Retail News|October 2014|www.retailnews.ie|39
38|Retail News|October 2014|www.retailnews.ie
Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards
Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards
Pictured are (l-r): Isabelle Sheridan, On the Pigs Back, winners of the inaugural Small Producer of the Year Award, sponsored by SuperValu, with Linda O’Connor, SuperValu Own Brand Manager, event MC Catherine Fulvio and Lara Monahan, Irish Quality Food Awards Project Manager.
Winner in the Christmas Chilled/Ambient category was Simply Better Ham Glaze from Dunnes Stores and Wexford Home Preserves. Pictured are L-r): Jane Milton, Susan O’Shaughnessy, Patrick Farrell, Dunnes Stores, Catherine Fulvio; and Tom & Laura Sinnott, Wexford Home Preserves.
More than 50 of the finest food and drink products in the land were rewarded at the second annual Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, in a glittering awards ceremony at Dublin’s Mansion House. THE very best in Irish food and drink was celebrated at the second annual Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, which took place in the Round Room of the Mansion House on September 11, 2014. More than 50 of Ireland’s leading food and drink products were rewarded for their quality, taste and originality at a black tie dinner, hosted by wellknown celebrity chef and TV star,
Catherine Fulvio, which was attended by over 500 guests entrants, judges and spectators. “It’s been a fantastic second year for The Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards,” explained event organiser Helen Lyons. “We’ve had well over 600 entries for our expert judging panel to taste, so you can be absolutely sure that if you are a finalist, your product
really has been put through its paces by some of the industry’s finest food and drink experts.” Double the Number of Entries Bruce Langlands, Director of Food at Harrods and Co-Chair of the IQFDA Judging Panel, described it as “an amazing year for Ireland, with 600 products entered this year, which was double the entries from last year, with some phenomenal winners.” The seed of the Irish Q Awards idea was first planted six years ago during a conversation between Helen Lyons and a high profile retailer. It took five years for that initial idea to come to fruition in 2013 but the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards was certainly worth the wait and has quickly established itself as the premier food awards in the
country. Exacting Judging Process The IQFDAs are sister awards to the UK’s Quality Food and Drink Awards, which have been established for 35 years, which Helen Lyons acknowledged are widely regarded as “the most difficult accolades to win in the sector”. “That’s something that I am actually very proud of as it highlights just how thorough the judging process is and it underlines the true value of winning such a prestigious award,” she noted. That value has translated into the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards, with an equally demanding judging process, taking place at DIT’s School of Culinary Arts, overseen by kitchen manager Agnes Bouchier-Hayes, who ensured that each product was served to the judges in perfect
condition. The Irish Quality Food Awards set out to recognise excellence in product development for food and drink producers, retailers and catering companies in Ireland only, with Q Awards being awarded across 50 different categories. The Overall Gold Q is awarded to the one product that stands out among all the other entries and is chosen from the winners of the main categories, representing the very best of the best. Overall Gold Q Award Winner The Overall Gold Q Award winner was Simply Better French Trimmed Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb from Dunnes Stores/Tendermeats, which also won in the Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry Pork, Lamb and Other Joints category. “To be recognised as the best in the category is something you need to
celebrate and tell the consumer. It’s a recognition of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes,” enthused Diarmuid Murphy, Head of New Product Development at Dunnes Stores. Small Producer of the Year Award Cork-based paté and terrine producer, On the Pigs Back were selected as winners of the inaugural Small Producer of the Year Award, sponsored by SuperValu and judged by a panel from Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland. The company will now have the opportunity to supply a wider range of their gourmet products to SuperValu’s 222 stores nationwide and will benefit from significant sales and marketing support from the retailer. Indeed, SuperValu subsequently signed a deal with On the Pigs Back worth €100,000, which will see two new jobs created at the company and further capital investment,
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Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards as they extend their range across the entire SuperValu network. “Working with local SuperValu retailers has given me a route to market which otherwise would not have been open to me,” explained Isabelle Sheridan of On the Pigs Back. “My relationship with SuperValu has provided me with the skillset required to expand my business and create jobs in the process.”
Pictured accepting the award for Fresh Produce: Vegetables are (l-r): Peter Keogh, Ross Keogh, event organiser Helen Lyons,Catherine Fulvio, event MC, with Tom Keogh and Kevin Keogh, all from Keogh’s Farm & Keogh’s Crisps.
