Excellence rewarded in food and drink product development

Dunnes Stores was chosen as top retailer at 2016 Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards now in its fourth year.

What he calls nose-to-tail butchery from his own farm works a wonder for Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers, Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

Even the dripping made from the purest suet from grass-fed Irish Angus and Hereford beef from Co Tipperary doesn’t go to waste.

Instead, seeing the upsurge of interest in heritage foods and traditional ingredients, fifth-generation butcher Pat was inspired to create his own beef dripping — and last year, it won the Great Taste Supreme Championship, crowning it the best of 10,000 fine food and drink entries from the UK and Ireland.

Now, a gold in the 2016 Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, for his dry aged angus striploin steak, shows Whelan can do no wrong.

In their fourth year, the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards recognise and reward excellence in food and drink product development.

Whelan is not the only food company close to the soil to feature in the 2016 awards.

The Dunnes have been farming in the parish of Courtnacuddy, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, for nine generations and are the people behind Killowen Farm yogurts. Their spiced cranberry orange and lemon curd farmhouse yoghurts won individual awards.

Co Cork’s Bandon Co-op also scored big in dairy, through its Bandon Vale subsidiary, a gold winner in the value category for its Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Mature White Cheddar.

Also deep in the heart of Co Cork, Follain in Ballyvourney distinguished itself with awards for three products. All three helped Dunnes Stores win the Retailer Of The Year award.

From their 88 acres on the Charlesfort Estate, Kells, Co Meath, Fintan and Paul Hogan’s family business made a name for itself in the poultry section with its Charlesfort turkey roulade.

Tom and Laura Sinnott of Wexford Home Preserves were commended for their Irish raspberry jam; three-fruit marmalade; no added sugar Irish raspberry jam; no added sugar three-fruit marmalade; Simply Better handmade Irish raspberry jam; and Simply Better handmade three-fruit marmalade.

2015 Irish Quality Food Awards

RETAILER OF THE YEAR: Dunnes Stores

GOLD WINNER: Grass fed beef from Tipperary dry aged angus striploin steak, James Whelan Butchers

GOLD WINNER CHRISTMAS CATEGORY: Aldi Exquisite Mince Pies, Genesis Crafty, Co Derry.

GOLD WINNER FREE FROM: Tesco Free From Strawberry and Vanilla Cones, Eispro, Hungary.

GOLD WINNER VALUE: Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Mature White Cheddar Bandon Vale, Co Cork.

DUNNES STORES SIMPLY BETTER SMALL PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: Orange, Mango and Gin Marshmallow Camran Crafts, Co Antrim.

Bagged Snacks Savoury: Spar Select Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar Crisps Golden Wonder, UK.

Bagged Snacks Sweet: Dunnes Stores Cacao Mix Forest Feast, Craigavon, Co Armagh.

Biscuits Savoury: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Wholemeal Crackers, Sheridan’s Cheesemongers, Co Meath.

Biscuits Sweet: Tesco Finest Spicy Dark Chocolate Ginger Cookies Northumbrian Fine Foods, UK.

Bread Morning Goods: Raspberry Crown, Cuisine de France.

Speciality Breads: Homely Bread, The Breadski Brothers, Castlebar, Co Mayo.

Wheaten and Soda Breads: SuperValu & Centra, Sean Brown Soda Bread, Genesis Crafty, Magherafelt, Co Derry.

Large Cakes: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade All Butter Lemon & Irish Blackcurrant Layer Cake, Sam’s Cookies, Bray, Co Wicklow.

Small Cakes: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Belgian Chocolate Salted Caramel Shortbread Slices, Sam’s Cookies, Bray, Co Wicklow.

Cereals: Tesco Finest 7 Nut Granola Bokomo Foods, UK.

Porridge: Spar Select Gluten Free Porridge, Grandma Henvey, Dublin.

Hard Cheese: Lidl Rathdaragh Irish Extra Mature Cheddar, Dale Farm, Belfast.

Soft Cheese: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Italian Mozzarella Di Bufala Campana, Traditional Cheese Company, Dublin.

Speciality Cheese: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Epoisses, Traditional Cheese Company, Dublin.

Children’s Food: Aldi Mamia Organic Mango, Apple & Banana (Stage 1), The National Fruit & Beverage Company.

Chocolate and Confectionery Bars: Aldi Handmade Chocolate Bar Dark Chocolate Valencia Orange, Áine Handmade Chocolate, Stradone, Co Cavan

Boxed Chocolate and Confectionery: The Chocolate Box Butlers Chocolates, Dublin 17.

Christmas Bakery and Desserts: Aldi Exquisite Mince Pies, Genesis Crafty, Co Derry.

