SuperValu Scoops Gold for Christmas Pudding

Just in time for Christmas, SuperValu’s Supreme Christmas Pudding received top marks and won a Gold Q award at the first ever Irish Quality Food Awards. This product was just one of six awards given to the SuperValu Irish Own Brand product range.

Launched to recognise the increasing demand for quality own label branded ranges, the Irish Quality Food Awards reward excellence in product development for food and drink producers, retailers and catering companies in Ireland.

Presented by leading Irish chef, Neven Maguire, and held at Dublin’s Mansion House, the awards were open to all retailers, food producers, wholesalers and food service operators. The competition saw a total of 131 food and drink products shortlisted across 34 categories, all vying for an award. The SuperValu winners and Irish suppliers were:

• Gold Q Christmas Award and Christmas Ambient Grocery Award – SuperValu Supreme Christmas Pudding supplied by Seerys
• Cakes and Morning Goods Q Award – SuperValu Supreme Belgian Chocolate Birthday Cake supplied by Fusco
• Fresh Produce Q Award – SuperValu Irish Flavorita Tomato supplied by Total Produce
• Sauces and Salad Dressings Q Award – SuperValu Squeezy Light Mayo supplied by Blenders
• Desserts and Puddings Q Award – SuperValu Supreme Sherry Trifle supplied by Prestige
• Pies and Pasties Highly Commended Award – SuperValu Peppered Steak Pie supplied by McColgans
• Pizzas Highly Commended Award – SuperValu Goats Cheese and Mediterranean Vegetable Pizza supplied by Greenisle

Commenting on the Awards, Martin Kelleher, Managing Director SuperValu, said: “With 25 shortlisted products, six winners, two highly commended awards, including an overall gold award, I am delighted to see so many SuperValu Own Brand products and their Irish suppliers recognised for their quality and value. It is a tremendous achievement to receive the gold award for our Supreme Christmas Pudding, which is supplied by Seery’s family run business in Carlow. This is a business that has been making puddings for 20 years with recipes developed over generations and this award is a testament to our select sourcing from the best of Irish suppliers. Recognising the best that the Irish food industry has to offer, the awards showcase the consistent commitment to quality and innovation that is synonymous with SuperValu and the Irish food sector.”

“These awards are a further endorsement of the SuperValu Own Brand range with over 2000 Own Brand products. With 75% of everything on our shelves supplied, produced or sourced from Irish suppliers, we are the number one supporter of the Irish food industry, sourcing more Irish goods than any other retailer in Ireland,” Kelleher added.

SuperValu serves over 2,000,000 customers every week, has 198 stores nationwide and is committed to local employment and supporting local suppliers. SuperValu contributes over €1.6 billion to the Irish economy helping to sustain almost 30,000 Irish jobs in the farm, food and retail sector.

Moynalty, Co. Meath is Ireland’s Tidiest Town for 2013. Moynalty was today (9 September) named best of the 832 towns and villages that entered this year’s SuperValu National TidyTowns competition. The announcement was greeted by great celebration at today’s awards ceremony in The Helix in Dublin.

On hand to present the prizes was Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and Mr. Martin Kelleher, Managing Director of SuperValu, the competition’s sponsor. The Helix was packed with representatives of TidyTowns groups, from all over the country, eagerly anticipating the announcement of the winners.

Moynalty also claimed the award of Ireland’s Tidiest Village. Other winners included Kenmare, Co Kerry which received the award for Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town, Killarney, Co Kerry received the award of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town, and Ennis, Co. Clare retained their title as Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre.

Speaking after the awards Minister Hogan said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Moynalty after 53 years in the competition; a really worthy winner. My congratulations to Moynalty and all of the other prize-winners today. I am always impressed by the ambition and enthusiasm of all those involved in the TidyTowns effort. These people volunteer their time, effort and expertise, year on year, to help make their communities better places to live and work in. The results of their efforts are obvious in the attractive, well cared-for towns and villages we see throughout the country.  It is clear that working together, getting to know your neighbours, and getting things done increases peoples’ pride in where they live and helps to build vibrant communities. This is why I am delighted to see this competition continues to sustain great interest, even after 55 years.”

The Minister also thanked SuperValu, the competition’s sponsor. He said: “I would like to thank SuperValu for their continued sponsorship for the past 22 years. SuperValu has been integral to sustaining and developing the TidyTowns competition, through their financial sponsorship and the support provided to TidyTowns groups by their local stores. An integral part of SuperValu’s promise to its customers is “We believe in Local”. Through their continued sponsorship of this competition they have proven that this is not just something they say, but also something they do”.

Added Martin Kelleher, Managing Director, SuperValu: “SuperValu TidyTowns is the public expression of the work countless individuals undertake to build community spirit and make their local area a better place to live. SuperValu together with its countrywide network of local retailers is – through the continued sponsorship of TidyTowns – committed to helping build and support vibrant local communities. I am delighted to congratulate this year’s winners and to recognise the commitment and dedication of TidyTowns committees nationwide who make such a real difference at a local level”.

Interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition has been consistently high in recent times with the number of entries exceeding 840 each year for the last three years. The TidyTowns competition is organised by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and sponsored by SuperValu. The TidyTowns competition has been sponsored by SuperValu since 1992.

Full details of all this year’s winners are available at www.tidytowns.ie and at www.supervalu.ie