Kinsale Gourmet Wins Prestigious Irish Food Award
Kinsale Gourmet has won the prize for Innovation at this year’s Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards. The Cork company’s recently launched ‘Meals Made Easy’ was chosen as the overall winner from 90 products that were carefully scrutinised and judged for innovation as part of the award sponsored by Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s Seafood Development Centre, the country’s only purpose built centre for seafood excellence and innovation.
In its 8th year, Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards is the biggest competition for quality Irish produce on the island of Ireland.
Kinsale Gourmet launched its Meals Made Easy range in June and has since secured a sizeable contract with SuperValu. The products are similar to scratch kits which are popular in the UK and consist of four pots of par-cooked ingredients such as prawn, hake, salmon, vegetables, rice etc. and mouth-watering sauces, all of which are 100% free of preservatives, additives, artificial colours and flavours. All the ingredients are gluten free and cooked in one pan to create a nutritious and flavour-full meal in just 6 minutes.
Mark Muldoon of Kinsale Gourmet says: “We are absolutely thrilled to win Blas na hÉireann’s Innovation award which recognises and validates our dedication to developing a truly innovative product that caters for those who want convenience without having to sacrifice nutrition and flavour. We’re also delighted and excited to win the bursary of €4,000 for the expert services and supports in BIM’s Seafood Development Centre which will help us to further develop and innovate new products which we hope will now be even more possible with this national award that will no doubt open new doors for us.”
BIM’s Seafood Development Centre (SDC) has sponsored Blas na hÉireann’s Innovation award for the last four years. Paul Ward, manager of the SDC, says: “We are delighted to sponsor this award which recognises and celebrates companies who are bringing truly innovative products to the market. Adding value and adapting products to meet the needs of modern day consumers and markets is imperative to business success and growth. We look forward to working with Kinsale Gourmet through their bursary.”
