Sustainability in foodservice served up at Food & Bev Live

​GREEN products and services were high on the agenda on the first day of Food & Bev Live, taking place at the Citywest Conference Centre. The inaugural Irish Foodservice Supplier Awards - themed around ‘Innovation for a sustainable future’ - were created by the Irish Foodservice Suppliers Alliance (IFSA) as a vehicle to highlight the foodservice industry’s response to the very real environmental crisis.
 
Acknowledged as having the ‘Best Sustainable Packaging Product’, J. J. Darboven Ireland was awarded for its the Eighty9 Reusable Coffee Tins. Manor Farm in conjunction with Farms to Market took home the title of ‘Best Sustainable Food Product’ for its Free-Range Chicken Thigh Burger.
 
Marco Beverage Systems was awarded both winner and highly commented in the ‘Energy efficiency innovation in light catering equipment’ category. Its MARCO MIX UC3 + 3 BUTTON FONT was named as the winner with MARCO FRIIA highly commended.
 
The Synergy Trilogy grill, available from both Bunzl McLaughlin and Broderick Bros Ltd, was named as the best ‘Energy efficiency innovation in heavy catering equipment’ with the judges commenting that the Synergy Grill can “reduce energy consumption by up to 60% against competitors, delivering an excellent return on investment, which both reduces a business’s cost and supports a carbon footprint reduction.”

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The winners were selected from a shortlist of entries by participating in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ format on Monday 3rd February.  Finalists presented their sustainable products and services to an expert panel including Maurice Bergin, Managing Director, Green Hospitality Programme; Brian Walsh, Packaging Technologist, Repak; Keith Warren, Director FEA – Foodservice Equipment Association UK; Tony McGuigan, Head of Procurement and F&B Projects, Dalata Hotel Group PLC and Guillaume Oates, GFD Associates - Independent Foodservice Design Consultants.
 
Pallas Foods was named as ‘National Foodservice Supplier of the Year’, with Jinny’s Bakery awarded ‘Local / Direct Foodservice Supplier of the Year’ in an industry vote in which over 2,000 foodservice professionals cast their vote.
Commenting on the calibre of entries to the inaugural awards, Chair of the judges, Maurice Bergin from the Green Hospitality Programme adds: “IFSA created these awards to acknowledge product and service innovation, and sustainability, within the foodservice industry, and the response from suppliers has been impressive. The winners and finalists have demonstrated a commitment to playing their role in creating a more sustainable and energy efficient future, and innovation and NPD is central in driving technology forward. 
 
“This is where the foodservice industry, and indeed all businesses, need to focus to ensure growth in the years ahead. This is not a trend, it’s a new business reality. Customers are demanding that all businesses within the supply chain play their part in helping everyone live more sustainable lives.”
 
Food & Bev Live continues at the Citywest Convention Centre until Wednesday 5th February with doors opening at 10am. For further information visit www.foodandbev.ie
  
The Irish Foodservice Supplier Awards 2020: 

• Best Sustainable Food Product: Manor Farm in conjunction with Farms to Market Free Range Chicken Thigh Burger
  • Judges comment: “The winner took a well-known food material and re-imagined it whilst working closely with their own suppliers in a strong and environmentally friendly manner with very strong community support.  The simple chicken thigh has a new life.”

 

• Highly Commended – Flahavan’s Porridge Oats Tub 4kg

 

• Best Sustainable Packaging Product: the Eighty9 Reusable Coffee Tins from J.J.Darboven Ireland
  • Judges comment: “The winner has embedded the circular economy into this innovative and potentially disruptive packaging - in many ways they have reverted to a traditional reusable packaging/container - designed for today's fast paced and integrated third party delivery systems.  This is a packaging model that I believe we will see more of into the future.”

 

• Highly Commended - Frylite - Cooking Oils Packaging System

 

• Energy Efficiency Innovation in Heavy Catering Equipment: Synergy Grill – available in Ireland from Bunzl McLaughlin and Broderick Bros Ltd
  • Judges comment: “The winner demonstrated a piece of equipment that can reduce energy consumption by up to 60% against competitors with an excellent return on investment.  This reduces a business cost and supports a carbon footprint reduction.  One unique feature of the item is that some elements of it are made from recovered car parts - once again the circular economy making an appearance.”

 

• Highly Commended - Hobart 2 Level Hood Type Dishwasher entered by Stephens Catering 

 

• Energy Efficiency Innovation in Light Catering Equipment: MARCO MIX UC3 + 3 BUTTON FONT by Marco Beverage Systems
  • Judges comment: “Substantial energy efficiency without compromising operational efficiency - an Irish made, internationally supplied, 99% recyclable product that supports any business in reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.”

 

• Highly Commended - MARCO FRIIA from Marco Beverage Systems

 

• National Foodservice Supplier of the Year: Pallas Foods

 

• Local/Direct Foodservice Supplier of the Year: Jinny's Bakery 

 
 Pictured is: Graham Mongey, JJ Darbovan Ireland 

​View the Shortlist Here  ​