SuperValu, the Irish Independent and Enterprise Ireland partner to Recognise Excellence in Ireland’s food and beverage sector
SuperValu has today announced that the 2011 Irish Food Producers Awards are open for entries. Now in their second year, the awards recognise superior quality and excellence amongst food and beverage producers in Ireland.
With the Irish Food Producers Awards, SuperValu, in partnership with the Irish Independent and Enterprise Ireland, has set out to highlight innovation and creativity in one of Ireland’s most important sectors.
Producers are invited to submit entries at www.supervalu.ie under the following categories, within each of which a winning company will be selected:
- Quality Commitment
- Innovation
- Local Producers
- Best Newcomer
- Best Fresh Produce
The overall winner will be awarded the title of the SuperValu Irish Food Producer of the Year, which rewards one supplier who has created the highest quality product and who has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence in all aspects of their business.
Consumers can also get involved and vote for their favourite Irish food or beverage, in the People’s Choice Awards, via the SuperValu Facebook page. All those who vote will be in with the chance to a €250 shopping voucher each week, that can be used in SuperValu’s 192 stores nationwide.
Launching this year’s awards, Martin Kelleher, Managing Director SuperValu said, “Ireland’s food and beverage sector is renowned for delivering high quality, excellent produce. An affinity with local, Irish produce is something that goes to the heart of Irish culture, and SuperValu is proud to recognise this.”
“With these Awards, together with Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Independent, we want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the companies involved, that has resulted in such a successful food and beverage sector in Ireland. It is also a vital industry in terms of our economic recovery and highlighted by the fact that the six hundred Irish suppliers we work with employ 15,000 people in the country.”
“Supervalu has as a core policy, a commitment to Irish producers and suppliers. Our customers know that when they buy Irish, they are purchasing quality food and drinks products, at excellent value. The Irish Food Producers Awards are an opportunity for us to highlight those companies that continue to offer quality produce and to reward their sustained effort and innovation,” Kelleher concluded.
The Irish Food Producers Awards are a further example of SuperValu’s commitment to Irish suppliers and producers which includes sales of over €1 billion worth of fresh Irish food every year. In 2010 the total purchases of Irish goods and services made by SuperValu, was worth over €1.6bn to the Irish economy, serving to both create and protect almost 30,000 Irish jobs in the farm, food and retail sector.
