The reputation and quality of Food & Drink from the Midlands region continues to go from strength to strength, with 19 Food and Drink producers from the region named as Finalists in the influential Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards 2023.

The Awards are the latest in a string of accolades for Midlands Food and Drink this year, with regional producers also featuring prominently in the Great Taste Awards, and the Quality Food Awards in recent months.

Blas na hÉireann, the Irish Food Awards, are the largest food awards on the island, open to all 32 counties. Judging took place earlier in the Summer, and finals will be held in Dingle later this month.

Finalists from across the region

The Midlands finalists are located throughout Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath, produce food and drink across a range of categories and highlighting the quality and ambition of the Food and Drink Industry in the region:

• Abbey Farm Foods, handmade fruit preserves from Abbeyleix
• Aghaboe Fine Foods, artisan cakes, baked in Laois
• Ballykilcavan Brewing Company, sustainably produced craft beers from Stradbally
• Bia Sol, circular foods including flours made from spent brewing grains in Tullamore
• Bon Chocolatiers, handmade chocolates from Athlone
• Carroll Cuisine, quality meats and ready meals made in Tullamore
• Cocoa Couture, handmade artisan chocolates in Mountmellick
• Glenisk, organic yogurts made in Killeigh
• Greene’s Family Farm, free range eggs, quiches and frittatas from Rathowen
• Herterich Artisan Butchers, a range of meats and meals from Ballymahon
• Ion Oils, producers of a range of organic cold-pressed oils in Laois
• Killua Castle, venison and lamb from Clonmellon
• Mueller O’Connell Bakery, baking sourdough breads and pastries in Abbelyleix
• Mr. Crumb, producing a range of stuffings and breadcrumbs in Mullingar
• Panelto Foods, a range of breads, rolls and baked goods from Longford
• Sugar Plum Sweetery, unique chocolates and sweets from Mullingar
• Temptation Chocolates, handmade chocolates from Abbeyleix
• The Village Dairy, a range of organic and jersey milks and creams from Killeshin
• Valeo Foods, milling Odlums wheat in Portarlington

National Blas Awards Weekend

With the finalists announced, the countdown is now on for the return of the national awards weekend to the pretty seaside town of Dingle. The three-day event will take place from Thursday September 28th to Saturday 30th September. The excitement is already building and the Blas team are hard at work preparing for the arrival of food and drink producers across Ireland to celebrate the very best of Irish.

Now in its 16th year, Blas na hÉireann saw its highest entries from across all categories along with many new producers entering the awards for the first time this year. During the judging, which took place over June and July, over 3,000 entries were judged, the highest on record.

Speaking as the finalists were announced, Blas na hÉireann Chairperson, Artie Clifford said, “After last year’s success, we are thrilled to be back again. The Blas Village and Eat Ireland in a Day tents were a fantastic addition and created brilliant awareness for the finalists and winners to both the public and key industry people. Seeing so many new producers enter this year is testament to the fantastic produce Ireland has to offer and I am looking forward to celebrating past and new finalists and winners again this year.”

This year’s Blas na hÉireann awards in Dingle will see the return of last year’s new additions including the Eat Ireland in a Day tent and the Blas Village where the 2023 finalists will get the opportunity to showcase their products, engage with customers and meet key industry buyers.

Midlands finalists picked from over 3,000 entrants

With over 3,000 products entered in this year’s Blas na hÉireann, making it as a finalist is a huge achievement and one to be very proud of. The competition ramps up year on year, meaning those producers who are short listed as finalists really are the crème de la crème of Irish food and drink.

For finalist producers from the Midlands it is not just their exceptional food & drink which will be celebrated in Dingle but the people themselves, the passionate producers from our region and right across Ireland who make the very best of Irish will be recognised and rewarded.

Learn more about the Midlands Food and Drink Cluster