Tara Maher
Good Food Ireland is delighted to announce the finalists for its highly regarded national awards, with an impressive 17 businesses from Cork, including four from the Carrigdhoun area, making the 2024 shortlist across multiple categories.
Tom Durcan Meats has been shortlisted in Meat Producer of the Year category and Fishy Fishy in Restaurant of the Year, Koko Kinsale in the Bakery & Chocolate Producer of the Year, and On the Pigs Back Cafe & Deli Douglas in Café of the Year.
From primary producers, manufacturers, and chefs, to shops, hotels, tourism experiences, and restaurants, those businesses who make the shortlist are regarded by the judges as embodying all that makes Ireland’s food offering so standout.
The core emphasis of the Awards is the consumer experience of local, fresh, seasonal, Irish ingredients. Good Food Ireland® highlights tourism-hospitality and retail businesses that prioritise local produce and encourages others. This in turn supports Irish farmers, food producers and fishermen, sustainably strengthening local economies and communities.
An independent collection of Irish and international leaders with in-depth knowledge of the hospitality industry makes up this year’s judging panel who shortlisted the nominees from those businesses approved by Good Food Ireland®, subject to meeting strict criteria through onsite inspection.
They include: Founder and Managing Director of Good Food Ireland® Margaret Jeffares, former Good Food Ireland® Operations Director Susan Kerr, Journalist John Wilson, Hospitality consultant Tom O’Connell, Lecturer in the School of Hospitality Management & Tourism at TU Dublin Dr Detta Melia, Executive Chairman and Owner of Odyssey International Kevin Shannon, and previous Chef and Hotelier Maurice Keller. The expert panel will select the overall winner following mystery inspections and assessments in the weeks preceding the prize giving dinner in November.
For the first time this year there was also the opportunity for all other businesses around the island of Ireland who believe they share the Good Food Ireland® philosophy, to enter a dedicated “Food Lovers Choice Award” for which the public can cast their votes up until Sunday 20th October.
Margaret Jeffares, Founder and Managing Director of Good Food Ireland® says “All of those businesses who have made it onto 2024’s shortlist are a genuine inspiration. Proud and passionate ambassadors of Ireland who strive to capture the very essence of the authenticity and provenance that makes our food and drink so uniquely ours. All the judges would like to extend our congratulations to them and wish everyone the best of luck for the 11th November."
See the full shortlist of finalists for the Good Food Ireland® Awards 2024 in association with FBD Insurance on their website. For full details on the individual awards, tickets to the event, and general information about Good Food Ireland® visit goodfoodireland.ie.
The winners are due to be revealed at a high-profile dinner taking place on Monday 11th November at The K Club, Co. Kildare.
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