The Latest News from the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards

2025 Performance Awards categories still open for entries!

Qs News
Performance Awards

The Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards are renowned for recognising and celebrating the best food products in Irish retail, wholesale and foodservice sectors. However, it is the individuals and teams behind these products’ development, production and distribution that makes them award winning. It is in recognition of this that we have included the performance awards to the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards line-up. 

Chipotle BBQ Pizza recipe

Recipe
Vegan Winners

Chipotle BBQ Pizza recipe, created in collaboration with easyFood Magazine, featuring award-winning Small Producers' products...

BASF and Metpack launch home-compostable coated paper for food packaging

Industry News
sustainability Packaging

BASF and Metpack introduce Ezycompost, a certified home-compostable coated paper solution designed for food packaging. This innovation offers high performance, FDA compliance, and reduced microplastic pollution, while supporting sustainable practices in the food sector.

SuperValu teams up with Uber Eats for rapid grocery delivery in Ireland

Industry News
SuperValu Grocery Retail Uber Eats

SuperValu has launched a rapid grocery delivery service in partnership with Uber Eats, starting at its Lucan store and soon expanding to eight more stores in Dublin and Limerick. Customers can now receive thousands of products within forty minutes, meeting growing demand for quick and convenient online shopping.

Join our judging panel!

Qs News
Judges Judging

Looking to grow your network, share your expertise, and taste some of Ireland’s best food and drink? We're inviting professionals to join the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards judging panel...

Too Good To Go highlights Irish businesses combating food waste on Earth Day

Industry News
sustainability

Too Good To Go marks Earth Day by celebrating Irish businesses actively tackling food waste. This initiative showcases the environmental importance of reducing waste, as demonstrated by Aldi's milestone of giving away 250,000 Surprise Bags, part of a broader effort to promote sustainability.

Lidl Ireland expands supply contract with Keohane Seafoods

Industry News
seafood

Lidl Ireland has announced a €30 million expansion of its supply contract with West Cork-based Keohane Seafoods, enhancing fresh and frozen seafood offerings across 184 stores and exporting to European markets. This growth boosts employment and highlights Lidl's commitment to local partnerships and sustainability.

Allfresh Wholesale champions plastic-free fresh produce packaging

Industry News
sustainability Packaging

Allfresh Wholesale is leading the way in the fresh produce sector by implementing significant reductions in plastic packaging, documenting the elimination of over 666,000 plastic packs while promoting sustainable alternatives. Owner Barra Sweetnam emphasises the necessity of a culture shift towards environmentally friendly practices.

SuperValu launches 2025 Food Academy applications to support local producers

Industry News
SuperValu

SuperValu opens applications for its 2025 Food Academy, aimed at empowering Irish food and drink producers with mentorship, training, and retail insights. The initiative, marking its 12th year, is set to generate €30 million in sales, reflecting growing consumer demand for local products.

Dublin City Council greenlights redevelopment of historic market

Industry News
Dublin

The Council has approved a €30 million plan to revitalise the historic fruit, vegetable, and flower market on St Mary’s Lane, aiming for completion by 2027, after years of closure and growing public demand for a permanent market space in Dublin 7.

New street food market and community hub set to open in Belfast

Industry News
Belfast Development

A new street food market named Halt will debut this summer at the former Europa Bus Centre as part of the Weavers Cross project, creating jobs and fostering community engagement. The initiative also includes a community hub, Platform, operated by Co-operation Ireland.

EU researchers launch initiative to enhance seafood transparency

Industry News
sustainability seafood

A collaborative project funded by the European Union aims to improve consumer understanding of seafood origins, with a focus on transparency in supply chains and sustainable sourcing preferences, amidst declining consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation challenges.

Dublin launches €26 million redevelopment of historic market

Industry News
Dublin

Dublin City Council has unveiled plans for a significant €26 million redevelopment of the 127-year-old fruit and vegetable market near Capel Street, transforming it into a vibrant retail and restaurant hub set to open in late 2027 after years of delays.

Survey reveals the high cost of food waste in Irish households

Industry News
Environment sustainability Food waste

A survey by Too Good To Go highlights that over a third of Irish consumers routinely discard food, incurring an average annual loss of €374 per person, as it pushes Ireland closer to its goal of halving food waste by 2030 amidst environmental concerns.

Clean label ingredients market on the rise

Food trends Industry News
Clean Eating Ingredients

The global clean label ingredients market is booming as consumers increasingly favour natural, preservative-free products. With a projected growth rate of 23.3% in the UK, manufacturers are adjusting to meet rising health-conscious preferences while navigating challenges like production costs and ingredient availability.

Gulfood 2025 highlights culinary innovation and sustainable practices

Industry News
sustainability Gulford Innovation

The world's largest food business event enters its third day, featuring renowned chefs Alain Ducasse and Romain Meder advocating for sustainable plant-based cuisine. The Food500 Summit highlighted global food trade, sustainability, and innovative new products shaping the future of the food industry.

IQFDA award-winner BWG Foodservice forecasts €250 million in sales by 2025

Industry News
BWG Foods foodservice

BWG Foodservice anticipates a revenue increase to €250 million by 2025, bolstered by strong sales momentum and the award of National Foodservice Supplier of the Year. The company also addresses sector challenges while launching a new ethical product line in response to changing consumer preferences.

