Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2014 Finalists Announced

Following a huge wave of entries and 8 days of tough judging, the shortlisted products for the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards have been announced today. The 180 shortlisted food and drink products in 50 categories are now in with a chance to win one of the prestigious awards in a ceremony hosted by TV Chef and author Catherine Fulvio on 11th September in the Round Room, Mansion House, Dublin.



This year for the first time a panel of judges from Musgrave Retail Partners chose finalists for the Small Producer of the Year Award – designed to celebrate artisanal foods and drink in Ireland and sponsored by SuperValu. The winner will be offered a prestigious listing in SuperValu stores.

Small Producer of the Year Award (Listing in SuperValu) Finalists are:
 
· Chicken Liver Paté with Garlic & Brandy - On The Pig's Back c/o La Charcuterie Irlandaise Ltd
· Scotts Irish Cider - Big Hand Brewing Company Ltd
· Sweet BBQ Pulled Pork - Jack & Keith Molloy Bros. Ltd


Organiser, Helen Lyons, is thrilled with the success of the awards so far and said the judging was a “fantastic 8 days which brought together some of the very best food and drink on sale in Ireland and many of the Nation’s top foodies”.

The Irish Quality Food Awards set out to recognise excellence in product development for food and drink producers, retailers and catering companies in Ireland (North & South) with Q Awards being awarded across 50 different categories. The Overall Gold Q is awarded to the one product that stands out among all the other entries and is chosen from the winners of the main categories, representing the very best of the best.

Bruce Langlands, Director of Food Beverage at Harrods and Co-chair of the IQFA Judging Panel
"The judging process encapsulates all elements of the product, from its ingredients, its cooking or serving suggestions and equally important, its packaging." said Bruce Langlands, Director of Food & Beverage at Harrods and Co-chair of the IQFA Judging Panel. "Unlike awards which judge products “blind” so that you cannot see the packaging, we do the exact opposite. We demand that our judges know as much as possible about the food and drink that they are sampling so they can respond as a consumer would – with their eyes first, and then with their nose and their mouth."


The awards are open to all retailers, food producers, wholesalers and food service operators across Northern and Southern Ireland. They are a unique collaboration between Food and Hospitality Ireland and the UK Quality Food and Drink Awards (now in its 33rd year) and sponsored by top UK packaging manufacturer, Benson Group as well as Invest Northern Ireland and MLS Labelling & Printing Systems.


All excess food from the judging was given to The Capuchin Centre for Homeless People, which provides warm food each day and more than 1800 food hampers a week to vulnerable people in Dublin and FareShare.

The Full List of Shortlisted Q-Award Finalists are:

Bagged Snacks
Judges' choice winner

Biscuits – Savoury and Sweet
Broderick's 6 Assorted and Indulgent Mini-Bites - Ina's Kitchen Desserts
My Family Favourites Milk Chocolate & Hazelnut Wafer - Dunnes Stores / CKS
Simply Better All Butter White Chocolate and Raspberry Cookies - Dunnes Stores / Regale Biscuit Co.
Simply Better Irish Wholemeal Crackers - Dunnes Stores / Regale Biscuit Co.


Bread - Small Breads and Rolls
Black Olive Roll - Tesco / Panelto Foods
Italian Style White Baguette - Lidl / Panelto Foods
Multigrain Tuscan Roll - Lidl / Panelto Foods


Bread - Large Loaves
Fruit Loaf - Tesco / Irwin's Bakery
Low GI Multiseed Cob - Lidl / Mannings Bakery
Multiseed Vienna - Lidl / Aryzta


Bread - Morning Goods
Finest Muesli Bread - Tesco / Arytza
Genesis Crafty Blueberry Pancakes – Genesis Crafty
Genesis Crafty Mini Sultana Scones – Genesis Crafty


Bread - Speciality Breads
Cinnamon & Raisin Soda Bread - Lidl / WD Irwins & Sons
Four Cheese Loaf - Cuisine de France
Stout Bread - Lidl / WD Irwins & Sons


