‘Greenwashing’ more pervasive than consumers realise says Irish Food Writer’s Guild (IFWG)

“Greenwashing has infiltrated the food and drinks sector in ways many of us don’t even realise and when sustainability is merely used as a marketing tactic, consumers are misled and the credibility and reputation of true sustainable producers is undermined,” said Paula McIntyre, chair of the Irish Food Writers’ Guild. Ms McIntyre was speaking at the presentation of the 2025 Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Awards in Dublin this week. Now in their 32^nd year and with no applications or submissions allowed, eight winners from across Ireland were chosen for an IFWG award based solely on quality, integrity, and a commitment to genuine sustainable practices.

Winners of the 2025 IFWG Food Awards (full citations attached)

1. Food Award: Sneem Black Pudding – Peter O’ Sullivan Butchers, Co. Kerry. A traditional blood sausage with a smooth, mousse-like texture, crafted in small batches using locally sourced ingredients including fresh blood and a recipe passed down through generations, resulting in a rich, earthy flavour with subtle seasoning and exceptional provenance.
2. Food Award: Murphy’s Ice Cream, Co. Kerry. Crafting award-winning ice cream with a focus on local, inventive flavours, Murphy’s Ice Cream uses milk from the Kerry Cow and ingredients sourced from nearby farms, creating indulgent, high-quality treats that celebrate the best of County Kerry.
3. Food Award: 40 day aged Côte de boeuf – Higgins Family Butcher, Co. Dublin. Known for their dry-aged expertise, Higgins Family Butchers’ 40 day aged Côte de boeuf is a standout, expertly aged to enhance its rich, tender flavour and exceptional texture, making it a must-try for meat lovers and a signature offering in their acclaimed range.
4. Irish Drink Award: Pooka Hazelnut Poitín Liqueur – Mourne Dew Distillery, Co. Down. The Pooka Hazelnut Poitín Liqueur combines rich, nutty flavors with hints of vanilla, chocolate, and cream, offering a smooth, innovative twist on traditional poitín. Recognised for its exceptional quality, it’s a standout among Mourne Dew’s renowned range of spirits.
5. Notable Contribution to Irish Food: Moy Hill Farm, Co. Clare. A vibrant regenerative farm that blends sustainability and community spirit, Moyhill Farm nurtures nutrient-dense organic produce while promoting biodiversity and teaching future generations the art of holistic farming.
6. Environmental Award: Master Chefs Ellan Farm, Co. Limerick. A pioneering initiative by Master Chefs, this organic farm blends sustainability and zero-waste practices to supply high-quality, locally grown food to Ireland’s catering industry. Their farm-to-table-back-to-farm approach sets a new standard in ethical, community-focused food production.
7. Community Food Award: Irish Seed Savers Association, Co. Clare. A beacon of sustainable agriculture, Irish Seed Savers works tirelessly to conserve Ireland’s food crop heritage, ensuring the protection of genetic diversity in our food systems. Their efforts to safeguard plant genetic resources are crucial to the future of food security and biodiversity.
8. Lifetime Achievement Award: Jane and Louis Grubb of Cashel Blue, Co. Tipperary. In 1984 Jane and Louis Grubb introduced Cashel Blue, Ireland’s first native blue cheese, made with milk from their family farm. Their legacy continues, blending tradition with innovation, producing award-winning cheeses like Cashel Blue, Crozier Blue, and Shepherd’s Store. Their dedication to quality has made them a cornerstone of Ireland’s cheesemaking industry.

“Ms McIntyre continued. “Offending brands use vague buzzwords, deceptive green packaging, and even dubious certifications to take advantage of consumers’ efforts to shop and eat more sustainably – without making any real environmental impact. Meanwhile, truly sustainable Irish producers work tirelessly to uphold the highest ethical and environmental standards, often without the recognition or support they deserve. For more than three decades the IFWG has been spotlighting many of these outstanding producers, with sustainability a consistent thread linking our annual award winners. And this year is no different.

