Blas na hEireann - Irish Food Awards 2024 now open for entries

Blas na hEireann Awards - celebrating and rewarding the very best tasting Irish food and drink products, and the passionate, driven producers who make it.

Saint Patrick's Day is always a special day in the diary, not only because it is our national holiday in Ireland, but also because it marks the launch of this year's Irish Food Awards – Blas na hEireann.

As of Sunday March 17th, entries for the 2024 awards are open!

Access the 2024 Blas Entry Form here.

About the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards

In 2023 some three thousand products entered the awards which are founded on an extensive blind taste testing judging process. Judging takes place during June and July each year. The judging criteria was developed by Blas na hÉireann with the Food Science Dept of UCC and is today recognised as an international industry standard.

There are over 150 award categories across Breads and Cakes, Ready Meals, Meats, Dairy, Seafood, Sweet and Savoury Pantry, and Drinks to name but a few.

After the intensive judging process has been completed the finalists - the top 5 entries in each category - are announced in late August. (There are generally just 5 finalists in each category, but in some cases, if scoring is extremely close, there can be more.)

Come the Awards weekend, centred around the Blas Village in the heart of Dingle, Co. Kerry, the top three winners from each category (Gold, Silver and Bronze) are announced on Awards Day, alongside a number of special awards including, for example, Chef’s Larder, Best in County, Best in Province, Best Artisan Producer, as well as awards from some Blas Partners including Blenders, Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Udaras na Gaeltachta, and Invest Northern Ireland among others. The ultimate award announced on the day is Supreme Champion.

Full details on the process of entering and judging are available on the Irish Food Award Website.

Why enter the Awards?

Research has shown that the Blas accreditation has the highest recognition amongst Irish consumers and using the award logo on packs encourages shoppers to buy these products. It is their guarantee of a top-quality Irish product.

The benefits of entering accrue to not only the ultimate Winners, but Finalists too. In the lead up to the awards all Finalists can promote their achievements of reaching this stage and celebrate the fact that they are among the very best in Ireland for what they do. Being a Blas Finalist or Winner can have a measurable impact on sales. A survey of past Blas winners showed that 81% had seen an increase in sales after displaying the Blas na hÉireann logo, with 28% of those surveyed saying that they saw an increase in sales of over 20%. Read more ...

GS1 Ireland has over 1800 members in the food and beverage sector and we strongly encourage all our members to consider entering the Irish food awards. GS1 Ireland has been honoured to support Irish Food and Drink businesses to grow, develop and succeed both locally and internationally, through the medium of the Blas Irish Food Awards. Entries are open to food and beverage producers from across the island of Ireland. Many GS1 Ireland Members have participated each year and whether you have entered before, or have never entered, we strongly encourage you to consider participating.

Visit Dingle

Over the past 17 years the Blas weekend has become a key event in the Irish food industry’s calendar. We would encourage all finalists to attend the events in Dingle which will give you a chance to celebrate with fellow finalists, meet buyers, industry & press who are coming to Dingle to look for the very best of Irish food and drink, and to take part in the Blas Backyard event which has an inspiring and informative lineup of speakers and panel discussions every year.

Key dates

• Entries for 2024 are now open.
• There is an early bird entry rate available until 3rd April.
• Entries for this year's awards close on May 16th, and judging then begins throughout the summer months.
• Finalists will be announced mid-August.
• This year's Irish Food Awards take place on Friday October 4th in Dingle, Co. Kerry with the Blas Village Showcase & Eat Ireland in a Day running from 4th – 6th Oct.
• Visit Key dates for more information.