Christmas Cakes: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Hand Decorated Irish All Butter Christmas Cake, Sam’s Cookies, Bray, Co Wicklow.

Christmas Chilled Savoury: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Cheese Board Selection, Traditional Cheese Company, Dublin.

Christmas Chilled Sweet: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Seasonally Spiced Cranberry & Orange Yoghurt, Killowen Farm, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.

Christmas Confectionery: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Handmade Dark Chocolate & Ginger Florentines, Sam’s Cookies, Bray, Co Wicklow.

Christmas Fish: SuperValu Signature Tastes Trio of Smoked Salmon, Dunn’s of Dublin.

Christmas Grocery Ambient: Lidl Deluxe Beetroot Relish, Follain, Ballyvourney, Co Cork

Christmas Meat Traditional: Free Range Woodland Bronze Crown Hogan’s Farm, Kells, Co Meath.

Coffee: SuperValu Signature Tastes Single Origin Java Coffee Capsule, Euro-Caps BV, Netherlands.

Juices: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Freshly Squeezed Valencia Pure Orange Juice, Keeling Juices, Ballyboughal, Co Dublin.

Soft Drinks: Strawberry, Cucumber and Lime Cordial, Naturally Cordial, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.

Cooking Sauces: Curry Sauce, Bombay Pantry, Dublin.

Butters and Spreads: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Hand Churned Rosemary and Burnt Lemon Irish Butter, Blast and Wilde, Slane, Co Meath.

Chilled Dairy: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Fresh Irish Madagascan Vanilla Bean Custard, Spice O’Life, Dunmanway Co Cork.

Yogurts: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Lemon Curd Farmhouse Yogurt, Killowen Farm, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.

Antipasti and Dips: Sol Chorizo Cular, Eirespan, Dublin.

Continental Meats and Pate: Tesco Finest 14-Month Genuine Parma Ham, Salumificio Fratelli Beretta Spa, Italy.

Pre-Cooked Meats: Thick Cut Glazed by Hand Ham, Brady Family, Timahoe, Co Kildare.

Desserts and Puddings: SuperValu Signature Tastes Belgian Chocolate Truffle Torte, Couverture, Dublin.

Eggs: SuperValu Signature Tastes and Centra Cornfed Eggs, Clonarn Clover, Kells, Co Meath.

Fresh Fish: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Wild Atlantic Jumbo Prawns, Keohane Seafoods, Cork.

Fish Innovation: Aldi Skellig Bay Salmon Infusions (Parsley, Chive and Garlic), Good Fish, Co Cork.

Prepared Fish: Lidl Deluxe Seafood Chowder, Galmere Fresh Foods, Galway.

Smoked Fish: Smoked Irish Wild Salmon Ballyhack Smokehouse, New Ross, Co Wexford.

Food to Go: Coconut & Berry Super Seed Snack, Good4U, Sligo.

Fruit Food to Go: Centra Melon and Pineapple Batons, Freshcut Foods, Dublin.

Free From Bread and Bakery: Tesco Free From Brown Seeded Rolls Boulder Brands, UK.

Free From Chilled: Vegetable Burgers, Mash Direct, UK.

Free From Frozen: Tesco Free From Strawberry and Vanilla Cones, Eispro, Hungary.

Free From Savoury: Dunnes Stores Gluten-Free Irish Pork Sausages, Arthur Mallon Foods, Monaghan.

Free From Sweet: Coconut Nutritional Chocolate Bar, Dr Coy’s Health Foods, Greystones, Co Wicklow.

Frozen Food Savoury: Tesco Meat-Free 2 Sweet Potato Paneer and Spinach Bakes Daloon Foods, UK.

Frozen Food Sweet: Dunnes Stores Simply Better French All Butter Tarte au Citron Boncolac, France.

Fruit Sweet: Irish Strawberries, Keelings Retail, Ballyboughal, Co Dublin.

Jams: SuperValu Signature Tastes Three Fruit Marmalade, Follain, Ballyvourney, Co Cork.

Sweet Spreads & Sauces: Rum Butterscotch Sauce, Royal County Puddings, Kilmessan, Co Meath.

Bacon: Dunnes Stores Simply Better Dry Cured Irish Rashers, Callan Bacon, Co Kilkenny.

Beef:

Aldi Specially Selected 28-Day Matured Irish Rib Roast on the Bone, ABP Cahir.

Beef Steaks:

Dry-Aged Angus Striploin Steak James Whelan Butchers, Co Tipperary.

Burgers and Meatballs:

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Angus Smoked Paprika & Tomato Beef Steak Burgers, Tendermeats, Dublin.

Game:

Duck Leg Confit, Silver Hill Farm, Emyvale, Co Monaghan.

Meat Innovation:

SuperValu Signature Tastes Lamb Steaks with a Spicy Tomato Marinade and a Parmesan Crumb, Kepak, Co Meath.

Lamb:

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Fresh Irish Connemara Hill Rack of Lamb, Tendermeats, Dublin.

Pork:

SuperValu & Centra BBQ Pork Rib Rack, Kepak, Co Meath.

Poultry:

Charlesfort Turkey Roulade, Hogan’s Farm, Kells, Co Meath.

Meat Puddings:

Traditional Homemade White Pudding, Meeres Pork Products, Quin, Co Clare.

Meat Sausages:

Dunnes Stores Simply Better 6 Superior Habanero Chilli Irish Pork Sausages, Arthur Mallon Foods, Monaghan.

Oils & Vinegars:

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Aceto Balsamico Di Modena IGP, Del Gusto, Deansgrange, Co Dublin.

Pasta, Rice & Grains:

Tesco Organic Whole Wheat Spaghetti La Doria, Italy.

Pizzas:

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Italian Wood Fired Goat’s Cheese & Caramelized Red Onion Pizza, Eat Better.

Quiches, Pies and Pasties:

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade West Cork Gubbeen Chorizo & Irish Potato Quiche, Zanna Cookhouse, Wexford.

Ready Meals:

SuperValu Signature Tastes Irish Lamb Tagine, Ballymaguire Foods, Dublin.

Ready Meals Ethnic:

SuperValu Signature Tastes Chicken Korma, Emaan Meal Solutions, Dublin.

Ready to Cook:

Dunnes Stores Cook at Home Apple & Blueberry Stuffed Pork Fillet Wrapped in Streaky Bacon with a Maple Glaze, Meat & More, Naas, Co Kildare.

Relishes & Chutneys:

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Handmade Tomato Chilli & Balsamic Relish, Follain, Ballyvourney, Co Cork.

Unprepared Salad & Vegetables:

Irish Lumpers, Glens of Antrim Potatoes

Prepared Salad:

SuperValu & Centra Super Green Veg Salad, Wonderfoods, Dublin.

Prepared Vegetables:

Aldi Vegetable Fajita Kit, Wonderfoods, Dublin.

Sauces and Salad Dressings:

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Made Honey & Mustard Dressing, Derrycamma Farm, Castlebellingham, Co Louth.

Seasonal Occasions:

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish All Butter Hot Cross Buns La Boulangerie Des Gourmets, Dublin.

Side Dishes:

Dunnes Stores Cook at Home Potato Gratin, Avondale Foods, Craigavon, Co Armagh.

Soups:

Lidl Deluxe Sri Lankan Chicken Soup, Ballymaguire Foods, Dublin.

Store Cupboard Ingredients:

Twist’d Creole, Spice Devils, Dublin 22.

Teas & Other Hot Beverages:

Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Handmade Belgian Chocolate Swirl Stick Áine Handmade Chocolate, Stradone, Co Cavan.

Value (Ambient & Drink):

Lidl Simply Tortilla Chips Snack Food Poco Loco, Belgium.

Value (Chilled):

Dunnes Stores My Family Favourites Mature White Cheddar, Bandon Vale, Co Cork.

Value (Frozen):

Tesco Everyday Value 3 Way Cook Chips, Fullers Food International, UK.

Irish Quality Drink Awards

Ciders:

Tempted Elderflower Cider , Tempted Cider Company, Lisburn, Co Armagh.

Lagers & Speciality Beers:

Dunnes Stores Grafters Kolsch Style, Rye River Brewing Company, Celbridge, Co Kildare.

Pale Ales & IPA:

Farmageddon Gold Pale Ale Farmageddon Brewing Co-Op, Comber, Co Down.

Red Ales:

Red Ale, The Porterhouse Brewing Company, Dublin 2.

Stouts & Porters:

Dunnes Stores Grafters Porter, Rye River Brewing Company, Celbridge, Co Kildare.

Red Wines Over €10:

Tesco Finest Ribera Del Duero Reserva, Felix Solis, Spain.

Red Wines under €10:

Dunnes Stores Vina Maipo Mi Pueblo Syrah, Vina Maipo, Chile.

Rose & Sparkling Wines:

Tesco Finest Vintage Champagne, O Moore & Co, UK.

White Wines :

SuperValu Montagny 1er Cru Les Resses, Andre Goichot, France.

Craft Spirits:

Dingle Pot Still Vodka, The Dingle Distillery, Co. Kerry.

Other Spirits:

Blackwater No.5 Gin, Blackwater Distillery, Cappoquin, Co Waterford.

Liqueurs, Speciality Spirits & Fortified Wines: Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur, Dublin.