“We know that for the most part Ireland’s food and drink industry is committed to playing its part in tackling climate change.  But we cannot allow greenwashing to go unchecked and ultimately, consumers rely on producers to be honest and transparent in how they communicate and promote their produce.”  The IFWG’s chairperson called on regulatory bodies to adopt a more proactive and vigilant approach to tackling the issue of greenwashing and for environmentally conscious consumers to be even more discerning.  “Unfortunately, when it comes to sustainable practices, we cannot simply accept a brand’s claims at face value.  We must interrogate claims more carefully to ensure authenticity and while this can be challenging, it’s critical if we are to protect the integrity of our world-class food sector, and the vibrant and hard-working producers who make it so. I’d like to commend the work being done by Bord Bia to support Irish producers through collaboration and education, helping them navigate sustainability challenges with integrity and authenticity.”

Una Fitzgibbon, Director of Marketing said: “Bord Bia is proud to support the Irish Food Writers’ Guild and its annual awards, which celebrate the excellence and integrity of Irish food producers. These awards are a testament to the dedication and hard work of producers who uphold the highest standards in quality and sustainability. Bord Bia values the opportunity to collaborate with the Guild in recognising and promoting these outstanding contributions to the Irish food sector. The IFWG plays a vital role in highlighting the achievements of these producers, and we commend this year’s eight recipients for their leadership and commitment to sustainable food production.”

The IFWG Food Awards are unique in that no business or individual can enter, nor do they know if they have been nominated for an award. The Guild is the sole nominating and decision-making body whose members nominate and anonymously buy products for tasting. Proportional representation voting is undertaken at a Guild tasting meeting. Winning products must be produced in Ireland and the main ingredient must be Irish grown or produced.

The IFWG Food Awards took place at ANANDA Restaurant in Dublin, chosen for its consistent use of high quality Irish produce, where guests enjoyed a lunch featuring the winning produce.

www.irishfoodwritersguild.ie

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Deli Littles is part of DELI LITES IRELAND’s mission to have a meaningful impact by using business as a force for good in the local community and beyond.

The DELI LITES IRELAND team worked with teachers and staff at Dromore Road Primary School, located near the company’s Head Office in Warrenpoint, to implement the programme. It now sees bi-weekly deliveries of DELI LITES IRELAND products – such as ham and cheddar cheese sandwiches – donated and delivered to the school by the company.

The Deli Littles programme embodies DELI LITES IRELAND’s commitment to ‘Do Right with Every Bite’ by fuelling education for our future leaders. Following a successful trial with Dromore Road Primary School, DELI LITES IRELAND is working on plans to expand Deli Littles across Northern Ireland over the next 12 months.

“Supporting our community has always been a key focus for DELI LITES IRELAND and we’re pleased to continue that mission with the launch of Deli Littles,” said Brian Reid, DELI LITES IRELAND Co-Founder and CEO. “The programme aims to help children to achieve their full potential, a goal that everyone at DELI LITES IRELAND is passionate about supporting.”

“We think Deli Littles is a fantastic initiative from a brilliant company in our community and it will have a great impact on many children here in Warrenpoint and beyond,” added Sharon McGrath, Principal of Dromore Road Primary School. “Our staff and teachers have enjoyed working with the DELI LITES IRELAND team on the launch of Deli Littles and I wish everyone at the company well as they help schools tackle the genuine problem of classroom hunger.”

DELI LITES IRELAND, based in Warrenpoint, produces over 30 million delicious food on the move and artisanal bakery items annually that are sold globally.

In 2022, DELI LITES IRELAND became the first sandwich manufacturer in the world to achieve certification as a BCorp company—a global initiative that evaluates businesses based on their involvement with people, communities, and the environment to transform business into a force for good.

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The first multi-feed reverse vending solution in Ireland is now available at Kelly’s Spar Newcastle

Global reverse vending leader TOMRA Collection has released in Ireland TOMRA R1, a multi-feed reverse vending machine (RVM) that enables recyclers in Ireland’s deposit return system (DRS) to pour over 100 empty beverage containers into the machine in one go – rather than inserting them one by one. It is the first multi-feed RVM available in the Irish market since the start of DRS, on the 1st of February this year.

