Letter from the President

WELCOME TO THE 2022 IRISH FOOD WRITERS’ GUILD FOOD AWARDS, BROUGHT TO YOU VIRTUALLY AGAIN THIS YEAR – BUT, FOLLOWING THE HUGE SUCCESS OF LAST YEAR’S LOVELY IFWG AWARDS E-ZINE – WE’RE DELIGHTED TO GO WITH THIS ENGAGING FORMAT AGAIN.

Each year since 1993, the Guild has celebrated and promoted the work of small independent food producers, along with some larger but sustainably operated companies that lead by example, and also outstanding achievements by individuals who have helped to develop our food culture. It’s been a fascinating journey.

From the outset, these awards have been fiercely independent - people, businesses and traditionally made or innovative Irish products of outstanding quality are nominated by members and voting is undertaken impeccably correctly by the proportional representation system.

Many of the winners from the early years are still familiar names today, which speaks volumes for their enduring quality and sustainability. Guild members still love nothing better than to champion their favourite Irish food and drink products and to seek out new ones that deserve promotion.

Notable challenges that have faced us all, and especially small producers, have included recessions and devastating events such as the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001. But Covid-19 is in a league of its own, not least because it has gone on for so long – who would have thought a year ago that we would still be unable to hold our Awards event with confidence in 2022?

Yet, in addition to all of the very genuine silver linings that we found last year – and particularly that the pandemic had engendered a newfound public respect for quality local produce in what had previously been an almost totally price dominated retail market – the length of the pandemic, and perhaps the fact that COP26 ramped up the environmental conversation, has since encouraged more public debate about the long term future of food production. That has to be a very positive outcome and it underlines the important role that has long been played by people like our winners, of whom we are so proud. Coming from widely varied regions of the country this year, they represent long-established food traditions, innovation and the diversity of modern Ireland, but what they share is a vision for a better future for us all – and our planet – through sustainable food.

As we emerge from a very dark couple of years, we are lost in admiration for our 2022 winners and hope you will enjoy reading about and eating their products for yourself as much as we have enjoyed the selection process - and we especially hope that the Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Awards will encourage more people to support local Irish producers on an ongoing basis.

Very best wishes to you all, and stay safe.

Georgina Campbell President, Irish Food Writers’ Guild