Irish Quality Food Awards entry

Irish Quality Food Awards entry deadline extended

THE entry deadline for the 2020 Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards has been extended to Friday, July 3, amid the current Covid-19 pandemic, giving companies extra time to enter products for the chance to win one of these prestigious awards. Since their launch eight years ago, the Awards have

been responsible for launching hundreds of innovative new products onto the market and boosting the sales of many more. Retailers, wholesalers, foodservice, own label and branded producers can enter food and drink products into a broad range of categories; each being specifically tailored to represent the key drivers in today’s ever-changing marketplace. This year sees the introduction of a number of champion awards which will be presented alongside the existing Retailer of the Year and Christmas Retailer of the Year accolades. Retailers will automatically qualify for these awards based on best performance across selected product categories. An integral part of the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards is that each entry receives a comprehensive judges’ feedback report, even if the product does not reach the finalist stage. This provides all entrants with vital product insight from independent leading experts, which can be used as a valuable product development tool. For further information about the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards and how to enter the 2020 Awards, please visit irishqualityfoodawards.ie.

Fresh help consumers to take home the restaurant

Tetra Laval Group donates €10,000 to Irish Covid-19 relief efforts

FRESH The Good Food Market has partnered with two of Dublin’s leading restaurants to enable customers to recreate the much missed restaurant experience in their home. The executive chef teams at Asador and Prado, based in Ballsbridge and Clontarf respectively, have created at home BBQ meal kits, comprising everything consumers need for the perfect barbecue at home: premium quality meat, brioche buns, sides and sauces, boxed in a convenient pack with instructions for cooking. Customers using FreshOnline.ie can order the meal kits along with their groceries, fresh food, wine and treats. “This collaboration will offer our customers even more choice, quality and new food experiences at home,” said Noel Smith, founder and Managing Director at Fresh The Good Food Market. “At the same time, we are able to grow our online operation with exciting offers.”

TETRA Pak, Sidel and DeLaval, have jointly donated €5,000 to Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services and €5,000 to Irish Red Cross, with a view to support the health care system/ Covid-19 relief efforts in Ireland. “We are very grateful to receive this generous donation from Tetra Pak, Sidel and DeLaval,” said Eleanor Flew, Director of Fundraising & Communications, Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services, Harold’s Cross, Blackrock and Wicklow. “Our frontline teams are working round the clock to navigate the challenges each day brings and to make sure we protect and care for our patients in their homes and in our hospices throughout the Covid-19 pandemic... This much-needed donation will go towards helping our patients and on behalf of them and their loved ones, thank you.” “Donations such as these help to ensure our vital work within communities can continue,” revealed Jocelino Jorge, Head of Fundraising, Irish Red Cross.

Carbery Group focuses on sustainable growth

CARBERY Group, the West Cork based international ingredients and cheese company, has reported a solid financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2019, grounded in a commitment to responsible expansion and sustainability across the Group. Group turnover increased by 3% to €434m through growth across all business segments. Milk volumes in 2019 were 567m litres, a growth of 42% between 2015 and 2019, all processed in Ballineen, West Cork. The company’s €78m cheese diversification project is due for completion later in 2020, as the new mozzarella line becomes operational. Carbery Chairman TJ Sullivan thanked “the farmer suppliers and their families who have been a huge part of our 2019 growth, and I want to assure them we are doing all we can to continue to protect this growth throughout 2020 and the current Covid-19 crisis.”