150 GS1 Ireland Members win Blas Awards

Oct 27, 2021, by Fionnuala Malone - Category: Blas

The winners of the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards have recently been announced, with over 150 GS1 Ireland members among them. With the annual celebration in Dingle deferred for the second year in a row, this year’s winners came together on social media on the 2nd of October for a virtual celebration of the very best in Irish food. This year saw a record number of entries in the awards and the team at Blas na hÉireann has been working since March to ensure that the Blas Awards 2021 went ahead, sustaining their commitment to celebrating the very best in Irish food and drink. Chairperson Artie Clifford feels that now, more than ever, it is essential to shine a light and give a boost to the talented producers dotted around the island.

Record Level Entry

“These are the 14th annual Blas na hÉireann awards,” says Artie, “and despite the very challenging situation, I am delighted to report a record entry level from producers right across the island. This large increase in entries has raised the bar across all categories, allowing us to introduce new products and producers to the buyers and press with whom we work, which is really exciting. Congratulations to all the winners and to every producer who participated. It is always such a rewarding experience to see the wealth of exceptional foods being produced on the island of Ireland, and this has been the best year yet.”

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The Judging

The biggest blind tasting of produce in the country, the criteria on which the product is judged as well as the judging system itself, which was developed by Blas na hÉireann with the Food Science Dept of UCC and the University of Copenhagen, is now recognised as an industry gold standard worldwide. Products from every county in Ireland were entered into this year’s competition to win Gold, Silver or Bronze Blas na hÉireann awards in over 150 food and drink categories, as well as key awards like Supreme Champion and Best Artisan Producer.

The GS1 Ireland Blas Producer Map

Last year, GS1 Ireland worked with Blas to create an interactive map showcasing Blas finalists and winners. To find out about the award-winning food and drink producers in your area, click here. Congratulations to all of the finalists and winners of Blas 2021.

150 GS1 Ireland Members win Blas Awards

Record Level Entry

The Judging

The GS1 Ireland Blas Producer Map

Winning GS1 Ireland Members

Related Links:

GS1 Digital Link

GS1 Ireland Podcast

Barcode Training Experience

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