Ireland’s shopkeepers offer the Best in Fresh

IRISH shopkeepers lead the way when it comes to offering their customers fresh food and drink, according to judges of a new contest for the best shops.

Yesterday the judges of the first Best in Fresh competition announced their winners after assessing stores the length and breadth of Ireland for the freshness of their produce.

Among the winners was Dublin’s Donnybrook Fair store and Co Cork’s SuperValu supermarket in Clonakilty.

Judge Terence Cosgrove, who edits the Checkout food industry magazine, said: “Fresh food is where every retailer wants to succeed because it gives them an edge over their competitors.”

The best fresh meat store was adjudged to be SuperValu in Clonakilty, Co Cork, while the best fruit and vegetables can be found at Nolan’s in Clontarf.

Tesco in Clarehall, Finglas, Dublin, had the best bakery while the small store with the freshest food was Donnybrook Fair in Donnybrook, also Dublin.

Judges assessed the stores by looking at the range of produce, the quality, value for money and the availability of local and organic produce.