On Thursday night, 18th October, some of the fantastic food producers who are part of the Dunnes Stores Simply Better Collection won 19 Awards at the Irish Quality Food Awards 2018 including Wicklow based Food Producers Sam’s Cookies (Bray), Miena’s Irish Handmade Nougat (Bray) and Del Gusto (Newtownmountkennedy).
Sam’s Cookies, won the Celebration Cakes Category, for their Simply Better Handmade White Chocolate & Irish Raspberry Layer Cake and a second award in the Seasonal Occasions Category for their Simply Better Handmade All Butter Simnel Cake Slices, Miena’s Irish Handmade Nougat won the Christmas Confectionery Category for their Simply Better Irish Handmade Nougat with Almond & Pistachio Drizzled with Belgian Dark Chocolate and Del Gusto won the Oils and Vinegars Category for their Simply Better Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.
Among the magnificent 19 awards Dunnes Stores Simply Better Collection won on the night, Dunnes Stores also won the coveted title of Christmas Retailer of the Year, with products from the Simply Better Collection winning seven out of the nine Christmas Q Awards.
Speaking about Dunnes Stores Simply Better, the judges commented “In 2018, one brand dominated the Christmas prizes with some outstanding products, and that brand was Dunnes Stores Simply Better. Some of the judges’ comments on the products included “beautiful presentation; looks great and tastes amazing” and “a wonderful variety of depth of flavour”.
Speaking of the win, Andrew Maher, of Sam’s Cookies said “We have been working with Diarmuid and the Simply Better team for five years and our collaboration with the team has given us the opportunity to bring these Irish, handmade products which we believe have maintained their home-made look and taste to a national audience and helped us to grow our business. To be chosen this year by the IQFAs is testimony to our great team in Wicklow as well as the Simply Better team who work in partnership with us to develop our products and business.”
These awards add to the remarkable success of the Simply Better Collection at the recent Blás na hÉireann Awards, Food & Drink Business Awards and International Great Taste Awards bringing the total of awards won this year alone to 64 and over 380 that the premium food and drink brand has received since it was introduced in 2013 – the most for any Irish food brand.
Speaking after the Awards, Diarmuid Murphy, Brand Manager for Dunnes Stores Simply Better Collection stated “We are delighted and so lucky to work with amazing producers, such as Sam’s Cookies, Miena’s Irish Handmade Nougat and Del Gusto, developing award winning products that are being recognised both nationally and internationally. The awards are a demonstration of what we aspire to achieve for the Simply Better Collection, fantastic food that can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home.”
