Goatsbridge Trout Farm have won this year’s Seafood Innovation Award at the Annual Blas na hÉireann awards ceremony in Dingle, Co Kerry and will receive €4,000 worth of assistance from Bord Iascaigh Mhara and a cheque for €1,000.
The seafood innovation award is designed to recognise and encourage seafood product development teams for excellence in creating an innovative new seafood product. The prize for this year’s award winner is €4,000 worth of assistance from BIM’s Seafood Innovation Hub based in Clonakilty, Co Cork and a cheque for €1,000.
Based in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, Goatsbridge Trout Farm is a family run business which farms rainbow trout from the waters of the Little Arrigle river in Kilkenny. The farm provides a range of fresh, smoked and barbequed trout which is sold under the retail brand, Eat Trout. Goatsbridge Trout Farm were awarded this year’s Seafood Innovation Award in recognition of their new flaked hot smoked trout marinated in lime, chilli and ginger which is packed in a manner aimed at maximising the shelf life, flavour and convenience of the product.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mag Kirwan said; “We are absolutely delighted to win this year’s Seafood Innovation Award. We are always looking for new ways to improve our product offering and expand our business. The handy way we pack our new and innovative product allows us to add value to our new flaked hot smoked trout, ultimately benefiting the customer. We would like to thank Blas na hÉireann for recognisingour efforts in this area and we hope the assistance which will be provided by BIM through its Seafood Innovation Centre will assist us in growing our business further.
Speaking of this year’s winners, Jim O’Toole, CEO of BIM said; “I would like to congratulate Mag and Ger Kirwan and all the team at Goatsbridge Trout Farm on their fantastic win. It is important that innovation within the industry is fostered and nurtured in order to ensure the growth and sustainability of the industry both here in Ireland and further afield. BIM are pleased once more to be able to support innovation in the industry through sponsorship of this award and we hope that the assistance provided to Goatsbridge Trout Farm by our Seafood Development Centre will facilitate them in their future business endeavours.”
Aileen Deasy, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, right presents Mag Kirwan, Goatsbridge Trout, Thomastown, County Kilkenny with the BIM Seafood Innovation Award at the annual Blas na hÉireann Awards in Dingle, County Kerry at the weekend. Also in photo is Artie Clifford, Chairman Blas na hÉireann
