Bord Bia today announced the shortlist of companies for its Food and Drink Industry Awards 2011, which recognise excellence in export development; branding; innovation; sustainability; entrepreneurship and success on the domestic market. This year’s awards, in association with Rabobank, will be presented at Bord Bia’s Annual Brand Forum end of year event taking place in Trinity College Dublin, on Tuesday, 22nd November. Irial Finan, Executive Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company, will be the keynote speaker on the night and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney T.D. will present the awards.
In total, Bord Bia received 184 entries across six categories. The three shortlisted companies under each category are as follows;
Exporting Award
Kepak - Sonae own brand range
Irish Distillers - Jameson Irish Whiskey
Irish Dairy Board - Beo (baby milk powder)
Branding Award
Largo Foods - Tayto
Glenisk - Glenisk Range
Ina’s Kitchen Desserts - Brodericks
Entrepreneurial Award
ABC Nutrition
Zanna Cookhouse
Green Saffron
Domestic Success
Flahavans
McCormack Farms - Loose & Lively Range
Keelings
Sustainability Award (company award)
Silverhill Foods
Country Crest
Glenisk
Innovation Award
Dragon Nutrition - Little Dragon Shots
Kooky Dough - Slice and bake cookie rolls
Natasha's Living Food - Kale Crunchies
All entries have been assessed by an independent judging panel chaired by John Fanning, Chairman of Bord Bia’s Brand Forum. Commenting on this year’s entries, John Fanning said, “the volume and particularly the quality made the work of the judges all the more onerous but we were more than compensated by an enhanced awareness of the growing professionalism, confidence and vibrancy of Ireland's indigenous food and drink sector.”
The judging panel also includes Gilles Boumeester, Global Head Food & Agri Coverage, Rabobank International; Gordon Campbell, Managing Director, Spar International; Matt Dempsey, Editor, Irish Farmers Journal; Senator Feargal Quinn; Margot Slattery, Divisional Director, Sodexo Ireland; Tim Mobsby, former European Area President, Kellogg Company; Bartley O’Connor, Head of Sustainability, PWC and Fran Walton, Director, The Futures Company.
Ireland’s Largest Indigenous Industry
Ireland’s agri-food sector plays an important role in the Irish economy, accounting for 9% of merchandise exports, 16% of industrial output, supporting 270,000 jobs and has an annual gross output valued at €24 billion. As much as 64% of manufacturing exports by Irish-owned firms are estimated to consist of food and drink. Food and drink exports in 2011 are expected to reach a new all time high of €8.9 billion, an increase of more than 12%, or almost €1billion, on 2010 levels.