Coleraine Brand Whoosh Takes Its Instant Noodles Global

Coleraine-based Whoosh, a FoodNI member renowned for its artisan instant noodle pots and Asian-inspired foods, has made its debut in international markets with the successful delivery of its products to a fine food distributor in Eastern Europe.

The company’s first shipment of instant noodles has already arrived, and a second order is confirmed for dispatch before Christmas – a strong indicator of early demand and growing global enthusiasm for this Northern Ireland brand that’s already well established locally.

The milestone was announced by Whoosh founder Thana Thammavongsa, a chef, entrepreneur, and creator of the small business in 2008 “to share the rich flavours, vibrant
culture, and authentic stories of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine”.

Originally focused on private and corporate catering, Whoosh evolved into a street food café in Coleraine, known for its bold flavours and authentic recipes. Building on this success, Thana later developed a signature line of Instant Noodle Pots inspired by the same Southeast Asian culinary traditions, creating a convenient way for home cooks to enjoy restaurant-quality noodles.

Thana explains: “Whoosh noodles and other foods are crafted with care, using only the finest ingredients. Ready in just five minutes, Whoosh’s instant pots deliver authentic taste and wholesome nourishment – a versatile base for creativity and quick, flavourful Asian meals at home.”

She adds: “Customers can easily personalise their noodles by adding their own protein, vegetables, or even leftovers ̶ helping to reduce food waste while creating a satisfying, balanced dish.”

The current Whoosh collection “features seven flavours, each offering a balance of quality, convenience, and vibrant taste that reflects the brand’s Southeast Asian roots,” Thana continues.

The company’s first export order was shipped through the client’s logistics hub in Belgium.

“We’re thrilled to see Whoosh beginning to travel beyond the UK and Ireland,” says Thana. “It’s a great sign that there’s growing international appetite for quality, convenience, and rich flavours.”

Founded in 2013, the Whoosh Thai and Vietnamese street food café quickly gained a strong following in Coleraine for its fresh, authentic dishes made daily by Thana and her team.

Its menu, inspired by Thai, Lao, and Vietnamese cuisines, “offers a great balance of delicate flavours and textures to give you all the enjoyment of great food as well as a healthy diet.”

“Our food is all about fresh, healthy and delicious fast food served in a casual setting or as an ideal food on-the-go alternative. Following the success of the café, we invested time in product development and turned our recipes into a range of instant rice noodle products for the food-on-the-go retail market,” adds Thana.

That innovation proved to be a turning point. Whoosh’s rice noodle range became a hit and was later selected for the Grow with Aldi initiative with the supermarket chain in the Republic of Ireland.

In addition to local success, Whoosh has supplied its products to Selfridges in London, one of the UK’s most prestigious department stores, where its instant noodles are featured in the world-famous food hall. The Selfridges partnership marked Whoosh’s first venture beyond Northern Ireland.

Thana recalls: “I was thrilled to receive the approach from such a prestigious and influential food store as Selfridges, one of the biggest stores in the world and one with a great commitment to quality and innovative food.”

The London store received cartons of Whoosh Vietnamese Instant Curry, Thai Red Curry, and Thai Tom Yum noodles, a moment Thana describes as “tremendously exciting business for us”. “At Whoosh, we love cooking, we love eating! We always think about food, we dream about food… especially Thai and Vietnamese food.”

A graduate and postgraduate in Languages from Ulster University, Thana says she started Whoosh with the mission “to share a love of food, our culture and the stories behind every recipe and every dish we cook.”

“Our belief is in fresh, delicious food that’s cooked with love and really makes a difference, keeping consumers healthy, happy and satisfied. Over the years, we gradually won the hearts and appetites of so many foodies here,” she adds.

In 2022, Whoosh launched its own range of instant rice noodle pots, designed for quick, nourishing meals anywhere. “The noodles are authentic, three-minute meals that have been handcrafted with care, using only the best quality and purest ingredients,” Thana says.

She sums up her philosophy simply: “eating healthy, eating happy, eating together.” “Our mission is still to bring people together through food – at work, at home, or anywhere in between.”