FreeFrom Food Awards 2017 – Winners Announced at Gala Ceremony

Judges award joint win to both varieties!

Goodfellas were big winners in the FreeFrom Food Awards 2017 Gala Presentations which took place on Thursday 11^th May in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood. The freefrom industry gathered with much anticipation for this now annual event, to see who would scoop Gold, Silvers or Bronze awards for their freefrom products. Winning an award in this sector, not only encourages the ongoing growth of the sector but also demonstrates the advancement in quality in this area – a win-win for consumers who must shop in the freefrom aisles.  Over 583 products were judged over 14 days and the Awards night is the culmination of this process.

The FreeFrom Food Awards Pizza category was competitive this year, as the market continues to expand and more retailers add both frozen and chilled versions to their offerings. “Gluten free pizza was not on the menu, when I was a teenager, unless you made it yourself,” says FreeFrom Foods Awards founder, John Burke, a lifelong coeliac. “Even homemade pizzas tended to be more like sponges with cheese on top, a far cry from the varieties that are now on the market.”

Burke continues, “Awarding a double Gold in the pizza category demonstrates how far freefrom pizza has evolved – it is just as good as normal pizza, so that our judges insisted on the joint win for both Goodfellas’ varieties. They felt it was fair and deserved and a testament to the fantastic products now bridging the gaps from freefrom to mainstream for those with specific dietary requirements.”

Having originated in the UK, the Irish awards were founded by coeliac businessman, John Burke, who established the FreeFrom Food Awards Ireland in 2016, with the intention of commending the excellence shown in the freefrom arena in recent years. The Awards work to promote quality, seek out diversity and encourage manufacturers to bring new products to the market place. “The freefrom market is advancing and we’re keen to see this continuing in the future,” says Burke. “As a coeliac of 44 years, I am thrilled to witness these changes – we’ve come a long way since unpalatable bread and plain dinners – it’s very satisfying to see the market evolve and to acknowledge those contributing to it.”

Gold, Silver and Bronze are granted, along with a Merit badge for products still considered high quality by the judges. Winners may display the relevant badge on their packaging, which helps consumers wading through the extensive freefrom sections of stores to discern which products are best. Categories are diverse from pasta to ready meals, cakes to crisps and bread products to breakfast cereals.

Freefrom Food Awards Ireland has been established independently by John Burke, founder of GFLife. The FreeFrom Food Awards, were started in the UK in 2007, being the only industry awards for FreeFrom foods, by FoodsMatter and FreeFrom Foods Matter. Having been a judge at the UK FreeFrom Awards for over 7 years, John adapted the awards format for an Irish setting.

For further information:

John Burke, 083 170 6030 or Emma Clarke Conway, 087 298 1944.

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