Cuisine de France’s Four Cheese Speciality Bread
NOW SIMPLY THE BEST IN IRELAND • Winner Overall Gold Q Award: • Winner Overall Christmas Gold Q Award: SIMPLY BETTER Handmade Orange & Honey Ham Glaze.
SIMPLY BETTER French Trimmed Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb.
Pictured accepting the Cereals Award for Kavanagh’s Luxury Fruit Porridge with Apple, Raisin & Cinnamon Dusted Cranberries from Martin Doyle, MD at MLS, is Noel Birchall, Buying Director, Aldi, with event MC Catherine Fulvio, and Lara Monahan, Project Manager, Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards.
Dunnes Stores and Keeling Fruit Juices were the winners in the Cold Beverages category for Simply Better Valencia Orange Juice. Pictured are (l-r): Retail News Editor John Walshe; Heather Kingston, Dunnes Stores; Catherine Fulvio; and Lara Monahan, IQFDA Project Manager.
CUISINE de France has been recognised at this year’s Irish Quality Food and Drinks Awards, with its Four Cheese Loaf winning in the Large Speciality Breads category. Paying tribute to the Four Cheese Loaf, the judges recognised the winning combination of Red Leicester, Regato, Gruyere and Mature White Cheddar in a freshly baked Cuisine de France loaf as the best in the category. The judges praised its aroma and gave special mention to the bread’s golden texture. “At Cuisine de France, we believe that our customers deserve the very best and we work tirelessly to create authentic breads and pastries that our consumers love,” noted Shane Vaughan, Marketing Manager at Cuisine de France. “When you combine not one, but four rich and fragrant cheeses with the finest Cuisine de France loaf, the result is something very unique.”
Plus winner of an additional 13 awards
6 category awards: 5 highly commended; 2 commended. We would like to thank all our local Irish suppliers and food producers who have helped to make our Simply Better range such a success.
What the Judges said Connemara Hill raCk
of lamb.
This rack of Lamb was an absolute favourite with the judges, and it was clear from their highly positive comments that this was at Gold Q Award standard. Everything from its premium packaging, referring to the product’s provenance, to its “juicy and delicate” taste, were applauded by the panel. Its neat French trimming and appearance were also standout features. The Lamb was cooked to perfection, according to the on-pack instuctions, and the meat scored highly being sourced from Bord Bia approved quality assured farms.
EXCLUSIVELY for DUNNEs STORES
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Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards KILDERG®
The Irish Quality Food Awards 2014!
DAIRY MANOR®
• 454g • 1Kg = 4.82
DELUXE®
2.19 RATHDARAGH®
Low GI Multiseed Cob
Seafood Chowder
Extra Mature Cheddar
• 400g • 1Kg = 4.48
• 375g • 1Kg = 9.31
IL
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Celebrating our scoop of more awards for individual products than any other retailer, at The Irish Quality Food Awards 2014!
LER
F
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FRO
• 250g • 1Kg = 7.40
F
1.79
3.49 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Irish Cream Liqueur • 700ml • 1L = 12.84 • 17% Alc. Vol.
• 400g • 1Kg = 1.23
49c amongst the big winners on the night, taking home no fewer than 10 Awards, including lifting the Gold Drink Award for Aldi Clontarf Classic Blend Whiskey,
1.85 DELUXE®
2011 75cl
NEWGATE®
Cream of Tomato Soup
ed Handmade Farmhouse Raspberry Yogurt, produced by Killowen Yogurts, was the winner in the Yogurts category for the second year in a row. Indeed, Aldi were
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Event organiser Helen Lyons presents the Award for Liqueurs & Speciality Spirits to Eleanor Byrne, Junior Project Manager, Brand Development, Lidl. Also pictured are event MC Catherine Fulvio, and Lara Monahan, Project Manager, Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards.
Retail News Editor John Walshe presents the Cheese Award to Sarah Delahunt, Lidl, who won for Irish Extra Mature Cheddar. Also pictured are Catherine Fulvio and Lara Monahan, IQFDA Project Manager.
