Premium cider on the rise

For many years, when people heard the word “cider”, Bulmers immediately came to mind. Now however, the Irish cider market has embarked on a journey with a plethora of quality brands now fitting the bill. From Longueville to Longways, Stonewall to Scott’s, we’re enjoying Irish apples from across the country.

It’s been a while since a report has looked at the Irish consumer’s consumption of Irish cider, seven years to be exact, but there have been some changes in that time.

Irish appetite for homegrown cider continues to be the staple of purchases, with roughly 75% of cider consumed made in the Republic of Ireland, according to the Irish Cider Association Market Report. Since 2012, that represents a 2% increase in the market share for local purchases year-on-year. Of course, this means an increase in the consumption of Irish apples with an average of 50,000t now used each year in the production of cider.

Gabe Cook ‘The Ciderologist’ who helped launch the report.

Irish consumers are really seeking out the best now, and many of the new cider brands that have entered the Irish market in recent years are ticking that box.

Chair of the Irish Cider Association (ICA) and managing director of the Carlow Brewing Company Seamus O’Hara said: “The ICA is now made up of 15 member companies, many of whom are recent entrants to the sector. Consumers are demanding quality products and thus as an industry we’ve had to change our products to cater for that. Ireland’s cider industry makes a valuable contribution to our economy and cultural life, making it one of the most exciting industries to be in at the moment. As a result, cider drinkers in Ireland have unprecedented choice of cider products in our restaurants, pubs and retail outlets.”

Meat business women

Ladies in the meat industry, listen up. Similar to agriculture, women in the meat business are in the minority, but there is a concerted effort to bring those in the industry together with the first Meat Business Women event taking place in Dublin on Tuesday 27 August at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

The organisation is all about developing the image and culture of the meat industry to make it more attractive to female talent, nurturing new female entrants through education and mentoring as well as improving networking.

The event will bring these objectives to life throughout the event. Global ambitions and career development will be the focus of the first speaker of the day, Meat Business Women chair and founder, Laura Ryan.

CEO of Dawn Meats Niall Browne will give insight on the challenges and opportunities within the UK and Irish beef processing sector while area vice president of Ecolab Noelia Garcia will speak about the importance of inspirational leadership in today’s food industry. Sustainability and plastics on a local and international level will be the focus for Aida Cierco, global sustainability manager for KP Films. After that, it’s time to connect with a structured networking session.

To launch in Ireland this summer is a hugely exciting event for us

Chair of Meat Business Women Laura Ryan says: “To launch in Ireland this summer is a hugely exciting event for us. The UK and Ireland are such close trading partners already, but Meat Business Women extending its operating model to Ireland will help to strengthen that connectivity. This is another step in what I fully intend to be a global programme, following recent Meat Business Women launch events in Australia and New Zealand. It’s so important to attract and support female talent into our sector around the world. I very much look forward to meeting Irish delegates in August.”

For more information and booking, see their website.

Abrakebabra sauces at home

Here in Irish Country Living, we’re all about Irish products.

Now we can’t promise that this sauce is made from garlic down the road but honestly, is there anything more Irish than an Abrakebabra after a night out (apart of course, from a Supermac’s)?

Hold onto your seats as Abrakebabra has just announced that their legendary sauces are now going on the supermarket shelf, specifically in SuperValu stores. So you can create your own taco fries or garlic and cheese fries at home.

This was no accident. Two years ago, in response to customer demand, Abrakebabra gifted some lucky fans one of just 2,000 limited edition pots of the sauces.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Now, after a lot of product and packaging refinement and redesign, the two magic sauces - Legendary Taco Sauce and Famously Garlic Sauce are ready for barbecue season. Priced at €2.50.

Recycling breakthrough

When it comes to recycling Nestlé are ahead of the game. They were one of the first to get rid of the ridiculous plastic moulds on Easter eggs in favour of the more practical cardboard and foil.

Now their ‘YES!’ snack range will come wrapped in recyclable paper.

Nestlé experts, working at its confectionery R&D centre in York, have found a way to use a recyclable paper wrapper in a high-speed ‘flow wrap cold seal’ packaging line.

It represents a world first for a process that, in the past, was only suitable for plastic films and laminates.

Nestlé’s ‘YES!’ range of fruit- and nut-based bars will become the first brand to convert to the new recyclable paper wrapper to be rolled out from this month. So unwrap with care.