The Irish Cheese Awards and Grow with Aldi
Disclosure: I was invited to attend the Cáis Irish Cheese Awards 2024 which included lunch, and the Aldi #GrowWithAldi Meet the Producers event, which included a goody bag of items from all listed producers. All opinions are my own.
It’s been a whirlwind past few weeks in terms of food and drink events. Invites are coming in left, right and centre. You’d never think that I have an actual full time job which rather unsurprisingly takes up the majority of my time. In the words of Destiny’s Child ‘Can you pay my bills?’
Two recent events though left a lasting impression on me simply because I got the chance to meet a significant number of Irish food & drink producers face to face, to shake their hands and hear their stories.
That level of personal interaction doesn’t allow you to remain distant. A connection is formed, no matter how small, when you meet the actual face behind the product, the person who grafts hard every day for their family, who milks their cows every morning and evening, or who travels around the country showcasing their product.
Cáis Irish Cheese Awards 2024
The Irish farmhouse cheese industry as we know it today really got started in the late 70s or early 80s when some kind of magic bug took hold of brave Irish souls. All around the country, farmhouse cheeses started to appear and in 1983, Cáis, the Association of Irish Farmhouse Cheesemakers was formed. You know things have hit a critical mass when an association is formed. I bet there was even a clipboard involved.
The 2024 awards saw an incredible 175 cheeses entered, from 43 producers in 17 distinct categories such as Washed Rind Cheese (Semi Soft, All Milk Types) or Mature Farmhouse Cheddar aged Over 12 Months (All Milk Types). The world of cheese taxonomy is serious business.
The full list of winners in each category is available on the Cáis website, but there are 3 in particular to highlight.
Supreme Champion was awarded to Hegarty’s Cheese, Whitechurch, Co. Cork for their ‘Templegall Extra Mature’. Owner Dan Hegarty joked that this might one of the few prizes that Cork wins this year, but there’s no denying the quality of this raw cows milk cheese
Lifetime Achievement Award went to Dick and Helene Willems of the wonderful Coolea Cheese. Why is it wonderful? Not only is it delicious, it’s from my home area of Gaeltacht Mhúscraí. I might or might not have let out a big woop when John McKenna announced this award.
Best New Cheese: Up to now, I hadn’t realised that new cheeses were a thing. But it goes to show that the industry never stands still. This year’s winner was ‘Cloonbook’, a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese from Velvet Cloud aka Rockfield Dairy in Co Mayo.
Aldi #GrowWithAldi Meet the Producers
Aldi established the Grow with Aldi programme in 2018 with the goal of helping independent Irish producers grow their business by giving them the opportunity to stock their products in Aldi stores nationwide. In the previous five years, over 180 suppliers have benefited from this investment, and the latest class will hit shop shelves from May 23rd for 2 weeks.
This year for the first time, Aldi gathered together the producers in a media showcase event in the Fumbally Stables, giving the press and media the opportunity to meet the people behind the product. As I toured the tables, it became clear that chosen producers represent the entire island, with strong representation from Northern Ireland.
They also represent a vibrant and dynamic view of Ireland, one that celebrates traditional products such as Moran’s Blackcurrant and Guinness jam or sausages from O’Flynn’s of Cork. But one that also celebrates new consumer demands such as low-alcohol offerings from the Armagh Cider Company or Fierce Mild beer, or Kenyan-inspired cold brew coffee from Maisha.
This is just a taste of what will be available, so keep your eyes open for the new #GrowWithAlid products in store from May 23rd, and when you do see them, make sure to put them in your basket and support local Irish businesses.