The TOMRA R1 offers an efficient, more user-friendly and convenient recycling experience. This can attract shoppers to the store and increase the volume of containers returned, driving increased loyalty and revenue for retailers.

Proven great recycling results in more store visits and spending

The TOMRA R1 has been a hit since its launch globally. Now, more than 600 machines are in operation globally, in markets like Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and United States.

The desire for a fast-recycling experience was confirmed in a consumer study conducted by TOMRA in active DRS. 48% of respondents say they would like to use multi-feed reverse vending machines, and were interested in returning containers in bulk, rather than inserting them one by one.

“With the installation of Ireland’s first multi-feed unit, we’re making recycling more efficient and accessible for consumers across the country. This innovation enables faster, high-capacity returns, allowing more people to recycle easily and helping Ireland move closer to our sustainability goals. It’s an exciting step forward for TOMRA and for Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme.” – says Peter Whelan, Managing Director, TOMRA Collection Ireland.

On behalf of Kelly’s Spar Newcastle, Brian Kelly, store owner says:

“We are delighted to introduce Ireland’s first multi-feed RVM, it’s an exciting milestone for all of us here in Kelly’s SPAR Newcastle. The TOMRA R1 will save our customers time as they can now recycle over 100 containers in seconds – while creating a more seamless and enjoyable recycling experience. We are all proud to lead the way in Ireland towards a circular economy and strengthening our commitment to sustainability at our store and community”.

Also commenting on the launch Ciarán Foley, CEO of Re-turn, said:

“We’d like to thank all those in the retail sector and the Scheme approved RVM suppliers for all the work they have done to help to make this important circular economy initiative such a success to date. We would also like to commend the Irish public on how they have embraced Deposit Return and look forward to their continued support.”

How does the TOMRA R1 work?

Recyclers simply open the hatch and pour their empty cans and plastic bottles into the machine and close the lid to begin the counting and sorting process. They then collect their voucher and start shopping. Ineligible containers are returned to the user via the reject chute.

With an accessible product design, the TOMRA R1 is easy to clean and maintain. TOMRA R1 is also the first RVM with an operator interface screen located inside the machine, so store personnel have all the information they need at their fingertips.

For recyclers, TOMRA R1 provides a mess-free recycling experience as there is no need to handle each bottle – consumers can do their part for the planet without getting their hands sticky. TOMRA R1 is also intuitive to use, reduces queues, and offers efficient and fast recycling. When returning over 100 beverage containers, recycling at TOMRA R1 is up to five times faster than using a single-feed solution, since containers do not need to be inserted one by one​. ​

The machine can be found at Kelly’s Spar Newcastle, located at Newcastle Service Station, Main St. Ballynakelly, Newcastle, Co. Dublin.

Features at a glance

Bringing together the premium products from different categories in TOMRA’s reverse vending portfolio, TOMRA R1 can pair with the T9 reverse vending machine to add handling of glass containers and connect to TOMRA’s MultiPac Air high-speed, high-capacity storage cabinets.

TOMRA R1 is powered by TOMRA Flow Technology for industry-leading recognition and system integrity​, and compatible with TOMRA Collection’s full portfolio of Digital products, which add value for both recyclers and retailers.

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All Wendy’s fresh beef to be 100 percent Irish sourced and certified, partnerships with local suppliers anticipated

Wendy’s agreement part of Corrib’s national expansion programme

Corrib Oil, one of Ireland’s leading service station and energy distribution providers, has reached an agreement with the global quick-service restaurant brand Wendy’s® to become its franchise partner in Ireland.

Corrib confirmed that as part of the first phase of the agreement, it plans to open 10 Wendy’s restaurants across the country over the 2025 to 2027 period. The initial site locations, which will be announced in the New Year, will be a blend of standalone Wendy’s restaurants as well as new Wendy’s offerings at existing Corrib service station locations. The company has appointed commercial real estate firm, Cushman and Wakefield to advise on the site selection process.

