Bord Bia has presented its inaugural Industry Champion Award to Denis O’Riordan of Kerry Foods in recognition of his contribution to delivering global success for the Cheestrings brand.
The award was presented at the Food and Drink Industry Awards, which took in the RDS this week.
More than 300 Irish food and drink industry leaders attended the awards ceremony, which honoured the top businesses in Ireland’s food and drink industry.
The award winners included Diageo; Butlers Chocolates; The Happy Pear; Gallagher’s Bakery; Silver Hill Farm; Dawn Meats; Kerry Foods; Monaghan Mushrooms and Pip & Pear.
Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, presented the awards, ad commented, who said “Bord Bia’s Food and Drink Awards provide us with an opportunity to acknowledge the trailblazers in the Irish food and drink industry who have proven their commitment and ambition to drive the sector forward.”
Bord Bia this year introduced the new ‘Industry Champion’ Award in order to recognise the contribution of a committed individual, who has worked to develop the food and drink industry in Ireland at an international level.
Tara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Bia said of the winner, “Denis O’Riordan, known as ‘Mr Cheestrings’ among his colleagues in Kerry Foods, is one of the pioneers of best practice marketing in Ireland. He is recognised as being the leading force behind the international success of Cheestrings, which is now available to some 350 million people across Europe.”
“Denis has served as a mentor and a role model for how to take a food brand from concept to global presence by embedding consumer and market insight in the business. “
The awards other nine award winners were as follows:
Branding Award Winner: Diageo for Baileys
Consumer Insight Award Winner: Butlers Chocolate
Digital Marketing Award Winner: The Happy Pear
Entrepreneurial Award Winner: Gallaghers Bakery
Export Award (Smaller Business – under €100 million) Winner: Silver Hill Foods
Export Award (Bigger Business – over €100 million) Winner: Kerry Foods for Cheestrings
Innovation Award Winner: Pip & Pear
Sustainability Award Winner: Dawn Meats
Sustainability, Project Impact Award: Monaghan Mushrooms
© 2017 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan
