Glenisk up for 2 Bord Bia awards
Killeigh company Glenisk has today (Wednesday) been shortlisted for two awards in Bord Bia’s Food and Drink Awards.
The family-run producer of organic dairy and goats milk products is among a list of 19 companies shortlisted from an entry list of 150 for the awards that recognise excellence in export development, branding, innovation, sustainability, entrepreneurship, success on the domestic market and use of consumer research.
Glenisk is shortlisted for both the branding and sustainability awards. In the sustainability category the company is up against Bewleys Ltd and Dawn Meats, while in the branding category it faces competition from James Whelan Butchers and Keelings.
Pioneers of the organic dairy sector, Glenisk has actively encouraged dairy farmers to convert and now work with 50 small family farms in Ireland. They created a value added proposition for consumers with major work undertaken to communicate the benefits of organic in terms of taste, nutritional values, animal welfare and the proven benefits of organic for the environment.
Glenisk has tripled its market share since 2008 and now holds more than twelve per cent of the total yogurt market. The company has grown sales by over 25 per cent year on year for the past three years, and is now positioned at number 39 in Checkout’s top 100 brands.
With regards to its work in sustainability, Glenisk became a full verified member of Bord Bia’s Origin Green programme in January 2013. The organisation has developed a five-year sustainability plan detailing its goals and initiatives to reduce Glenisk’s environmental impact in four main target areas: energy, emissions, waste and water.
The company plans to use 100 per cent renewable energy for heat/steam generation and reduce water use by approximately five per cent per annum for a total absolute reduction of 25 per cent by 2017.
All entries to the competition were assessed by an independent judging panel chaired by Bord Bia Brand Forum chair John Fanning. Speaking this week he said the diversity and quality of this year’s entries made the judging process difficult.
“However we were greatly encouraged by the evident confidence and vibrancy of our indigenous agri-food sector,” he said. “Across the board, these entries consistently practiced innovation, whether they were established companies, or new businesses and this augers well for the future of the industry.”
This year’s awards will be presented at Bord Bia’s annual brand forum end of year event in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin on Thursday, November 14.
Chairman and CEO of The Absolut Company Paul Duffy will be keynote speaker on the night, while awards will be presented by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney. RTE presenter Keelin Shanley will be MC for the evening.