NOVEMBER 2019 Retail News Ireland’s Longest Established Grocery Magazine The great taste of Irish grass-fed dairy starts here. #LoveIrishDairy ndc.ie 24|Retail News|November 2019|www.retailnews.ie Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards Celebrating the best Irish food and drinks The winners of the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2019 have been announced, recognising the finest indigenous products available in Irish stores. THE winners of the prestigious Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2019 were announced on Thursday, October 24, to a packed house at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin. Producers, retailers and wholesalers from across the Irish food and drink industry came together to celebrate the very best produce available in Ireland. Products were judged earlier this year by a panel of over 50 food experts from across Ireland and the UK over a three-week period at the University of Limerick, with awards presented to the finest products across more than 50 categories. The awards include both branded and own-label produce, and highlight the efforts made by retailers and wholesalers to provide the best quality at the best prices for their customers, both the general public and Pictured at the presentation of the Gold Q Award to North Cork Creameries the foodservice industry. are (l-r): Beckie Dart, Director, Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards; Ruairi Callaghan, North Cork Creameries; and Hector Ó hEochagáin, Irish Quality Special Awards Food and Drink host. In addition to the category winners being announced (see the full list of winners here: www.irish.qualityfoodawards.com and on page 28), a number of special awards were also announced. The Gold Q Winner, the highest product accolade in the Quality Food Awards, was presented to North Cork Creameries, Kanturk, Co. Cork, for their Pure Irish Creamery Butter. Wildberry Bakery, Balineen, West Cork, took home the Christmas Gold Q Award for their Jewelled Christmas Cake. The Rising Star Award, sponsored by Lidl Ireland, was won by the Cotter Brothers, producers of Cotter Organic Lamb at Dromtrasna North, West Limerick. This award recognises and Wildberrry Bakery were the winners of the Christmas Gold Q Award. appreciates individuals aged under 25 Pictured are: Beth Treleaven, Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards; Susan who have a passion for quality food and and Tom Robbins Fehily, Wildberry Bakery; and event MC, Hector Ó drink. hEochagáin. Retail News|November 2019|www.retailnews.ie|25 Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards Aldi to the fore ALDI’S award-winning year continued at Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, with the retailer’s award winners including everything from cheese to steak and salad to cider. Aldi’s leading private-label range has won hundreds of awards in 2019, encouraging more Irish shoppers to try its stores and contributing to its buoyant sales. Aldi is Ireland’s fastest-growing supermarket, with sales surging ahead by 10.9% equating to 11,000 additional shoppers. “These awards are a real endorsement of the quality and value of our range,” noted Aldi Ireland’s Group Buying Director, John Curtin. “Many of our winning products are sourced from market The team from Dunnes Stores celebrate being named Retailer of the Year leading Irish suppliers, including and Christmas Retailer of the Year. ABP Cahir, Waterford’s Blackwater Distillery and Macroom Buffalo Celebrating Food Heroes technical team, helping their company to Mozzarella. We work with over The Food Hero Award, sponsored by reduce or even eliminate food waste 200 Irish producers and are very Aldi Ireland, was presented to Oonagh The Meet the Buyer Award, proud that so many of our products Monaghan, editor of Money For Jam and sponsored by Limerick Enterprise and local producers have been founder of Alpha Omega, consultants Office, went to Wicklow Gold Beechwood recognised.” in food business development, based in Smoked Cheddar, produced by Wicklow The Irish Quality Food and Manorhamilton, Co. Letrim. The Food Farmhouse Cheese, Arklow, Co. Drink Awards celebrate and reward Hero Award recognises an individual who Wicklow. This new award was presented the finest food and drink products stands out in the industry for their sheer to the Wicklow company, who excelled on Irish shelves, while The Irish passion, drive, enthusiasm and hard at the IIQFA Meet the Buyer event which Good Choice Quality Food Awards work. took place earlier this year. highlight food products that are The No Time for Waste Award, Dunnes Stores was named both specifically designed and marketed sponsored by Tesco Ireland, was won by Retailer of the Year and Christmas as Free From, for an alternative Ballymaguire Foods, Lusk, Co. Dublin. Retailer of the Year, recognising the diet, or are healthier options to As part of the