Flavoured butter is cream of the crop at Dingle food awards

A family business established just a year ago has won the top honour at the Blas na hÉireann food awards in Dingle.

Blast and Wilde, run by Graham and Bernie Canning in Slane, Co Meath, produces flavoured butters. It was chosen as the Bord Bia Blas supreme champion from entries of more than 2,000 products. Blast and Wilde also took gold, silver and bronze awards for its butters.

Ms Canning said they were “absolutely thrilled” to come out on top. “We only got the business off the ground a year ago and since then we have been making flavoured butter, including roast garlic and pesto, black olive tapenade, and chilli, lime and coriander,” she said.

Awards chairman Artie Clifford said the number of entries had broken all records this year, making it the biggest competition of Irish produce ever seen on the island of Ireland.

Opening doors

He said every county was represented. Winning at Blas opened doors for producers who wanted to get established or expand into new markets.

“It’s about recognising passionate, dedicated producers who are serious about marketing their fantastic Irish food and drink into markets at home and around the globe,” he said.

SuperValu’s Signature Tastes and own brand range took 26 awards in the competition, including nine gold, 10 silver and seven bronze awards. Aldi’s Irish suppliers won three gold, two silver and four bronze medal awards.