Northern Ireland food-to-go manufacturer Around Noon has announced a four-year partnership with Natasha's Foundation, committing funding and manufacturing expertise to advance food allergy research, education and safety across the sector. The agreement has direct implications for allergen management practice in food manufacturing operations across the UK and Ireland.

As reported by the Belfast News Letter, the partnership will see Around Noon provide financial support to the Foundation through to 2030, alongside manufacturing expertise, operational insight, and participation in workshops and strategic discussions focused on allergen management best practice.

The two organisations first collaborated in 2024, when Around Noon co-sponsored the Game Changer Award at the Women of the Year Awards, presented to Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, co-founder of Natasha's Foundation, in recognition of her campaigning work on allergen awareness and food safety legislation.

Around Noon subsequently hosted Nadim Ednan-Laperouse OBE, the Foundation's co-founder, at the company's Slough manufacturing facility to discuss the importance of industry collaboration in driving allergen safety standards forward.

To mark the formal launch of the partnership, Ella Dobson, corporate partnerships manager for Natasha's Foundation, participated in a company-wide engagement event across all Around Noon manufacturing sites, covering allergen awareness, Natasha's legacy, and consumer safety education. The day also included Food Safety Lunch and Learn sessions engaging factory teams in discussions on food safety culture and allergen management.

Dominic Darby, group technical director at Around Noon Foods, said: "Food allergy awareness and allergen management remain critical priorities for the food industry, and we are proud to support the Foundation's mission while also helping shape best practice across manufacturing and food service."

Ella Dobson said: "Natasha's Foundation is excited that Around Noon has come on board as a corporate partner, and we are looking forward to the industry insight and collaboration they will bring to our work. Partnerships like this are essential in helping us raise awareness, influence positive change, and continue driving improvements in food allergy safety."

Separately, Natasha's Foundation has announced Natasha's Prize, a £10 million (approximately €11.8 million) global research prize aimed at accelerating breakthroughs in food allergy science. Nadim Ednan-Laperouse noted the Foundation is seeking additional investors and partners to exceed the initial £10 million figure and drive broader impact.

Get the full story behind Around Noon's four-year commitment to food allergy safety.