Bread - Wheaten and Soda Breads
Aldi Specially Selected Rustic Wheaten - Aldi / Stapletons Bakery
Genesis Crafty Toaster Wheaten - Genesis Crafty
Simply Better Buttermilk Soda Bread - Dunnes Stores / Neville's Bakery
Wheaten Soda Bannoch - Musgrave Retail Partners / McErlains Bakery


Cakes and Morning Goods
Apple & Blackberry Lattice Bar - Tesco / Golden Bake
Large Red Berry Scone - Lidl / Aryzta
Mini Carrot Cake Loaf - Tesco / Aryzta


Cereals
Aldi Organic Porridge - Aldi / Stafford Lynch
Kavanagh’s Luxury Fruit Porridge with Apple, Raisin & Cinnamon Dusted Cranberries – Aldi / Stafford Lynch
Simply Better Irish Handmade Red Berry Granola - Dunnes Stores / The Foods of Athenry


Cheese
Irish Extra Mature Cheddar - Lidl / Dale Farm Dairies
Irish Vintage Cheddar - Lidl / Dale Farm Dairies
Simply Better Cashel Blue - Dunnes Stores / Traditional Cheese Company
Simply Better Cooleeney - Dunnes Stores / Traditional Cheese Company


Chocolate and Confectionery
Irish Chocolate Selection - Lidl / Lir Chocolates
Irish Cream Liqueur Chocolates - Lidl / Lir Chocolates
Yellowman Honeycomb Covered in Dark Chocolate - The Good Food & Wine Company Ltd


Christmas Q - Christmas Cakes, Bakery and Desserts
Aldi Specially Selected 907g Irish Christmas Pudding - Aldi / Seerys Bakery
Aldi Specially Selected Chocolate Centred Christmas Pudding - Aldi / Seerys Bakery
Dunnes Stores 6 Deep Filled All Butter Mince Pies - Dunnes Stores / Sargeants Bakeries
Novelty Christmas Cake - Dunnes Stores / Sam's Cookies
SuperValu Pear & Cream Liqueur Chocolate Log - Musgrave Retail Partners / Sean Stafford's Bakery


Christmas Q - Christmas Chilled, Grocery Ambient, Meat, Fish & Savoury
Aldi Irish Cheese Board - Aldi / Horgans Deli
Fresh Three Bird Roast - Lidl / Hogan's Turkeys
Simply Better Cranberry Sauce - Dunnes Stores / Wexford Preserves
Simply Better Ham Glaze - Dunnes Stores / Wexford Preserves


Cold Beverages
Finest Orange Juice - Tesco / Keeling F Juices Ltd
Green Apple Beer (non-alcoholic) - The Good Food & Wine Company Ltd
Simply Better Valencia Orange Juice - Dunnes Stores / Keeling F Juices Ltd


Dairy and Milk Products - Butters and Spreads
Connacht Gold Low Fat Butter - Aurivo Consumer Foods Ltd
Dairy Manor Irish Creamery Butter - Town of Monaghan Co-Op
Dairy Manor Unsalted Butter - Town of Monaghan Co-Op
Dairymaid Premium Spread – JDS Foods
Golden Cow Butter – Kerry Foods


Dairy and Milk Products - Yogurts
Aldi Specially Selected Handmade Farmhouse Raspberry Yogurt - Aldi / Killowen
Simply Better Handmade Blackberry & Apple Farmhouse Yogurt - Dunnes Stores / Green Valley Farms
Simply Better Handmade Lemon Curd Farmhouse Yogurt - Dunnes Stores / Green Valley Farms Ltd
SuperValu Signature Tastes Rhubarb Layer Yogurt - Musgrave Retail Partners / Killowen
SuperValu Signature Tastes Strawberry Yogurt - Musgrave Retail Partners / Irish Yogurts Ltd


Delicatessen – Antipasti
Carved Cajun Chicken Breast Slices - Lidl / Green Farm Foods
Dunnes Stores Italian Salami Milano - Dunnes Stores / Horgan's Delicatessen Supplies Ltd
Dunnes Stores Peppered Salami - Dunnes Stores / Horgan's Delicatessen Supplies Ltd
Pastrami Irish Beef - Tesco / O'Brien Fine Foods


