The winners of Bord Bia's Food and Drink Industry Awards 2009 were announced today by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr Brendan Smith T.D. The presentations took place at a lunchtime ceremony during Bord Bia's 9th annual Food & Drink Industry Day, in the IMI Conference Centre, Sandyford, Dublin.
Speaking at the awards today Minister Brendan Smith said "The quality of the entries across all seven categories is very impressive and inspires confidence in the future of the Irish food and drink industry. The individual award winners raise our national game at a challenging time. I wish them every success in growing their businesses further."
Mr Dan Browne, Chairman, Bord Bia added "The creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit shown by this year’s winners reflect the capacity and determination of the Irish food industry to address the hugely challenging environment that is today's marketplace. It also demonstrates, as we emerge from the downturn, how the industry can position itself for growth and, notwithstanding current difficulties, play a key role in the country's economic recovery."
Seven outstanding success stories
The seven award categories and winners were as follows:
The Born Global award, recognising outstanding achievement in the challenging export market, was presented to Kerry Foods for its Cheestrings product. Cheestrings is currently the number one children's cheese snack in the UK, with a 27 percent share of the overall cheese snack market, valued at £200 million. The product is also performing strongly in France and Holland and Kerry Foods estimate over 300 million Cheestrings are eaten each year across Europe.
Oak Park Foods, Cahir, Co. Tipperary won the Consumer Focus award, recognising product innovation, for its bacon rib product launched earlier this year. Oakpark Foods is a family run company, with a unique integrated food chain which guarantees total traceability from 'feed to fork'. Their winning product 'Oakpark Bacon Rib' is innovative in the Irish marketplace as they have taken a product that is traditionally sold over the butchers counter and developed a great value pre-pack alternative. Since its launch in March 2009, the Oakpark bacon rib has seen strong sales as consumers have become increasingly cost conscious.
The Environmental Enrichment award, for leadership in promoting the principles of sustainability, was presented to Glenisk, based in Killeigh, Co. Offaly. The judges commented "Glenisk's commitment to sustainability is truly outstanding. Passionate about fair trade and ensuring that their production is sustainable, this family owned business has excelled in producing a high quality and desirable product while minimising their manufacturing imprint." The Offaly-based company last year installed its own wind turbine, achieved an internal recycling rate of 97 per cent and a 45 per cent reduction in waste going to landfill. It has recently embarked on a project to measure not only its own plant’s carbon footprint but that of each of its supplier farms.
The Thinking Big award, for small businesses demonstrating exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, matched by strong sales and marketing, was presented to ABC Nutrition, a human nutrition company based in Shannon, Co. Clare. ABC Nutrition manufacture and distribute nutritional powders, vitamin capsules, and spray vitamins. The company is fully Irish owned by four individuals who have a wide range of experience in the sports nutrition and health nutrition industries. They began trading in February 2007 with one customer based in Ireland. The current client base includes customers in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Hungary, Netherlands and Slovenia.
Glanbia's rebranding of its fortified milk – Super Milk – won the Spotlight award, an award that appreciates the vital role that branding and marketing play in making a product a success. Super Milk in its distinctive red and white packaging has been one of the success stories of the Irish dairy market in the last few years, growing at a rate of over 15 per cent in 2008 and a further six per cent in 2009. The product which was first marketed as "anti-osteoporosis" milk has been successfully rebranded as a mainstream family milk which provides a valuable source of vitamin D.
The Home Grown award, recognising companies who have adapted and innovated in the light of changed economic circumstances, was presented to C&C for its recently launched Bulmers Pear Cider. C&C Group plc is a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded beverages in Ireland and the UK. Bulmers Pear cider is C&C's first departure from apple cider and its creative "Embrace the Pear" campaign has so far generated over €11million worth of domestic sales.
Highfield Nurseries, based in Oldtown, Co. Dublin and its Living Flavour fresh herbs product won the New Perspectives award. This category recognises products that have been repositioned to meet changing consumer demands through new approaches and smart market adaptation. In 2008, Highfield Nurseries changed it's business from being 85 percent production of flowering plants to 85 percent production of pot herbs and living lettuce. This made a huge difference to increase profit and margin while reducing waste.
The independent judging panel, chaired by John Fanning, also included Gordon Campbell, Managing Director, Spar International; Matt Dempsey, Editor, Irish Farmers Journal; Senator Feargal Quinn; Jim Power, Economist; Finn Cottle, trade consultant and former buyer with Sainsbury’s and Morrisons; Bartley O’Connor, Head of Sustainability, PWC and Margot Slattery, Divisional Director Sodexo.
John Fanning, chair of the judging panel, commented "The seven winners today represent success stories in an industry that has faced unprecedented challenges in the last year. Through innovative product development and inventive branding and marketing these companies have achieved success both at home and abroad. Some of the winners are small, family owned industries while others are large global operations but all display the determination and dynamism that is at the core of the Irish food and drink sector which is one of the cornerstones of the economy."
Ireland's Largest Indigenous Industry
Irish food and drink exports fell for the first time in 2008, by 6.5 percent, to just under €8.2 billion. Following two years of substantial growth which saw €1.4 billion added to the value of Irish food and drink exports, a further decline is anticipated in 2009 arising from continued sterling pressure, severe difficulties in the global dairy market, and the impact of the economic downturn which is bringing pressure on returns across all sectors. However, there is some prospect for a return to growth in 2010.
Ireland's agri-food sector plays an important role in the Irish economy, accounting for almost 9% of employment and 10% of Irish exports. As much as 65% of manufacturing exports by Irish-owned firms are estimated to consist of food and drink. The UK is the main destination for Irish food and drink exports, accounting for 45% of the total; 32% go to Continental EU markets with the remaining 23% going to non-EU markets. The Irish food and drink sector has the highest usage of Irish produced inputs across major sectors in the Irish economy with close to three quarters of the sector’s inputs sourced domestically.