OUR CH
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RESH
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Other Winners Other winners included Genesis Crafty, whose Toaster Wheaten won in the Bread - Wheaten and Soda Breads category. The Award win “gives us accreditation when we are going to present to major retailers,” enthused Commercial Director, Melvyn Bacon. Another delighted winner was Ross Keogh, Production & Sales Manager at Keogh’s Farm and Keogh’s Crisps, whose Easy Cook 7 Minute Baby New Potatoes won in the Fresh Produce – Vegatables category, while their Sweet Chilli & Irish Red Pepper Potato Crisps won in the Bagged Snacks section. “These awards are very positive for the Irish industry and I think having it on the bag will definitely give us a boost in-store,” noted a delighted Keogh. Aldi Specially Select-
1.49 Irish Creamery Butter
A WINNER...
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Aldi Clontarf Classic Blend Whiskey, from Aldi and Castle Brands Inc., winner of the Gold Q Award in the Drinks category.
SuperValu, three times more money is invested back into the local economy,” Kelleher continued. “One of the ways this is achieved is due to our unique retail model, whereby stores are independently owned and operated by local retailers, and retailers have the freedom to purchase directly from local suppliers. A food start-up can begin its relationship with a local SuperValu store, before eventually growing their business across our entire store network. As a result, you will often find products in your local SuperValu that you cannot buy in other supermarkets.”
Multiple Award Winning!
Tastes like
FRO
Martin Kelleher, Managing Director SuperValu, said, “We are delighted to present this award to On the Pigs Back and congratulate them on their title of Small Producer of the Year. This opportunity will now enable On the Pigs Back to grow from a small local supplier to a business supplying products across our entire SuperValu network, demonstrating our commitment to Irish suppliers. “International research shows that by shopping in locally owned stores, like
Agnes Bouchier-Hayes, Lecturer from Limerick Institute of Technology & IQFA kitchen manager, is pictured presenting the Hot Beverages: Coffee Award to Roy Raftery and Shaun Raymond, both from United Coffee, Linda O’Connor, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland; and George MacLeod, MRPI (right) for SuperValu Signature Tastes Colombian Supremo Coffee Beans. Also pictured is event MC Catherine Fulvio (second from right)
• 340g • 1Kg = 4.38
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Dee Laffan, Easy Food Editor, is pictured (left), presenting the award for Free From – Chilled And Savoury to Ed Kerrigan and Paul Scally, Aldi Buying Directors, Paul Diffley and Gene Left, both from Gallaghers Bakery, and event MC, Catherine Fulvio.
Premium Irish Blackcurrant & Rum Preserve
14.99
8.99
And THERE’S MORE... On top of this great achievement 10 of our products were Highly Commended!
Choose to live a little facebook.com/lidlireland See www.lidl.ie for all offers
Scan this code with your smartphone to go to our homepage *These products are planned carefully to ensure full availability. Despite this however, they may sell out quicker than expected. While stocks last. All offers apply to the Republic of Ireland only.
Enjoy Alcohol Sensibly. Visit
Permitted hours of sale of alcohol are Mon - Sat 10.30 - 22.00, Sun 12.30 - 22.00
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Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards
Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards BAGGED SNACKS
Sweet Chilli & Irish Red Pepper Potato Crisps Keogh’s Crisps
BISCUITS - SAVOURY:
