excitement. There are great things happening in the city in terms of food and the future is very bright," said Mr Maguire.

"There's huge potential, within restaurants, producers, festival it's a great time.

"In the foodie world Derry is held in a lot of respect and regard.

"Local produce is huge, for me as a consumer chef's should know where their food is coming from and we are only as good as the produce we use.

"It's not always about price it's about quality and consistency and working with producers who are passionate about what they do and are knowledgeable.

"A centre like this is invaluable for a small producer who has the idea and wants to see if it will work, everyone needs to find what makes them unique the selling point and I think they will get that here.

He concluded: "It's a fantastic project and I'd say well done to everyone involved."

Photo shows Carol Banham, Carol’s Stock Market, special guest and chef Neven Maguire, Brian McDermott, Food Development Centre Manager, North West Regional College and Alastair Crowne from Corndale Farm, at the official opening of the Foodovation.