Toast raised to Gallagher's Bakery at industry awards

Pictured at the Bord Bia Food and Drink Awards: Tara McCarthy and Michael Carey, Bord Bia, presenting the Entrepreneurial Award to Tom Doyle and Declan Gallagher, Gallagher’s Bakery, based in Ardara.

DONEGAL’s Gallaghers Bakery has come up trumps at this year’s Bord Bia’s Food and Drink Industry Awards in the RDS.

Bord Bia’s awards celebrate businesses who have demonstrated excellence in the production, promotion and growth of the Irish food and drink industry in Ireland and overseas.

More than 300 Irish food and drink industry leaders gathered for the awards ceremony which was hosted by Broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan.

Gallaghers Bakery in Ardara received the ‘Entrepreneurial Award’ for the company’s foresight in successfully identifying, researching and developing a successful offering for the gluten-free market. This vision has driven huge success for the business which has grown from employing 65 people in 2011 to 305 direct employees in 2017, with a further 40 expected by early 2018.

The judges noted that the success of Gallaghers Bakery was driven by their entrepreneurial spirit, their ability to think big and smartly leverage retailer’s consumer insights and data.

“It is an incredible story of drive, ambition and the team’s tenacity to succeed,” they said.

The awards were presented by Tara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Bia, who said, “Bord Bia’s Food and Drink Awards provide us with an opportunity to acknowledge the trailblazers in the Irish food and drink industry who have proven their commitment and ambition to drive the sector forward.

“These companies have demonstrated excellence and innovation in their use of marketing principles and consumer insight and provide an example of best practice which new and emerging businesses can aspire to.

“I would like to congratulate and applaud all nine companies for their vision and determination to succeed which is helping us to develop the positive reputation for Irish food and drink on the global market.”

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