Simply Better Irish Wholemeal Crackers Dunnes Stores / Sheridans Cheesemongers
BISCUITS - SWEET
My Family Favourites Milk Chocolate & Hazelnut Wafer Dunnes Stores / CKS
BREAD - SMALL BREADS AND ROLLS Black Olive Roll Tesco / Panelto Foods
DAIRY AND MILK PRODUCTS BUTTERS AND SPREADS
Dairy Manor Irish Creamery Butter Town of Monaghan Co-Op
DAIRY AND MILK PRODUCTS YOGURTS
Aldi Specially Selected Handmade Farmhouse Raspberry Yogurt Aldi / Killowen
DELICATESSEN - ANTIPASTI
Pastrami Irish Beef Tesco / O’Brien Fine Foods
DELICATESSEN - OTHER DELI COUNTER PRODUCTS
BREAD - LARGE LOAVES
Low GI Multiseed Cob Lidl / Mannings Bakery
Wiltshire Cured Ham on the Bone Musgrave Retail Partners / O’Brien Fine Foods
BREAD - MORNING GOODS:
DESSERTS AND PUDDINGS
Finest Muesli Bread Tesco / Arytza Bakeries
BREAD - SPECIALITY BREADS Four Cheese Loaf Cuisine de France
BREAD - WHEATEN AND SODA BREADS Toaster Wheaten Genesis Crafty
CAKES AND MORNING GOODS:
Apple & Blackberry Lattice Bar Tesco / Golden Bake
CEREALS
Kavanagh’s Luxury Fruit Porridge with Apple, Raisin & Cinnamon Dusted Cranberries Aldi / Stafford Lynch
CHEESE
Irish Extra Mature Cheddar Lidl / Dale Farm Dairies
CHOCOLATE AND CONFECTIONERY Irish Chocolate Selection Lidl / Lir Chocolates
CHRISTMAS Q - CHRISTMAS CAKES, BAKERY AND DESSERTS 6 Deep Filled All Butter Mince Pies Dunnes Stores / Sargents Bakeries
CHRISTMAS Q - CHRISTMAS CHILLED, GROCERY AMBIENT, MEAT, FISH & SAVOURY
Simply Better Ham Glaze Dunnes Stores / Wexford Home Preserves
COLD BEVERAGES
Simply Better Valencia Orange Juice Dunnes Stores / Keeling F Juices
SuperValu Signature Tastes Panacotta Musgrave Retail Partners / Prestige Foods
FISH - FRESH FISH
Burren Smoked Irish Organic Salmon with Seaweed Marinade Burren Smokehouse
FISH - FRESH FISH DISHES
Deluxe Seafood Chowder Lidl / Galmere
FOOD TO GO
Finest Open Smoked Salmon Sandwich Tesco / Freshways
FREE FROM - CHILLED & SAVOURY
:Aldi ‘Has No’ Delicious Soft White Bread Aldi / Gallaghers Bakery
FREE FROM - SWEET
Aldi ‘Has No’ Lemon Muffins Aldi / Gallaghers Bakery
FRESH MEAT, GAME AND POULTRY - BACON Simply Better Dry Cured Irish Rashers Dunnes Stores / Callan Bacon
FRESH MEAT, GAME AND POULTRY - BEEF STEAKS: Aldi Specially Selected 28 Day Dry Aged Rib Eye Aldi / ABP Cahir
FRESH MEAT, GAME AND POULTRY - POULTRY Confit of Duck Silver Hill Foods
FRESH MEAT, GAME AND POULTRY - SAUSAGES, BURGERS AND MEATBALLS Simply Better 6 Superior Honey & Mustard Irish Pork Sausages Dunnes Stores / Arthur Mallon Foods
FRESH MEAT, GAME AND POULTRY - PORK, LAMB AND OTHER JOINTS RETAIL Simply Better French Trimmed Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb Dunnes Stores / Tendermeats
CATERING
Butchers Select Lamb Rack French Trim Musgrave Wholesale / Kepak
FRESH PRODUCE - FRUIT:
SuperValu Fruit Salad Mix Musgrave Retail Partners / Freshcut Foods
FRESH PRODUCE - SALAD
Finest Irish Piccolo Cherry Tomatoes Tesco / Jim O’Rourke
FRESH PRODUCE - VEGETABLES Easy Cook 7 Minute Baby New Potatoes Keogh’s
FROZEN FOOD - SAVOURY
Aldi Specially Selected Irish Beef Quarter Pounders with Cheddar Cheese and Sweet Chilli Aldi / Kepak
FROZEN FOOD - SWEET
Roll It Sweet All Butter Shortcrust Pastry Roll It Pastry
GROCERY AMBIENT - SAVOURY
SEASONAL OCCASIONS
Aldi Luxury Irish Chocolates (Mother’s Day) Aldi
SOUPS
Cream of Tomato Soup Lidl / Princes
HOT BEVERAGES - TEA:
McGrath’s Reserve Blend Tea Aldi / Robert Roberts
HOT BEVERAGES - COFFEE:
SuperValu Signature Tastes Colombian Supremo Coffee Beans Musgrave Retail Partners / United Coffee
VALUE Q
My Family Favourites Strawberry Jam Dunnes Stores / Histon Sweet Spread Simply Better French Trimmed Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb Dunnes Stores / Tendermeats CHRISTMAS GOLD: Simply Better Ham Glaze Dunnes Stores / Wexford Home Preserves
