6 October 2017
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Birgitta Curtin, Blas na hÉireann / Irish Food Awards and Maria Svejdar GS1 with Pat O’Farrell and Eimear Crowley, Folláin Teo, Ballyvourney, Cork Gold & Silver Medal winner at the Blas na h-Eireann / Irish Food Awards in Dingle
Photo Don MacMonagle
Last weekend, the amazing food producers who are part of the Dunnes Stores Simply Better Collection scooped an unprecedented 22 Awards at the Blas na hEireann 2017, bringing to over 270 awards, this premium food and drink brand has received since it was introduced in 2013.
The Awards, which are also known as The Irish Food Awards, are very important to the team at Simply Better as they not only recognise and reward the very best of Irish food and drink products but also recognise the passionate food producers who are behind these great products. The collection is made up of over 350 products and over 270 of these are produced in Ireland and available exclusively in Dunnes Stores nationwide.
Speaking after the Awards, Diarmuid Murphy, Brand Manager for Dunnes Stores Simply Better Collection stated “The producer story is so important to us and in Ireland we work directly with 55 producers who are as passionate about great food as we are. Our mission is to enable our customers to enjoy restaurant quality food at home, with the minimum of fuss and we do this by working with the very best of Irish producers, many of whom are being celebrated through these Awards.”
Flying the Cork flag at the awards were Keohane’s of Bantry who received a Silver for Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Organic Salmon Darnes and also Silver went to Ballyvourney based Follain Teo for their Handmade Irish Bramley Apple & Fig Chutney which is produced exclusively for the Dunnes Stores Simply Better Collection.
Colman Keohane MD of Keohane Seafoods stated “We have been working with Diarmuid and the Simply Better team now for over 2 years and the collaboration has allowed us to grow our business, providing sustainable jobs in Cork and providing quality products to customers throughout Ireland, without compromising on the goodness that great food brings to any meal. The Award we have won for our Simply Better Irish Organic Salmon and the other 21 awards that the collection has won demonstrates that what we are doing together works.”
Artie Clifford, Blas na hÉireann / Irish Food Awards and David Chandler, Blenders with Liz O’Leary and Joan Healy, Keohane Seafoods Cork, Gold & Silver Award Winner at the Blas na h-Eireann / Irish Food Awards in Dingle
Photo Don MacMonagle