prize, Ballymaguire Foods huge innovation this Irish family-owned mainstream products. will be given the opportunity to have a supermarket group has brought to the Aldi’s list of winners included a year’s mentoring with Tesco Ireland’s retail landscape. Gold Award for Armagh Craft Cider, as well as Aldi Specially Selected Irish Lamb Burgers, Aldi Specially Selected Irish Angus Rib Roast on the Bone, Aldi Specially Selected Italian Parmigiano Reggiano Wedge, Aldi Specially Selected Irish Buffalo Salad Cubes, Aldi Specially Selected Handtied Sausages and Aldi Basil Topped Houmous Topped with Pesto & Parmesan Cheese. Small Producer of the Year The Small Producer of the Year Award, sponsored by Dunnes Stores Simply Better, went to O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon Company, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. As part of this prize, O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon Company will have the opportunity to work directly with The Small Producer of the Year Award was won by O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon the Dunnes Stores Simply Better Company. Pictured are: Diarmuid Murphy, Dunnes Stores; Mary and Pat development and buying team, as well O'Neill, O'Neills Dry Cure Bacon; and event MC, Hector Ó hEochagáin. as the marketing team, to launch the 26|Retail News|November 2019|www.retailnews.ie Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards Oonagh Monaghan, Alpha Omega Consultant/Money Brendan Conway from Lidl Ireland presents the Rising for Jam, accepts the Food Hero Award from Aldi Ireland’s Star Award to Nick and Jack Cotter, Cotter Organic Lamb, Group Buying Director, John Curtin, and Hector Ó with event host, Hector Ó hEochagáin. hEochagáin, event MC. brand with Dunnes. Irish Quality Drinks Awards Shining a light All the small producers who entered There were a number of Irish Quality “Yet again we have been inundated with their produce into the awards were Drinks Awards announced, including the highest quality produce in Ireland,” considered by the Dunnes Stores Simply Armagh Dry Craft Cider from Aldi noted Beckie Dart, Director of the Irish Better team using the Irish Quality Ireland; Tesco Finest Premier Cru Quality Food & Drink Awards. “The Food and Drink Awards’ robust judging Champagne; Allini Prosecco Spumante Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards are criteria: quality, ingredients, taste, Conegliano from Lidl; Chianti Dunnes proud to help shine a light on Ireland’s aroma, innovation, packaging and price. Stores Simply Better Chianti Classico best from both branded and own label A shortlist of three companies then DOCG Riserva; Listoke 1777 Small Batch markets. Congratulations to all those made a ‘Dragons Den’ style presentation Gin; Tesco Finest Vinas Del Rey Albarino; who were shortlisted and winners. We before the judges arrived at the winner. Tesco Finest French Grain Vodka; Tesco can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store!” Last year’s winner, Wildberry Bakery Finest Sauternes; and La Fabrique a vin Follow the latest news and has just started supplying its delicious Alicante Bouschet IGP Pays d’Oc 2018 competitions via the IQFA Facebook carrot and walnut cakes to Dunnes from Dunnes Stores. page at www.facebook.com/ Stores, and on the back of this new IrishQualityFoodAwards and on Twitter @ contract is taking on two new staff. IrishQFAs. The Meet the Buyer Award went to Wicklow Farmhouse Tesco Ireland’s Head of Technical Law, Tracey McDermott, Cheese. Eamon Ryan, Limerick Local Enterprise Office, presents the No Time for Waste Award to Edward presents the award to father and son, John Hempenstall Spelman, Managing Director, Ballymaguire Foods, with (second from right) and Johnnie Hempenstall (second event MC, Hector Ó hEochagáin. from left), alongside event MC, Hector Ó hEochagáin. 28|Retail News|November 2019|www.retailnews.ie Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards Award Winners Gold Q Award Meet the Buyer Award: Retailer of the Year: North Cork Pure Irish Creamery Butter Wicklow Gold Beechwood Smoked Dunnes Stores Cheddar - Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese Christmas Q Award Christmas Retailer of the Year: Wildberry Bakery Jewelled Christmas No Time for Waste Award: Dunnes Stores Cake Ballymaguire Foods Small Producer of the Year: Food Hero Award: Rising Star Award: O'Neills Dry Cure Bacon Co. Oonagh Monahan, Food Business Cotter Brothers, Producers – Cotter Development - Alpha Omega Consultant/ Organic Lamb Money for Jam Irish Good Choice Quality Food Awards Dairy: Tesco Organic Low Fat Milk Free From Gluten - Biscuits and Alternative: Tesco Bran Flakes Food To Go: Vegan Sweet Potato Fritter Cakes: Wildberry Bakery Chocolate and Ready Meals: Pickle Organic Succulent and Spiced Hummus Wrap - Deli Lites Raspberry Cake Slow Cooked Organic Irish Lamb Free From Allergens - Savoury: Tesco