The new Corrib-Wendy’s partnership will lead to the creation of approximately 300 new jobs in the first phase with a recruitment campaign to be launched in early 2025. Wendy’s also anticipates sourcing ingredients locally wherever possible as part of its Irish rollout, and that all Wendy’s fresh beef will be 100 percent Irish sourced and certified.

Corrib Oil, founded in 1987, currently operates 38 convenience stores with forecourts across 17 counties. The company said that the partnership with The Wendy’s Company represents an important next step in its Irish growth strategy.  Corrib has existing partnerships with BWG Foods (operating under its Spar brand), Texaco, Circle K, Insomnia, Apache Pizza, Subway and Zambrero.

Combined with its energy division, which has 18 depots across the country, Corrib currently employs 1,150 people, which will grow to 1,450 as part of the first phase of its Wendy’s partnership.

Wendy’s is one of the world’s leading quick-service restaurant brands. Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, it first opened in 1969 and has grown to over 7,200, restaurants. More than 1,200 of these are located outside of the United States, with Ireland joining Wendy’s footprint in 30+ markets and U.S. territories. In addition to Ireland, Wendy’s global growth plan also includes Romania, Northern Ireland, Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, and France.

Wendy’s is best known for its made-to-order square hamburgers, chicken, freshly prepared salads, and other signature items such as chili, baked potatoes and the Frosty® dessert.

Announcing its Wendy’s partnership, Eugene Dalton, Chief Executive, Corrib Oil said it represents a significant milestone in the company’s growth strategy.

“We are delighted to announce this exciting new partnership with Wendy’s. This collaboration brings together two brands that share a commitment to quality, community and exceptional customer experience. The opportunity to bring such a globally recognised brand as Wendy’s to Ireland offers a new food experience for Irish customers. In this first phase, we plan to open at 10 locations, commencing in the first half of next year. The Wendy’s restaurants will be a blend of existing Corrib locations and new bespoke sites.

“Our engagement with Wendy’s leadership over the past number of months has been very positive. Wendy’s is a brand with a rich heritage that aligns with our own. For more than 50 years, Wendy’s has been a leader in the quick-service restaurant sector, with a commitment to quality, freshness, customer, and community.

“We look forward to providing further updates on the launch of the Wendy’s brand in Ireland, including site locations, employment opportunities, and timelines early in the New Year.”

E.J. Wunsch, President, International, of The Wendy’s Company said that Corrib and Ireland are a perfect fit for the brand: “Ireland is a great market for long-term growth for Wendy’s. Corrib Oil has a deep understanding of the local communities and a long-standing reputation for excellence. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Wendy’s family. Their customer-centric philosophy aligns perfectly with Wendy’s promise of delivering exceptional customer experiences and ensuring top-notch hospitality. With a proven track record of outstanding operations and a significant growth history, we are confident that Corrib Oil is the right partner to drive Wendy’s expansion in Ireland.”

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Nesquik Minis may be small in size, but they provide MAXI fun! Inspired by Nesquik Chocolate Milkshake, just add milk to your bowl of Nesquik Minis and watch as the milk turns chocolatey!

This chocolate cereal delight is high in fibre, has wholegrain as the number one ingredient, and contains vitamins and minerals to help support a healthy and balanced diet. You can have comfort knowing Nesquik Minis are a source of calcium and Vitamin D, whilst also being delicious. Additionally, every bowl of Nesquik Minis contains vitamin B6, B3, and B5 which help release energy and reduce tiredness giving the family a great start to the day.

Jennifer Walsh, Country Manager, Nestlé Cereals, said “We’re delighted to introduce the launch of Nesquik Minis, an exciting new take on Nesquik Cereal. Nesquik Minis are a chocolatey delight packing big flavour into mini crunchy balls, that we are confident will add maximum fun to consumers mornings.”

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