Delicatessen - Other Deli Counter Products
Aldi Specially Selected Torn Ham with Herb & Onion - Aldi / Country Style
Brady Family Glazed Ham on the Bone - O'Brien Fine Foods
Denny Deli Style 100% Natural Ingredients Crumbed Ham - Kerry Foods
Duck Liver Paté - On The Pig's Back c/o La Charcuterie Irlandaise Ltd
Wild about Nettle Pesto - Wild About
Wiltshire Cured Ham on the Bone - Musgrave Retail Partners / O' Brien Fine Foods


Desserts and Puddings
Lemon Cheesecake - Lidl / Prestige Foods
SuperValu Signature Tastes Apple Tarte Tatin, Caramel Sauce - Musgrave Retail Partners / Couverture
SuperValu Signature Tastes Panacotta - Musgrave Retail Partners / Prestige Foods
Tesco Luxury All Butter Apple Tart - Tesco / Mannings Bakery


Fish - Fresh Fish
Burren Smoked Irish Organic Salmon with Seaweed Marinade - Burren Smokehouse Ltd
Burren Hot Smoked Irish Organic Salmon with Honey, Lemon & Dill - Burren Smokehouse Ltd
Glenarm Organic Smoked Salmon - Glenarm Organic Salmon
Simply Better Dublin Bay Prawn Cocktail - Dunnes Stores / Nolan Seafoods
Simply Better Honey and Dill Smoked Salmon - Dunnes Stores / Burren Smokehouse Ltd


Fish - Fresh Fish Dishes
Cajun Salmon Darnes – Tesco / Goodfish
Dublin Bay Prawn Cocktail - Lidl / William Carr & Sons
Fish For Two Salmon With Soy Sauce and Ginger - Musgrave Retail Partners / Dunn's of Dublin
Seafood Chowder - Lidl / Galmere


Food To Go
Chicken With Garam Masala Soup - Musgrave Retail Partners / Ballymaguire
Classic Fruit Salad - Lidl / Fresh Cut Food Services
Tesco Open Salmon Sandwich on Soda Bread - Tesco / Freshways
Tesco Pearl Barley Salad with Basil Dressing - Tesco / Nature's Best


Free From - Chilled & Savoury
Aldi 'Has No' Baps (White) - Aldi / Gallaghers Bakery
Aldi 'Has No' Delicious Soft White Bread - Aldi / Gallaghers Bakery
Mallon's Gluten Free/Low Fat Leek & Pepper Sausages - Arthur Mallon Foods
Mallon's Gluten Free and Low Fat Sausages - Arthur Mallon Foods
Rudd's Gluten Free Sausages - O'Brien Fine Foods


Free From – Sweet
Aldi 'Has No' Muffins (Lemon) - Aldi / Gallaghers Bakery
Cashew, Almond and Cinnamon Gluten Free Granola – Maria Lucia Bakes Ltd
Cranberry, Coconut and Chia Seed Gluten Free Granola – Maria Lucia Bakes Ltd


Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry – Bacon
Irish Honeycure Back Bacon Rashers - Lidl / Honeyvale Foods
Irish Smoked Maple Cure Back Bacon Rashers - Lidl / Honeyvale Foods
Simply Better Dry Cured Irish Rashers - Dunnes Stores / Callan Bacon
SuperValu Thick Cut Rasher with 100% Natural Ingredients - Musgrave Retail Partners / Carty Ltd
SuperValu Signature Tastes Smoked Rack Of Bacon - Musgrave Retail Partners / Carty Ltd


Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry - Beef Steaks
21 Day Matured European Angus Sirloin Steak - Blackberry Hill Farm
Aldi Specially Selected 28 Day Dry Aged Rib Eye - Aldi / ABP Cahir
Inisvale Irish Hereford Fillet Steaks - Linden Foods
Irish Hereford Striploin Steaks - Lidl / Linden Foods


Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry – Poultry
Confit of Duck - Silver Hill Farm
Duck Breast with Garlic and Pepper - Lidl / Silver Hill Foods
Yummy Duck – Silver Hill Farm


Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry - Sausages, Burgers and Meatballs
Irish Beef Sausage with Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper - Tesco / Hilton Foods
Moroccan Lamb Burger - Tesco / Hilton Foods
Simply Better 6 Superior Honey & Mustard Irish Pork Sausages - Dunnes Stores / Arthur Mallon Foods
Simply Better 6 Superior Spring Onion & Cracked Black Pepper Irish Pork Sausages - Dunnes Stores/Arthur Mallon Foods
The Co-Operative Chipotle Chilli Meatball Bake – Dunbia


Fresh Meat, Game and Poultry - Pork, Lamb and Other Joints
Butchers Select Lamb Rack French Trim - Musgrave Wholesale Partners / Kepak
Simply Better Dry Cured Irish Bacon Loin Joint with Acacia Honey & Mustard Glaze - Dunnes Stores / Oliver Carty
Stuffed Irish Lamb Leg - Lidl / Irish Country Meats
SuperValu Piri Piri Marinade Pork Steak - Musgrave Retail Partners / Oliver Carty
SuperValu Smokey BBQ Marinade Pork Steak - Musgrave Retail Partners / Oliver Carty


Fresh Produce – Fruit
Classic Fruit Salad - Lidl / Fresh Cut Food Services
SuperValu Fruit Salad Mix - Musgrave Retail Partners / Freshcut Foods
SuperValu Kids Range Apple and Pear Pouch - Musgrave Retail Partners / Keelings Retail
SuperValu Signature Tastes Supersweet Nectarine Tray - Musgrave Retail Partners / Donnelly Fruit and Veg


Fresh Produce – Salad
Finest Irish Piccolo Cherry Tomatoes - Tesco / Jim O'Rourke
SuperValu Signature Tastes Seasonal Leaf and Walnut Salad - Musgrave Retail Partners / Wonderfoods


Fresh Produce – Vegetables
Easy Cook 7 Minute Baby New Potatoes – Keogh’s
SuperValu Signature Tastes Butternut Squash Stirfry with Edamame Beans & Coriander - Musgrave Retail Partners / Wonderfoods


Frozen Food – Savoury
Aldi Specially Selected Irish Beef Quarter Pounders with Cheddar Cheese and Red Onion - Aldi / Kepak Foods
Aldi Specially Selected Irish Beef Quarter Pounders with Cheddar Cheese and Sweet Chilli - Aldi / Kepak Foods
Dunnes Mega Burger - Dunnes Stores / Kepak Foods


Frozen Food – Sweet
Raspberry & White Chocolate Gelato - Quinn's Gelato Limited
Roll It Sweet All Butter Shortcrust Pastry - Roll It Pastry
Tesco Vanilla Flavoured Ice Cream 1 pint - Tesco / Lakelands


Grocery Ambient – Savoury
Honeyed Fig, Rhubarb & Chilli Savoury Jam - Irish Bee Sensations
Kari Tropical – Spice Devils
Musgrave Excellence Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Musgrave Wholesale Partners / Pan Euro Foods
Simply Better Luxury Irish Country Relish - Dunnes Stores / Folláin
SuperValu Signature Tastes Roasted Red Pepper Relish - Musgrave Retail Partners / Folláin


Grocery Ambient – Sweet
Aldi Organic Honey - Aldi / Healys Honey
Blackcurrant and Rum Jam - Lidl / Abbey Farm Foods
Deluxe Acacia Honey with Cut Comb - Lidl / Mileeven Fine Foods
Simply Better Three Fruit Marmalade - Dunnes Stores / Wexford Home Preserves
SuperValu Signature Tastes Raspberry Conserve - Musgrave Retail Partners / Folláin


Hot Beverages
Cinnamon Hot Toddy (non-Alcoholic) - The Good Food & Wine Company Ltd
Homestead Original Blend Tea - Homestead Brands / Stonehouse Marketing Ltd
McGrath's Reserve Blend Tea - Aldi / Robert Roberts
My Family Favourites Gold Blend 80s Teabags - Dunnes Stores / Barry's Tea
SuperValu Gold Blend Teabags - Musgrave Retail Partners / Barber Daly
SuperValu Signature Tastes Colombian Supremo Coffee Beans – Musgrave Retail Partners / United Coffee

