Buyers Directory Your guide to the winners & finalists at Blas na hEireann - The Irish Food Awards “Recognising & rewarding the very best of Irish food & drink and the passionate people who make them” Issue 6 - 2019 Winners & Finalists www.irishfoodawards.com About Blas Now in our 12th year Blas na hEireann continues to celebrate the very B best of Irish food and drink. In 2019 the awards had over 2500 entries G S r 9 Fin 9 old 2019 ilver 2019 onze 201 alist 201 competing to take home Gold, Silver, Bronze and Finalist places. This year we continued to build upon opportunities for producers, with networking Finding the very best and educational events beginning to take place throughout the year, Developed with UCC and the University of Copenhagen our judging with more events planned for 2020. process is now recognised as an industry ‘gold’ standard worldwide. Products entered are blind tasted and competition is extremely tough, A trusted accreditation and mark of Irish quality and regardless of the number of entries there are only five finalists in Research has shown that the Blas accreditation has the highest each category. recognition amongst Irish consumers and using the award logo on Blind tasting means that all packaging and identifying features are packs encourages shoppers to buy these products. It is their guarantee removed from products before being presented for judging. This of a top quality Irish product. creates a level playing field for products from both large and small Our Judges producers. Our judges come from a range of food backgrounds; they are chefs, Our Winners & Finalists restaurateurs, academics, journalists, authors, food champions, caterers Inside you will finds the details of our Gold, Silver & Bronze winners and enthusiastic home cooks. Retailers with a vested interest or producers listed by category and our finalists listed by county. We hope that you who have entered the competition are never involved in the judging process. will find something new and exciting for your customers. Questions? If you have any questions about our winners or would like more information about Blas na hEireann and how we can work with you, to find new suppliers, to promote the Blas winners you stock or indeed to find out more about point of sale material, just get in touch, we will be happy to help. More details on www.irishfoodawards.com | t @BlasNahEireann | f blas.n.heireann | [email protected] Index CATEGORY PAGE Bacon, Beef, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, Puddings, Sausages & Other Meats 6 Butter, Cream, Milk, Yogurt, Ice Cream, Sorbets, Frozen Yogurt & Cheese 8 Breakfast Cereal, Sweet Sauces & Hot Beverages 10 Ready Mix, Puddings, Desserts, Cakes, Biscuits, Sweet Snacks, Chocolate & Confectionery 11 Seafood, Terrines & Pates, Savoury Pies & Quiches, Soups, Ready Meals & Prepared Foods & Baby Food 12 Savoury Sauces, Condiments & Pantry & Savoury Snacks 14 Non Alcoholic Drinks, Dark & White Spirits, Gin, Liqueurs, Ale, Lager, Porter & Stouts, Cider 16 2 www.irishfoodawards.com It is with great pleasure that we bring you this directory of the 2019 winners of Blas na hEireann, The Irish Food Awards. These represent the very best producers in Ireland who are creating outstanding food and drinks. We are very proud to support them. This booklet also contains information about the way we judge, and the care that we take during the adjudicating process so that Blas na hEireann can create the a level playing field for all producers, both large and small. We hope that you will find this a useful guide for sourcing Irish products and that many of the producers listed within, will become your suppliers of tomorrow. I would also like to say a big thank you to all of our sponsors, supporters and team for their help in making this happen. Artie Clifford Chairperson, Blas na hEireann – The Irish Food Awards M: 087 2026420 E: [email protected] 2020 DATES TO REMEMBER • Entries open on the 17th March • Initial judging June/July • Finalist Judging 3rd October • Awards announced 5th October Our October events include a producer showcase and a number of networking events. For more details on these events and how to register call Fallon on 087 9029329 or email [email protected] www.irishfoodawards.com 3 2019 Best in County & Best in Farmer’s Market Awards 2019 Antrim Best in Antrim - Glens of Antrim Antrim Best in Farmers Market - SeaSugar Armagh Best in Armagh - Burren Balsamics Carlow Best in Carlow - Sunshine Juice Cavan Best in Cavan - Lakeland Clare Best in Clare - St Tola Cork Best in Cork - Follain Cork Best in Farmers Market - On The Pig’s Back Derry Best in Derry - Broighter Gold Donegal Best in Donegal - Green Pastures Down Best in Down - TS Foods Down Best in Farmers Market - Deli Muru Dublin Best in Dublin - Ballymaguire Dublin Best in Farmers Market - Shoots & Roots Fermanagh Best in Fermanagh - Crust & Crumb Galway Best in Galway - Galmere Galway Best in Farmers Market - Leahy Beekeeping Kerry Best in Kerry - Quinlans Kerry Best in Farmers Market - Camos Kilkenny Best in Kilkenny - The Truffle fairy Laois Best in Laois - Aghaboe Farm