Mid and East Antrim Pupils’ Snack Attack Sparks Sweet Success

Over 200 local pupils took part in the Mid and East Antrim ‘Snack Attack’ competition during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025. Two winners, from Larne and Carrickfergus, will visit Buchanan’s to learn how real snack products are created and launched.

Young Entrepreneurs Shine in Snack Attack Competition

Budding entrepreneurs from Primary 4 and Primary 5 took centre stage during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025, creating brand-new healthy snack ideas as part of the Snack Attack competition in Mid and East Antrim.

The initiative, delivered by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in partnership with local snack manufacturer Buchanan’s, saw classrooms transformed into creative hubs where pupils designed healthy snacks, crafted posters, and prepared pitches explaining who their snack was for and why it belonged on shop shelves.

Over 200 Entries From Schools Across the Borough

More than 200 imaginative entries were submitted by primary school pupils across Larne, Ballymena and Carrickfergus. Each entry showcased:

• A brand-new healthy snack concept
• A vibrant promotional poster
• A short marketing pitch
• A focus on nutrition and consumer appeal

This approach encouraged children to explore product development, branding, and business thinking through fun, hands-on learning.

Winners Announced in Larne and Carrickfergus

Two pupils were crowned winners:

• Corran Integrated Primary School, Larne
• Carrickfergus Model Primary School

Both winners – along with their entire classes – will now enjoy a special behind-the-scenes visit to Buchanan’s, where they will meet the maker behind the company’s popular healthy snacks and discover what goes into developing and running a successful food business.

Inspiring Future Entrepreneurs

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, praised the success of the programme, saying:

“Snack Attack has been a fantastic way to spark entrepreneurial thinking in our young people. The energy, imagination and passion shown by these pupils is truly inspiring – and who knows, we may have just seen the next big name in healthy snacking!”

Part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2025

The council’s programme for Global Entrepreneurship Week aims to promote entrepreneurship, support new start-ups and encourage innovation across the local business community.

This year’s activities included:

• Expert sessions on starting a business
• Training on improving digital visibility
• Workshops on physical and mental wellbeing
• The ‘Snack Attack’ competition for primary schools
• Launch of the post-primary ‘Future of Our Town’ competition