SuperValu celebrates local food producers success
Drummully Boxty and Manor Farm scoop Blas na hÉireann prizes.
Two Cavan food producers were among those recognised at Ireland’s biggest food awards, Blas na hÉireann last week.
Drummully Boxty, part of SuperValu’s Food Academy programme, scooped Gold for its Drummully Boxty Dumpling Boxty, while Manor Farm also won Silver for its own brand SuperValu Thai Style Chicken Stir Fry.
Now in its 15th year, the Blas na hÉireann awards is the biggest annual competition for quality Irish produce across the island of Ireland with thousands of products entered.
SuperValu Food Academy is a unique food and drink business development programme between SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). Participants in the programme receive training in market research and branding, food safety, marketing, finance and business development. Food Academy producers have sold a combined €200 million of produce in SuperValu since 2013, supporting 1,500 jobs in the economy.
SuperValu’s Food Academy food and drink producers picked up a total of 73 awards, made up of 19 gold, 19 silver and 24 bronze as well as five Chef's Larder's, five best in county and the Rogha na Gaeltachta award.
New producers who started with Food Academy in May this year won 13 awards.
Congratulating the two Cavan food producers, Ian Allen, Managing Director, SuperValu said: “Huge congratulations to both Drummully Boxty and Manor Farm. Without the hard work and commitment to quality from these Irish food producers, we would not have the excellent range of award-winning products available in SuperValu stores. Once again it was a winning year for SuperValu producers at Blas na hÉireann, taking home a total of 119 awards, including 73 awards for our outstanding Food Academy producers. At SuperValu we are committed to supporting more Irish food producers than any other retailer and in delivering both the best quality and value for our customers. Working with more than 1,800 Irish food producers we are immensely proud of our award-winning brands and it’s wonderful to see the local suppliers and producers receive the recognition they richly deserve.”