Former McConnells managing director and UCD Smurfit School of Business lecturer John Fanning is to chair Bord Bia’s new food and drink industry awards. Sponsored by Rabobank, the awards recognise excellence in export development, branding, innovation, sustainability, entrepreneurship and home market success.
Entries will be assessed by an independent judging panel chaired by Fanning. The panel includes Gilles Boumeester, Rabobank International; Gordon Campbell, Spar International; Matt Dempsey, Irish Farmers Journal; Senator Feargal Quinn; Bartley O’Connor, PWC and Fran Walton, The Futures Company.
The awards are open to all food and drink products manufactured in Ireland. Companies must be in business for at least two fiscal years and it is preferable that companies source materials that are approved under the Bord Bia quality assurance schemes. Companies may apply online at www.bordbia.ie/awards.
The closing date for entries is September 12 2011. The winners will be announced at Bord Bia’s annual Brand Forum end of year event in TCD on November 22. Fanning is chairman of the Brand Forum, author of The Importance of Being Branded – An Irish Perspective and is a regular contributor to Marketing.ie.
