The winning product, ‘Mílóir’, is a unique product that
incorporates the natural benefits of honey and the luxurious texture of cream
cheese. The combination of sweet and savoury is a delicious spreadable food
option which can be used for dinner, lunch, snacking or as a dip. Students Eve
Mulcahy (Cahir, Co. Tipperary), Miriam Crowley (Bandon, Co. Cork), Aisling
O’Connor (Macroom, Co. Cork), Sinead Hone (Templeogue, Co. Dublin), Grainne
O’Donoghue (Mallow, Co. Cork) and Declan Coughlan (Bantry, Co. Cork) had been
working on this project for the past five
mont
The trophy was presented by Chairman of the National Food
Awards and judge on the evening, Mr Artie Clifford, who praised the winners for
their originality and product design, and added that all the food products and
beverages on display exhibited great innovativeness and market potential. Mr Clifford also advised the students
of the opportunities that exist for future development and commercialisation of
food products by young food entrepreneurs.
The runner-up product, ‘Giddy Goats’ also won the Alimentary
Pharmabiotic Centre (APC) Award for Best Functional (health-promoting) product.
This product is a goat’s milk ice cream that is designed to appeal to
consumers’ naughty and nice sides. The “Naughty” product is a luxurious creamy
blend of natural goats’ milk containing smooth dark chocolate and rich caramel,
while the “Nice” product is a low-fat luxurious creamy blend of natural goats’
milk and contains a delicious mixture of high-antioxidant berries and natural
sweeteners. The team that developed it is Andrea Hickey (Carrigaline, Co.
Cork), Rachel Davies (South Douglas Road, Cork City), Colette Phelan (Clonmel,
Co. Tipperary), Allison Beale (Carrigaline, Co. Cork) and Sarah Fitzpatrick
(Carrigaline, Co. Cork).
The importance of fish products was recognised by the
presentation of a prize for best marine-related product to ‘Super Spuds’ (a
combination of wholesome potatoes and premium fish, which brings a new
dimension to the snack food market) by Mr Ian Mannix of Bord Iascaigh
Mhara. The team that developed
this product comprised Conor Lonergan (Windgap, Co. Kilkenny), Sarah Sheehy
(Ballingarry, Co Limerick), Laura McCarthy (Castlemartyr, Co. Cork), Karen
O’Callaghan (Kenneigh, Co. Cork), Anne Marie O’Callaghan (Knockraha, Co. Cork)
and Sarah Buckley (Lissarda, Co. Cork).
Finally, Ms Audrey Houlihan of the AIB Bank on College Road
presented a special award for the best product packaging to the team that
developed ‘Dare’, a refreshing carbonated alcoholic beverage brewed from rice
and proso millet. This novel drink contains 5% alcohol and offers a refreshing
alternative to current drinks on the market; the members of this team were
Niamh Cronin (Crookstown, Co. Cork), Katie Cullinane (Clonakilty, Co. Cork), Muireann
Corkery (Ovens, Co. Cork), Karen O’Sullivan (Kanturk, Co. Cork), Marian O’Dwyer
(Beara, Co. Cork) and Sarah O’Reilly (Kilmallock, Co. Limerick). ‘Dare’ also
won the third prize in the best overall product category.
The Showcase, sponsored by The Limerick County Enterprise
Board and the UCC/Food Industry Partnership Board, was attended by many
visitors from the food industry and other invited guests, as well as staff and
students of UCC, who tasted and viewed the selection of innovative food and beverage
products on display at the Showcase.
This year the products came from the dairy, beverage, and snack
sectors.
The New Product
Development Showcase was organised by Prof Alan Kelly and Prof Yrjo Roos,
School of Food and Nutritional Sciences UCC and Dr Joe Bogue, Department of
Food Business and Development, UCC.
Picture L-R: Sinéad Hone, Aisling O’Connor, Grainne O’Donoghue, Eve
Mulcahy, Miriam Crowley, Declan
Coughlan.
RMcD
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