Irish farmers fear vegetable price surge after Storm Éowyn's devastation

Industry News

Farmers in Ireland report extensive crop losses due to Storm Éowyn, with fears of soaring vegetable prices. The Irish Farmers' Association estimates damages at €4.5 million, while experts warn of future food security risks due to rising extreme weather events and ongoing agricultural disruptions.

BIM partners with SuperGround to enhance seafood sustainability

Industry News Seafood
sustainability

Bord Iascaigh Mhara has teamed up with Finnish firm SuperGround to upcycle seafood co-products into high-quality food items, aiming to boost sustainability in the Irish seafood sector. Trials are set to begin in March 2025, focusing on pelagic, whitefish, and salmon co-products.

Irish Whiskey Association launches scholarship to boost brewing education

Industry News whiskey

The Irish Whiskey Association has initiated a scholarship with Maynooth University to support skill development in brewing and distilling. The programme finances a micro-credential course aimed at providing essential scientific and practical knowledge to drive growth in Ireland's drinks sector.

Irish shoppers spend record €1.4 billion on food and drink during December

christmas
Industry News

December saw an unprecedented €1.4 billion spent by families on food and drink, signalling strong consumer confidence and festive spirit. Analysts noted significant increases in alcohol sales and promotional buying, while premium products gained popularity, illustrating a robust retail landscape during the holiday season.

Irish food and drink exports soar to €17 billion in 2024

Industry News
Irish drink Irish food

Ireland's food and drink sector achieves a record €17 billion in exports for 2024, marking a 5% growth despite challenges such as inflation and geopolitical instability. Key contributors include dairy, meat, and beverages, with robust increases across various categories.

The health benefits of plant-based meat alternatives in the UK and Ireland

Food trends
Industry News Health Plant-based

Recent studies reveal that plant-based meat alternatives could help combat health issues linked to diets high in red and processed meats. Despite a decline in sales, there is potential for nutritional innovation in this sector, aiming to improve dietary habits in the UK and Ireland.

The future of food: UK and Ireland embrace health trends

Food trends
Industry News

The food landscape in the UK and Ireland is rapidly evolving, with significant shifts in consumer preferences anticipated by 2025, as health consciousness drives demand for plant-based, fermented, and caffeine-free products, reshaping the culinary scene and market offerings.

2024 winners revealed!

We are delighted to unveil our 2024 winners, highlighting the pinnacle of excellence in Ireland’s food and drink industry!

Charity Partner Impact Report

Featured Partner
Charity
Each year, the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards donate surplus food from judging to Dublin Simon Community. Find out about the work this wonderful charity does across Ireland and the impact our donations had this year.

Small Producer Spotlight: Devil's Churn

Small Producer Showcase
Small Producer

Introducing Seasons of the Glens - the our 2023 Small Producer of the Year Winner, and the organisation behind Devil's Churn Campfire Salted Caramel Sauce.

Happy Earth Day 2024!

National Day
Environment

The mission behind Earth Day is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Here at the Irish Qs, we don't blind-taste our entrants' products - we take it into consideration when you have been mindful of your carbon footprint when producing your product and its packaging...

Small Producer Spotlight: Little Red's Sauces

Small Producer Showcase
Small Producer

Welcome to our first Small Producer Showcase, where we cast a spotlight on Irish food and drink producers that have recently been awarded a Q!

2024 entries are open!

General

We are delighted to announce that entries into the 2024 Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards are now open!

10th Anniversary Irish Quality Food Awards Afterparty: A Night to Remember

Featured Category
Category

Join us in Dublin on Wednesday 6 September! The Irish Quality Food Awards are celebrating a significant milestone this year, and we're pulling out all the stops to make it unforgettable. As we mark our 10th anniversary, we are delighted to announce the spectacular venue for our exclusive afterparty, right across the street from where the awards ceremony will take place: 57 Dawson Street.

2023 Shortlist Revealed!

Featured Category
Category

Meet the 2023 Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards finalists! We are delighted to reveal the shortlist for the 2023 Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards...

Thank you to our 2023 judges!

Featured Category
Category

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin, between Monday 26 June to Friday 27 July 2023 to be involved in this year's judging.

2023 Judging is complete!

Featured Category
Category

After two weeks of sampling hundreds of products at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin, we can confirm that judging for this year's Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards is finished! 

Entries close today!

Featured Category
Category

This is a final call for entries into this year's Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards! Submit your entry today: Friday 26 May 2023.

Entry deadline extension! And a weekly roundup...

Featured Category
Category

We've put together a weekly roundup including a cheeky deadline extension for you, some information on the opportunity to create a product for the Dunnes Stores Simply Better range and a little more information about our judging process, which we hope you'll find useful.

Featured Category: Cheese

Featured Category
Category

This is one of our favourite categories here at the IQFDAs! Divided into 3 sub-categories, this is an award that recognises excellent cheeses on sale for consumers to purchase here in Ireland... 

Featured Category: Condiments

Featured Category
Category

This category is for products that can be added to a meal after preparation to enhance the flavour.