Tirlán Quality Grain Award Winners Announced
Tirlán has announced the annual Quality Grain Award winners. The annual Quality Grain Awards programme recognises the excellence delivered by Tirlán’s 1,100 grain growers each year in producing top-class Irish crops which are used in a variety of end products in the food and beverage sectors.
Kilkenny-based grower Thomas Butler and his wife, Annabel, have claimed the coveted Tirlán Quality Grain Supplier of the Year Award for 2022, amid strong competition from across the country following a record harvest.
The grower, from Bennettsbridge in Kilkenny, was amongst 13 top quality suppliers honoured for their dedication and attention to detail in grain production.
Tirlán Chairman, John Murphy, said choosing an overall winner from among the 13 high calibre entrants was extremely difficult in a harvest year that was blessed with great weather, exceptional quality, and high yields.
“The excellence of our suppliers is something we in Tirlán never take for granted. Generations of commitment, knowledge and expertise are what set us apart from growers all over the world. We’re passionate about what we do, and it shows in the high-quality produce that comes from our family farms.
“Our standard-setting growers are the cream of the crop. We commend them on the exceptionally high standards they have set and for their continued dedication to quality, best practice and sustainability and their commitment to the sector.” said John Murphy.
Food Grade Oats
James Ashmore, of county Kildare, took home the sought-after award for Food Grade Oats. The winning crop had an average specific weight of 61.3 kph at 15.0% moisture across 85 tonnes and was a crop of gluten free oats.
Aoife Murphy, Director of Ingredients at Tirlán, said: “There has been a significant investment in cutting edge technology in our Innovation Centre, our team of Commercial, R&D, market insights and nutrition specialists, who work with our product management and marketing divisions to continuously develop our plant-based offering.
“Our high-quality Oat-based ingredients can now be found in a wide variety of food applications such as bars and snacks as well as plant-based alternatives, including drinks, ice cream and chocolate.
“We’re continuing to expand our portfolio, build our expertise and evolve our offerings for the future in line with growing market trends. Key markets include North America, Europe, and Asia,” Aoife Murphy said.
John Kealy, Head of Grains at Tirlán, said: “We doubled our grain volumes in 2022 through our high-spec Oats Mill in Portlaoise. We have ambitions to continue to develop or milling capacity and extend our capability to take advantage of emerging market opportunities.”