Bord Bia - National Organic Awards

Bord Bia is calling on the Irish organic sector to submit their entries for the National Organic Awards, taking place on Thursday, October 17^th 2024.

The National Organic Awards celebrate the achievements of Irish organic food and drink producers and is held every two years in association with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The 2024 National Organic Awards will take place on Thursday, October 17th, 2024 in the Bord Bia Global Hub in Dublin. This event aims to recognise developments within the organic sector across seven key categories, judged by a panel of experts.

The winners will be announced at an award ceremony that celebrates the best of organic food from Ireland. Judging will take place at the National Organic Food Fair in Merrion Square on the 31^st August 2024.

This year we’re excited to announce there is a new special award focused on recognising an individual who is leading by example for the Irish organic sector and will be crowned The Irish Organic Sector Champion 2024. This award will be nominated by others in the sector.

Full list of awards can be found below:

Best Irish Organic Product Award: To include Irish organic branded food and beverage products available for sale in Ireland either through retail, speciality, food service or direct to consumer channel. Judging criteria will include organic brand story, market opportunity, packaging and brand communication and relevance to evolving consumer trends.

Best Irish Organic Private Label Product Award: To include Irish organic products currently available through Irish retail/food service channels (including seasonal products that were available over the past 12 months) retail/food service products in this category must be sold under the private label (own label) brand. Judging criteria will include organic private label brand story, market opportunity, packaging and brand communication.

Best Irish Organic Export Product Award: With the export market for Irish organic products of growing importance to Irish organic producers, this award looks to recognise these products. This award is open to products currently being sold in the export market. Judging Criteria will include export opportunity identification, evidence of export success, packaging and branding export adaptability and overcoming export challenges

Best New and Innovative Irish Organic Product: Open to new products or packaging innovation launched since October 2022. Judging Criteria will include market insights, evidence of innovation for product or packaging and evidence of market success.

Direct to Consumer Excellence Award: Open to products being sold directly to consumers via e-commerce, e.g. company website, third party shop, social media shop etc. (Online sales via Irish retailer websites are not eligible). Judging Criteria will include sales analysis and online analytics, success of customer recruitment, evidence of business growth and packaging and branding adaptability

Business in the Community Award: This category will acknowledge the achievements of businesses in their local communities. Producers should submit details of an example of one corporate social responsibility initiative which they have undertaken and how this benefits the local community. Judging Criteria will include a review of overall business in the community initiative, how the initiative links with brand/product story, the lasting impact of the initiative and its link to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (where relevant)

The Irish Organic Champion 2024: to recognise the achievements of an individual who is a true pioneer, who is positive influence for the Irish organic sector, encompassing the qualities and philosophy of what the Irish organic sector stands for and helping to progress the sector. Judging Criteria will focus on the background of projects and initiatives the nominee is delivering for the sector, why it is important to the sector and the impact these activities are delivering

Prizes:

Capability development delivers business growth by embedding best practice commercial marketing knowledge, practices, and skills within organisations. Bord Bia have a wide range of Client Capability supports with each of these fully focused to deliver commercial opportunities for participating companies. Key supports available focus on; strategy development, customer management, routes to market, and branding. Winners of the 2024 Organic awards will get a one to one session with our Client Capability team who will help develop a bespoke package of supports to meet individual company needs up to the value of €5,000. There is a separate prize for the Irish Organic Sector Champion Award 2024.

Key dates:

19^th August: Closing date for applications

31^st August: Shortlisted tastings, judging and photoshoot at the National Organic Food Fair Merrion Square Dublin

17^th October: Award Ceremony

Entry requirements:

Completed entry forms must be received by Monday August 19^th 2024

Only entries on the official entry form will be accepted

Product must be grown or manufactured in the Republic of Ireland, please note that repackaged product is not eligible for entry.

Raw material (e.g. all meat and fish) must be sourced in Ireland where possible

Products must be certified as organic by Irish Organic Association, Organic Trust or equivalent and certification must be available on request.

Retailers and foodservice companies may submit private label products on behalf of the producer. Awards would be shared; but the value of prize would go to producer

Judges or their related business cannot enter the awards.

All products must be available on the market at time of submission for Judging

A single product may only be entered in a maximum of 2 categories.

If shortlisted products must be made available for tastings on 31^st August at National Organic Food Fair Merrion Square, Dublin

The awards organisers reserve the right to place entries in whichever category they deem as most appropriate.

All prizes must be redeemed by December 31st 2024

For any queries contact organic@bordbia.ie

How to fill out the form | Guide and FAQ's

Click the link below to begin your entry here

The first section is where we need to know a little bit about you, this includes all your contact information. Any contact information you provide us with will only be used to contact you in relation to the National Organic Awards and will not be shared with third parties.

In the first section of the form, select the category you wish to enter, if you wish to enter more than one category you can do this at the end of each entry and you will not need to retype your company details. Each product can only enter a maximum of two categories.

You can exit at any time and save your application by creating an account.

You will receive a confirmation email detailing your entry once you submit your form.

For assistance email organic@bordbia.ie

National Organic Awards 2024