A cross-border dairy co-operative's soft serve ice cream scooped a prestigious accolade at the 2024 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards.

Lakeland Dairies won The Food Standards Agency’s Healthier Product Innovation Award for its Comelle brand.

The award recognised the work of the research and development team in Newtownards, who refined the Comelle Dairy Ice Cream Mix to decrease sugar content while preserving its traditional flavour.

The improved formula, which contains nearly 20 per cent less sugar than its previous version, is made with real milk and cream from Lakeland Dairies's 3,200 farm families.

Judith Ferguson, research and development technical manager at Lakeland Dairies, said: "We are delighted to see the work of the Lakeland Dairies' Foodservice Research and Development team be recognised and rewarded in this award.

"Millions of customers and consumers have enjoyed Comelle for over 70 years and we are making sure that it will be enjoyed for at least another 70."

The ceremony was held on March 15 at Belfast's Crowne Plaza Hotel.