Pizzas
My Family Favourites 3 Pepperoni Pizzas - Dunnes Stores / Green Isle Foods
Pizzado - Choice Pizza Ltd
Tesco Bistro Italiano Chargrilled Peppers, Goats Cheese & Spinach Pesto Pizza - Tesco / Green Isle Foods

Ready Meals
Aldi Tasty Chicken Tikka Masala - Aldi / Kohinoor Ltd T/A Emaan Worldcuisine
Bombay Chicken Curry - Bombay Pantry
SuperValu Signature Tastes Lamb Tagine - Musgrave Retail Partners / Ballymaguire
SuperValu Signature Tastes Smoked Haddock Fillet in a Mornay Sauce - Musgrave Retail Partners / Ballymaguire


Sauces and Salad Dressings
Creamy Peppercorn Sauce - Lidl / Spice'o'Life
SuperValu Squeezy Light Mayonnaise - Musgrave Retail Partners / Blenders
Vine Tomato & Jalapeno Pasta Sauce - The Scullery


Seasonal Occasions
Aldi Chocolate Box (Mother's Day) – Aldi
Aldi Roisins Honeycomb Easter Egg – Aldi
Iced Easter Madeira Cake - Dunnes Stores / Sam's Cookies


Side Dishes
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Cranberry, Apricot & Clementine Stuffing - Dunnes Stores / Mr Crumb
Mini Stuffed Mushrooms with Garlic & Cream Cheese - Lidl / Unimush Ireland
SuperValu Signature Tastes Braised Red Cabbage - Musgrave Retail Partners / Ballymaguire


Soups
Cream of Tomato Soup - Lidl / Princes
Fresh & Chunky Minestrone Soup - Newgrange Fine Foods
Just Food HiLo Super Greens Soup - Just Food
Sri Lankan Chicken Soup - Lidl / Ballymaguire Foods


Value Q
Daily Basics Jaffa Cakes - Musgrave Retail Partners / Bisquiva GmbH & Co. KG
My Family Favourites Irish Fruit Loaf - Dunnes Stores / Neville's Bakery
My Family Favourites Strawberry Jam - Dunnes Stores / Histon Sweet Spreads

SuperValu Small Producer of the Year Award - Shortlisted to Win a Listing with SuperValu:
Chicken Liver Paté with Garlic & Brandy - On The Pig's Back c/o La Charcuterie Irlandaise Ltd
Scotts Irish Cider - Big Hand Brewing Company Ltd
Sweet BBQ Pulled Pork - Jack & Keith Molloy Bros. Ltd


Cider
Dan Kelly's Cider – Dan Kelly’s Cider
Fresh & Zesty Cider - The Good Food & Wine Company Ltd
Tempted? Special Reserve Irish Craft Cider - dj's juice and cider
Tempted? Summer Sweet Irish Craft Cider - dj's juice and cider


Lagers & Ales
Aldi "O'Shea’s" Traditional Irish Pale Ale - Aldi / Carlow Brewing Co.
Independent Pale - Independent Brewing Company of Ireland
Independent Stout - Independent Brewing Company of Ireland


Sparkling Wine
Crémant d'Alsace Brut AOC - Lidl / S.C.V.B
Prosecco DOC Frizzante - Lidl / La Marca Vini E Spumanti


Spirits - Liqueurs and Speciality Spirits
Coole Swan – Coole Swan
Deluxe Irish Cream Liqueur 17% - Lidl / Terra Ltd


Spirits – Whiskies
Aldi Clontarf Classic Blend Whiskey - Aldi / Castle Brands Inc
Dundalgan Irish Whiskey - Lidl / Terra Ltd


Wine
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc Winemaker's Selection - Lidl / Lidl International GmbH
Pinot Grigio Rosé – Lidl / Lidl International GmbH
St. Emilion Gran Cru AOC, 2011 - Lidl / Union de Producteurs de Saint-Emilion


Note: The organisers chose to merge some categories due to the number of entrants, and remove several categories where the judges felt that a shortlist just could not be selected.


The Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2014 Finals will be held in the Mansion House, Dublin on Thursday 11th September. There are several Ticket Packages available - Click HERE to Book a Table.

To find out more about the second Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards, visit: www.irishqualityfoodawards.com or follow them on Twitter @IrishQFAs

Zack