Local Food Companies Shortlisted for Bord Bia Awards

Local Food Companies Shortlisted for Bord Bia Awards

Margaret (Founder) & DJ Kelleher (MD)

Riverview Eggs, Glenmar Shellfish, Irish Atlantic Salt and Irish Distillers are the four Cork based food and drink companies who have been shortlisted in Bord Bia’s Food and Drink Awards (2013). The awars recognise excellence in export development; branding; innovation; sustainability; entrepreneurship, success on the domestic market and use of consumer research.

·         Irish Distillers’ Jameson Irish Whiskey, with an expanding and renowned distillery in Midleton, has been shortlisted for two awards; the Export Award and the Innovation Award. Jameson reached the milestone of 4 million cases sold globally in 2012 and is the No. 1 Irish whiskey in the world sold in 108 markets. In terms of innovation, the Yellow Spot 12 Year Old, within the Single Pot Still Whiskeys of the Midleton range, is unique to Ireland and to the Midleton Distillery in particular. The whiskey is produced annually in batches of 500 cases, making it a true collectors item and is available in limited quantities in Ireland, France, the UK and Germany.

·         Alongside Jameson, Union Hall’s Glenmar Shellfish have also been shortlisted for the Export Award. The company is currently exporting 550 tons to markets such as China, Hong Kong, Korea, Italy, Spain, France and Croatia.

Irish Atlantic Salt - Michael and Aileen O'Neill

·         Watergrasshill based, Riverview Eggs, have been shortlisted for the Consumer Insight Award for their use of consumer research to develop the Amazing Egg brand. Faced with the challenge of innovating in a competitive and commoditized category, the company invested in extensive category research from which they use the insights to inform their strategy. The result of which is that the Riverview brand is now the second largest brand by market share in the Irish egg market (Kantar, July 2013).

·         Irish Atlantic Sea Salt, located on the Beara Peninsula, has been shortlisted for the Entrepreneurial Award. The O'Neill family developed this range of organic, gourmet Irish sea salt products, using the highest quality waters surrounding the Peninsula to create the only Irish-made white sea salt products available.

Visit profile interviews with the companies here: www.bordbia.ie/awards

This year’s awards will be presented at Bord Bia’s Annual Brand Forum end of year event taking place in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin on Thursday, 14^th November. Paul Duffy, Chairman and CEO of The Absolut Company, will be the keynote speaker on the night and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney T.D. will present the awards. RTE presenter Keelin Shanley will be MC for the evening. 

In total, Bord Bia received over 150 entries across the seven categories. The three shortlisted companies under each category are as follows:

Sustainability Award:

·         Bewleys Ltd; Dawn Meats; Glenisk

Innovation Award:

·         Irish Distillers - Yellow Spot whiskey; Paganini – FitFuel Ice Cream; Future Nutrition – DermaGlo Skin Health Drink

Consumer Insight Award:

·         Kerry Foods – Cheestrings; Kepak – Big Al’s; Riverview Eggs – The Amazing Egg

Branding Award:

·         Glenisk; James Whelan Butchers; Keelings

Success at Home:

·         Killowen Farm; ABP Ireland for their work with Aldi; Britvic – Miwadi

Entrepreneurial Award:

·         O'Neill's Irish Atlantic Sea Salt; BFree Foods Ltd; Pandora Bell

Exporting Award:  

·         Irish Distillers; Silver Hill Foods and Glenmar Seafoods

All entries were assessed by an independent judging panel chaired by John Fanning, Chairman of Bord Bia’s Brand Forum. Commenting on this year’s entries, John Fanning said, “the diversity and quality made the judging process difficult, however we were greatly encouraged by the evident confidence and vibrancy of our indigenous agri-food sector. Across the board, these entries consistently practiced innovation, whether they were established companies, or new businesses and this augurs well for the future of the industry.”

The panel also included Gordon Campbell, Managing Director of Spar International, Martin Chilcott, CEO, 2degrees, David Cotter, P&G Ireland’s Country Manager, Matt Dempsey, Chief Executive, The Agricultural Trust, Helen King, Head of Consumer Insight & Innovation, Bord Bia, Radha Patel, Associate Director of The Futures Company and Norah Casey, CEO of Harmonia. 

Ireland’s Largest Indigenous Industry

The strong growth in Irish food and drink exports, which saw values exceed €9 billion for the first time in 2012, is continuing in 2013 with the prospects for the remainder the year remain broadly positive with a strong demand for dairy and beef, combined with a more robust prepared foods performance and further steady growth in beverages.

Ireland’s agri-food sector plays an important role in the Irish economy, accounting for 9% of merchandise exports, 16% of industrial output, supporting 250,000 jobs and has an annual gross output valued at €24 billion. As much as 64% of manufacturing exports by Irish-owned firms are estimated to consist of food and drink.

For details on the awards, visit www.bordbia.ie/awards