Oakpark have topped off a memorable year of award winning at the Annual Irish Quality Food Awards 2017. We took home the Gold Award for our Specially Selected Smoked Honey Bacon Medallions, produced for Aldi. This success comes on the back of our record breaking back to back win at The Grocer Food and Drink Awards and our huge success at this years Great Taste Awards.
Launched in 1979, the Quality Food Awards are the most prestigious awards for food and drink products on sale in UK grocery outlets, and this is due in large part to the transparency and robustness of the judging process.
Due to huge demand from the Irish market, the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards were launched in 2013 for the retail sector and the Irish Café Quality Food Awards launched in 2015 to recognise the foodservice sector. They have now been rebranded the Irish Foodservice Quality Food Awards for 2017 to better represent the marketplace.
Expert judging panels are comprised of chefs, chef-lecturers, home economists, food writers, and consultants, restaurateurs, food technologists and representatives from regional food groups, all of whom bring their extensive knowledge to bear in the process.
The Irish Quality Food Awards are unique in that they reward great tasting products, with the finest of flavours, textures and aromas. They reward nutritious products, with the finest ingredients lists, while also recognising innovation, great packaging and presentation.
The Awards not only reward achievements in new product development, but also point the way for future success through continual innovation and creativity. Each year the awards demonstrate the capacity of retailers and manufacturers to create marvellous new products.
Over nearly four decades the awards have reflected the professionalism and financial commitment to product development, whether it’s ethnic specialities or new presentations of more familiar foods. Consumer desire for new tastes and food experiences is never-ending and, as a result, the creative collaboration of retailers and food service organisations is also unceasing.