SMALL PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Chicken Liver Paté with Garlic & Brandy On The Pig’s Back
ALES & LAGERS
Independent Stout Independent Brewing Company of Ireland
CIDER
Tempted? Summer Sweet Irish Craft Ciderdj’s juice and cider
SPARKLING WINE
GROCERY AMBIENT - SWEET
WINE
PIZZAS
Pizzado Choice Pizza
READY MEALS
SuperValu Signature Tastes Lamb Tagine Musgrave Retail Partners / Ballymaguire
SIDE DISHES
SuperValu Signature Tastes Braised Red Cabbage Musgrave Retail Partners / Ballymaguire
SAUCES AND SALAD DRESSINGS Vine Tomato & Jalapeno Pasta Sauce The Scullery
Crémant d’Alsace Brut AOC Lidl / S.C.V.B St. Emilion Gran Cru AOC, 2011 Lidl / Union de Producteurs de Saint-Emilion
SPIRITS - LIQUEURS AND SPECIALITY SPIRITS Deluxe Irish Cream Liqueur Lidl / Terra
SPIRITS - WHISKIES
Aldi Clontarf Classic Blend Whiskey Aldi / Castle Brands Inc
GOLD DRINK WINNER
Aldi Clontarf Classic Blend Whiskey Aldi / Castle Brands Inc
My Family Favourites Strawberry Jam from Dunnes Stores and Histon Sweet Spreads was the winner of the Value Q Award. Pictured are (l-r): Jane Milton, Patrick Farrell, Dunnes Stores, Lorraine Mc Mahon, Hain Ireland Ltd, Catherine Fulvio, and Louise Moorhouse, Hain Ireland Ltd.
produced by Castle Brands Inc., which also won the Spirits Award in the Whiskeys category. “The quality of the winners is superb,” noted Ed Kerrigan, Buying Director at Aldi Stores Ireland. “We have the climate, the environment, to create great Irish food and drink products. When someone externally, independently verifies it for us, that is the crowning glory.” See the panel opposite for a full list of all the Award winners on the night.
GOLD Q AWARD
Honeyed Fig, Rhubarb & Chilli Savoury Jam Irish Bee Sensations Blackcurrant and Rum Jam Lidl / Abbey Farm Foods
Burren Smoked Irish Organic Salmon with Seaweed Marinade was the winner in the Fresh Fish category. Pictured are (l-r): Dee Laffan, editor, Easy Food; Birgitta Hedin-Curtin, Owner/Manager, Burren Smokehouse; Catherine Fulvio; and Lara Monahan, IQFDA Project Manager.
Cream of Tomato Soup from Lidl/Princes, winner in the Soups category.
Rewarding Excellence The awards are open to all retailers, food producers, wholesalers and food service operators across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. They are a unique collaboration between Food and Hospitality Ireland
Overall Q Award
and the UK Quality Food and Drink Awards (now in its 33rd year) and sponsored by top UK packaging manufacturer, Benson Group as well as Invest Northern Ireland and MLS Labelling & Printing Systems. Retail News is proud to continue as trade media partner of the awards, while Easy Food magazine was the consumer media partner. All excess food from the judging was given to The Capuchin Centre for Homeless People, which provides warm food each day and more than 1,800 food hampers a week to vulnerable people in Dublin, and FareShare. To find out more about the second Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, visit: www.irishqualityfoodawards.com, become a friend on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ IrishQualityFoodAwards or follow them on Twitter, @IrishQFAs.
THE Overall Gold Q Award winner was Simply Better French Trimmed Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb from Dunnes Stores/Tendermeats, which also won in the Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry - Pork, Lamb and Other Joints category. Pictured receiving the overall Gold Q Award for the Simply Better French Trimmed Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb are James Wilson and Diarmuid Murphy, both from Dunnes Stores, Barry Mulvihill, Tendermeats, Catherine Fulvio, event MC, and Greg Rossiter, Tendermeats, with Bruce Langlands, Harrods.