Supervalu Scoop 103 Blas na HEireann Awards

SuperValu have just announced that they have won, a record, 103 Blas na hEireann awards at the annual awards ceremony in Dingle on Saturday.  SuperValu picked up 29 awards for its’ own brand range of products – winning 13 Gold, 9 Silver and 7 bronze while SuperValu’s Food Academy producers went home with 74 awards – 26 Gold, 30 Silver and 18 Bronze.  Overall they won 39 Gold awards, 39 Silver awards and 25 bronze – the most ever achieved at Blas na hEireann since its inception.

This is the ninth year of the Blas na hEireann awards which are recognised as the biggest annual competition for quality Irish produce across the island of Ireland.  Over 2,500 products were entered into the competition this year – with those nominated hoping to go home with Gold, Silver or Bronze Awards across 100 food and drink categories – not to mention other prestigious awards such as the Supreme Champion 2016 and Best Artisan Producer 2016.

SuperValu and their Food Academy producers winning over 100 of these highly sought after and coveted awards is a testament to SuperValu’s total commitment to supplying customers with unrivalled, quality Irish products.  Products that are not just sourced – but produced- locally and, in many cases, exclusively for SuperValu.   It is this clear, consistent commitment to local and Irish suppliers makes SuperValu the leading supporter of the Irish agri-food industry, from grass roots level up.

SuperValu’s Food Academy is SuperValu’s unique training programme, run along with Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Board – the aim being to support, nurture and mentor start-up food businesses.  Since it started, The Food Academy Programme has been a huge success, with more than 200 Food Academy producers now selling their products in SuperValu stores all across Ireland.  Winning 74 Blas na hEireann awards on Saturday is living proof of that success.

The 15 Signature Tastes nominations for SuperValu this year includes two frozen yoghurts – Mango and Raspberry; their Lamb Rack with Redcurrant and Rosemary Stuffing, Potato Gratin, Pastrami Irish Organic Smoked Salmon and Irish crab meat.  The 14 SuperValu Own Brand nominations include Mini Tiffin bites, Ham Brie and Spinach quiche, easy carve Sage and onion stuffed turkey and their Vegetable Samosa while the SuperValu & Centra nominations include Sean’s brown soda, Carrot, Honey and Coriander soup, Seafood Chowder and Chocolate Biscuit Cake pudding.

Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu said, “We are absolutely delighted to win so many awards this year – over a 100 in total; 29 for both our Own Brand range and the 74 awards by our Food Academy producers.  These awards are the ultimate endorsement of our commitment to sourcing the very best quality, local produce for our customers”.

He concluded: “We’re very proud that SuperValu and our superb suppliers and food producers won awards across all the food categories – which is quite simply down to the suppliers’ passion for quality fresh food and their unstinting commitment to delivering innovative products that give our customers both the quality and value they want.   It’s great to see their hard work and commitment was recognised by Blas na hEireann this year by winning so many Gold, Bronze and Silver awards”.