'Outstanding Achievement in Business' Awarded to Darina Allen, Ballymaloe

19th November 2014

Businesswoman Darina Allen, received an Outstanding Achievement award from Cork Chamber of Commerce for her commitment to promoting Irish Food both at home and abroad.

Darina Allen, owner of the Ballymaloe Cookery School, renowned teacher, food writer, cookbook author and television presenter was presented with an Outstanding Achievement in Business Award at Cork Chamber’s Dublin Dinner, in association with EY, at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel tonight.

Speaking from the event, Gillian Keating, President of Cork Chamber said “Now in its fourth year, this unique event hosts over 550 guests from across the businesses and political communities of Dublin and Cork to provide an opportunity for companies to network and strengthen connections with their peers. This year in particular we are pleased to be celebrating success from the Food industry, to further highlight the region’s excellent resources which provide Cork with a solid foundation and valuable springboard from which to catapult itself onto the world stage as a leading player in agri-food and drinks sectors with resultant revenue and employment gains for the county and country.

More specifically we are delighted to add Darina Allen to the roll call of business leaders that we have honoured since the inauguration of this event four years ago, including Sean O’Driscoll, of Glen Dimplex Group; Brian McCarthy, of Fexco and Leslie Buckley of INM, Digicel and Saongroup.”

Ms. Keating added, “Darina Allen in her capacity as owner of Ballymaloe Cookery School has put Irish Food on the world stage and has won many awards in her role as chef, food writer and teacher. But it is for her achievements as ambassador for Irish Food and the business acumen that she brings to that sector that Cork Chamber are awarding her the Outstanding Achievement in Business Award. She sits at the table of the countries key representative bodies in the food movement including the Taste Council of Bord Bia, Chair of Artisan Food Forum, Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Member of the Advisory Board of Safefood, Trustee of Irish Organic Centre, Patron of Irish Seedsavers, Member of Euro-Toques (European Association of Chefs), Guild of Foodwriters in both UK and Ireland, Councillor for Slow Food Movement and founder of the first Irish Farmers Market in Ireland.”

John Higgins, Partner EY commented: “The recent measures introduced in the budget to support the agri-food sector are to be welcomed. The manufacturing of food and drink products in Ireland is critically important to the Irish economy and is our largest indigenous industry with an annual turnover of about €25 billion and 230,000 employees across every townland in Ireland. I’m personally delighted to see Cork Chamber supporting the industry by awarding Darina Allen for her commitment to the food industry in Ireland. EY is delighted to continue to support Cork Chamber’s Dublin dinner highlighting the many success stories across a wide range of industries”.

Cork Chamber is the leading business organisation in Cork supporting and representing the interests of approximately 1,100 businesses employing 100,000 people in the region. Cork Chamber has a mandate to develop and promote policy recommendations that create an enabling business environment and support the region’s economic development.

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