The brown bread baking competition makes a return once again to this year’s National Ploughing Championships.

The winner of the competition, which is sponsored by Aldi, will receive a prize of €15,000 and see their bread stocked across 157 Aldi stores nationwide.

The competition, which is in its ninth year, is run in association with the National Ploughing Association and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA).

John Curtin, group buying director for Aldi, said that the competition continues to see top-quality and innovation on display from bakers.

“Last year’s winning product, ‘Daragh’s Brown Bread’, has been a hit with customers and we’re certain that we’ll uncover another crop of talented bakers at this year’s competition,” he said. Daragh O’Brien, winner of the competition 2022, said: “Taking part in the national brown bread baking competition has been a life-changing experience.

“Not only did I become the first male winner of the competition, but I got to share my recipe with the country and see my brown bread stocked in my local Aldi. I encourage all amateur bakers to enter this year’s competition and wish everyone the best of luck.”