Folláin jams and sauces savour Blás awards with added relish
A COMPANY which started life in the family kitchen is this week celebrating a record haul of Blás na hÉireann awards for its jams, relishes and sauces at its bespoke production plant in the Múscraí Gaeltacht.
Folláin Preserves took home a total of 12 awards across all of ranges of its own products and jams, relishes, chutneys and sauces produced for the Dunnes Stores Simply Better range at the Irish Food Awards, seven gold, four bronze and the highly coveted Best Food Producer in Cork accolade.
Folláin wasn’t the only Cork winner. Baile Mhúirne neighbour Nine White Deer won a bronze medal award for its gluten free IPA, Stag Saor, while Mallow brewer Longueville Brewery won gold medals for its Longueville House Cider and Longueville Mór Sparkling Cider as well as a silver medal for the Longueville Brandy.
According to Folláin Preserves marketing executive Máiréad Ní Lionáird, the Blas na hÉireann awards for its products help the company as it broadens its range and introduces the public to products other than jams.
“These Blas na hÉireann Awards are a great way to get new products out there, get feedback from expert adjudicators and get them into the public eye so they can taste the products themselves.”
The Baile Mhúirne based company is currently planning to relaunch its award winning range of relishes at the end of the month.
It has carried out an extensive rebranding in the past two and a half years which is supporting the company’s drive to expand its markets to every corner of Ireland and internationally.
“We’ve recently started selling in Germany and it’s really great to see our products with the product information in German,” said Mairéad. “The rebranding is just in time to help us widen our market.”
While the emphasis is on traditional recipes with homegrown ingredients for the products for which Folláin carved out its reputation for tasty and nutrition packed jams and preserves, the company has now branched out into more exotic flavours of jams, including mango and passionfruit no added sugar jam, and sauces such as Jal Frezi curry sauce.
The full range of Irish Food Awards winners underlines the rapid growth in the range and quality of food products available from Irish producers and Folláin’s haul at this year’s awards underlines its role as a pioneer in the sector.