Nine food and drink companies honoured at Bord Bia awards

Nine Irish food companies were recognised for their achievements and contributions to the food industry, at the Bord Bia Food and Drink Awards at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham tonight.

The awards, which are held every two years, are designed to reward excellence within the food and drink industry. This year’s awards received 140 entries.

The export award was won by Glenmar Shellfish. Based in Union Hall, Co Cork and established more than 30 years ago, it exports more than 2,000 tonnes of shellfish each year to markets as far flung as China and Korea.

Ice-cream makers Paganini won the innovation award for FitFuel, a protein enriched ice cream range. Paganini was founded by Wexford dairy farmer, Tomas Murphy in 1990 and now exports to the UK and the Middle East.

The success at home award was won by Britvic Ireland for MiWadi. The dilutable drink has a 41 per cent yearly average value market share.

Dawn Meats, the Waterford based meat exporter, won the sustainability award. The firm, which supplies McDonald's is working to reduce both its water and energy use by 40 per cent and to reduce its direct carbon footprint by 50 per cent.

The branding award was won by Keelings, the family owned fresh produce business. It started producing fruits and salads in the 1930s and today employs some 2,000 people.

Irish Atlantic Salt won the entrepreneurial award. The O’Neill family developed this range of organic, gourmet Irish sea salt products, using the waters around the Beara Peninsula.

The consumer insight award was won by Kerry Foods for its Cheestrings brand. This brand is worth about €90 million and is now available in over 25,000 stores around the world.

Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers won the online champion award and was described by judges as a "best in class" example of how to increase sales and brand awareness through online and social media.

ABP Ireland won the business referral award for its "co-opetition efforts". Co-opetition is where food companies work together to reduce costs and improve returns. ABP Ireland introduced Wexford-based sheep meat company, Irish Country Meats, to a European food service client in order to address a supply issue for their customer.

Bord Bia chairman Michael Carey noted the awards coincided with the fourth successive year of growth in food and drink exports.

“As the industry continues to develop and expand into new and emerging markets, it is important to recognise the continued progress and achievements of the sector,” he said. The value of food and drink exports exceeded€9 billion last year and are heading for €10 billion this year.

More than 250 industry representatives gathered for the event which was opened by Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney. They included chief executives from food and drink companies such as Kerry, Glanbia, Irish Distillers, ABP, Dawn Meats and Kepak.