Laois Best in Farmers Market - Aghaboe Farm Leitrim Best in Leitrim - McNiffe’s Boxty Limerick Best in Limerick - Glenstal Foods Limerick Best in Farmers Market - Ballyhoura Louth Best in Louth - East Coast Mayo Best in Mayo - Wildwood Meath Best in Meath - A Bit on the Side Meath Best in Farmers Market - A Bit on the Side Monaghan Best in Monaghan - Silverhill Offaly Best in Offaly - Feighery’s Farm Offaly Best in Farmers Market - Feighery’s Farm Roscommon Best in Roscommon - Oliver Carty Roscommon Best in Farmers Market - Castlemine Farm Sligo Best in Sligo - Aurivo Tipperary Best in Tipperary - Cooleeney & James Whelan Tyrone Best in Tyrone - Natural Umber Tyrone Best in Farmers Market - Ispini Waterford Best in Waterford - Irish Gourmet Butter Waterford Best in Farmers Market - Pure Food Westmeath Best in Westmeath - Mr Cumb Wexford Best in Wexford - Scup Gelato Wexford Best in Farmers Market - Wild About Wicklow Best in Wicklow - Gino’s Gelato Wicklow Best in Farmers Market - Rhoda Cocoa 4 www.irishfoodawards.com Blas na hEireann Key Award Winners Green Pastures Donegal SUPREME CHAMPION Soft Cheese Green Pastures Donegal Raspberry Infused Balsamic Vinegar BEST ARTISAN Burren Balsamics Ltd BEST IN LEINSTER The Truffle Fairy BEST IN MUNSTER Cooleeney BEST IN CONNAUGHT Wildwood Balsamics BEST IN ULSTER Green Pastures Donegal BEST NEW PRODUCT The Origins Collection, The Truffle Fairy BEST START UP A Bit on the Side BEST PACKAGING Cocoa Couture ROGHA NA GAELTACHTA Jerry Kennedy’s Butchers CHEFS LARDER Stoneground Wholegrain Flour Ballymore Organics Fresh Pine Oil En Place Foods Ltd Fresh Lovage Oil En Place Foods Ltd Black Garlic Solo CRAIC Foods Limited Guanciale Hannan Meats Rocker Organic Farm Organic Mixed Salad Leaves Rocker Organic Farm Chilli and Fennel Hot Italian Style Sausage Meat (Gluten Free) Hannan Meats Organic Extra Coarse Wholemeal Flour Dunany Flour Organic Meadowsweet Pot Wild Irish Foragers Beef Marrow Melt 200g Kettyle Irish Foods West Cork Garlic West Cork Garlic A bit on the side TM www.irishfoodawards.com 5 Bacon, Beef, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, Puddings, Sausages & Other Meats Bacon - Rashers Green Gold Waldron Meats Waldron Family Dry Cured Back Rashers Gold O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon Co O’Neills Dry Cured Back Rashers Silver Castlemine Farm Castlemine Farm Dry Cured Back Rashers Bronze Clonakilty Food Company Clonakilty Dry Cure Rashers Bacon - Rashers Smoked Gold Oliver Carty SuperValu Signature Tastes Irish Whiskey Glazed Dry Cured Rashers Silver Oliver Carty Oliver Carty and MRSK Global Stout Flavour Beechwood Smoked Rasher Silver Hilton Foods Ireland Tesco Finest Beechwood Smoked Drycured Irish Rashers Bronze Oliver Carty SuperValu Smoked Bacon Medallion Bacon - Sweet Gold Connolly Meats Aldi Butchers Selection Easy Cook Bacon Joint with Honey and Mustard 690g Silver Oliver Carty Supervalu Lightly Smoked Bacon Eyeloin with Maple & Mustard Glaze Bronze Hilton Foods Ireland Finest Unsmoked Dry Cured Ham with a sachet of Mulling Spices and a Honey and Apple Glaze Bacon - Other Gold Oliver Carty Signature Tastes Irish Hampshire Ham Fillet Silver Waldron Meats Waldron Family Wiltshire Ham Fillet Bronze Connolly Meats Aldi Specially Selected, Hand Rubbed Sugar Cured Bacon Joints Bacon - Smoked Gold Oliver Carty Signature Tastes Irish Hampshire Smoked Rack of Bacon Silver Oliver Carty SuperValu Easy Carve Smoked Ham Fillet Bronze TheSmokin’Butcher Sweet Dry Cured Smoked Collar Bacon Beef - Fillet Gold ABP Cahir Specially Selected Irish Black Angus Fillet Steak Silver ABP Cahir Platinum Prime Dexter Fillet Steak Bronze Liffey Meats 2 Deluxe Irish Hereford Beef Fillet Beef - Sirloin / Striploin Gold Tendermeats Dunnes Stores Simply Better 28 Day Matured Irish Angus Sirloin Steak Silver James Whelan Butchers Salt Aged Striploin Bronze Liffey Meats Deluxe 2 Irish Hereford Beef Striploin Steaks Beef - Ribeye Gold James Whelan Butchers Salt Aged Rib Eye Silver Kepak Cork Signature Tastes Rib Eye Steak Bronze ABP Cahir Tipperary Dry Aged Irish Black Angus Rib Eye Steak 6oz Tipperary Dry Aged Irish Black Angus Rib Steak Burger with Dry Cured Maple Streaky Bacon Beef - Burger Style Gold ABP Cahir and Cashel Blue Cheese 6oz Tipperary Dry Aged Irish Black Angus Rib Steak Burger with Dry Cured Beechwood Streaky Bacon Silver ABP Cahir and Mature Cheddar Cheese Bronze Liffey Meats Lidl Inisvale 454g Quarter Pounders Beef - Roast Gold Kepak Cork Signature Tastes Hereford Bone-In Rib Roast Silver ABP Cahir Aldi Exquisite Irish Black Angus Fillet Barrel Bronze ABP Cahir Specially Selected Dry Aged Irish Black Angus Striploin Joint Beef - Bone In Gold Kepak Cork Supervalu Cowboy Steak Serve Over Silver Tendermeats Ltd Dunnes Stores Irish Beef Garlic & Herb Cowboy Steak Bronze Fitzgeralds Butchers 30 Day Dry-Cured T-Bone Bronze Higgins Butchers Whiskey Aged Cote de Boeuf Beef - Other Gold Liffey Meats Deluxe Irish Beef Chateaubriand Silver Liffey Meats Deluxe Hereford Meatballs Bronze Tendermeats Dunnes Stores Simply Better 12 Irish Angus Beef Meatballs Cold Meats, Cured Meats Gold Glen Aine Foods Ltd.