Press Release, 14th June 2016
Gourmet gluten-free cereal producer Maria Lucia Bakes scooped a bronze award and two merit awards at the inaugural FreeFrom Food Awards Ireland held in the Round Room in the Mansion House Dublin on the 9th of June 2016.
In the highly competitive breakfast cereal category, Maria Lucia Bakes Cranberry, Coconut & Chia Seed Granola won a bronze award, while Maria Lucia Bakes Porridge was awarded a merit.
The newly launched single portion Maria Lucia Bakes On-The-Go Pots received a collective merit award in the innovation category.
“Winning such prestigious awards in the highly competitive cereal category against so many well established brands has given our small business a major boost of confidence,” said Maria Betts, founder of Maria Lucia Bakes. “These awards will give both retailers and consumers alike the motivation to give our cereals a try. We’re confident once they are tried they will become a keeper!”
Maria Lucia Bakes has previously won a Great Taste Award in 2014 for its Cashew Almond & Cinnamon Granola and “Best Cereal in Ireland” for its Cranberry, Coconut & Chia Seed Granola at the Irish Food Quality Awards 2015.
John Burke, founder of the FreeFrom Food Awards Ireland said, “We congratulate Maria Lucia Bakes for their success in winning multiple awards for their products at the FreeFrom Food Awards Ireland 2016. Maria’s success confirms that she is one of the leaders in Ireland’s FreeFrom Food industry.”
The FreeFrom Food Awards Ireland celebrate and recognise excellence in the field of ‘free from’ food production and supply. Judging is conducted by industry specialists, food writers, food bloggers and consumers of free from products. They make their evaluation based on quality, flavour, aroma, texture, ingredients, price and importantly, free from declarations. Final judging is blind.
The FreeFrom Food Awards Ireland were founded by John Burke – a lifelong coeliac and longtime judge of the FreeFrom Food Awards in the UK. They are Ireland’s only industry awards dedicated to the free from food industry. The awards were launched at the Allergy & FreeFrom Expo in October 2015.
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Above image caption reads: Therese Barry of Maria Lucia Bakes being presented with Bronze and Merit awards by John Burke, founder of the FreeFrom Food Awards Ireland, pictured at the FreeFrom Food Awards Ireland held in the Mansion House Dublin on 9th June 2016.
About Maria Lucia Bakes:
Maria Betts set up her business Maria Lucia Bakes in November 2013 when she was inspired to make a special breakfast for a friend who was gluten intolerant. The friend was so impressed that she took Maria’s granola home to her friends, the orders came flooding in and the rest is history.
Inspirational home baked food goes way back to childhood for Maria. Growing up in Glendalough, Co.Wicklow, her family had a tea-rooms, guesthouse and antiques shop and she was baking with her family from an early age.
Maria Lucia Bakes has just launched a new range of gluten-free toasted mueslis in Date & Banana and Fig & Almond flavour combinations. The award-winning granola range includes Cashew, Almond & Cinnamon Granola; Cranberry, Coconut & Chia Seed Granola; Apricot & Walnut with a Hint of Treacle; and No Added Sugar Granola. The Porridge is available in a single portion On-The-Go Pot.
Link to high res -images:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B74ffwQOIT9semlFQXVtWDY2Zms
For further information and media enquiries please contact:
Olivia Collins, Food PR, [email protected]
