Press Release for Immediate Release – Dec 23rd, 2020

“Play your part in Unearthing the Taste of Carlow by sharing your unique Carlow food and drink story”

As part of the continued collaborative development of the Food & Drink Sector, Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office has opened a call for applications to Carlow food and drink stakeholders to be included in a food and drink experience guide that maps out the unique Taste In Carlow.

Speaking about the motivation behind the development of this guide, Maria Couchman – Economic Development Officer, Carlow County Council - Local Enterprise Office said, “Food production, retailing, hospitality and foodservice enterprise have suffered particular hardship in 2020 and initiatives such as the Carlow Taste Trail are designed to help reboot and reinvigorate consumer engagement with their local food heroes. The Carlow Taste Trail aims to boost awareness of the myriad of excellent food and drink enterprises and experiences in the county.”

She further stated, “Carlow has a thriving and distinct food and drink landscape, however most owners managers have been so busy trying to maintain their business through the Covid 19 crisis that they did not have the resource to communicate what they have on offer, and that offer is exceptional. From on farm Agri-food experiences, to exquisite restaurants featuring local producers, to food and drink producer workshops this guide encourages food and drink related experiences to share their Carlow food and drink story, and in particular highlight what is unique and engaging about their enterprises that sets Carlow apart.”

Key Taste Trail categories include, but are not exclusive to Restaurants and Accommodation, Cafés, Primary/small food producers (farmers/ farm shops), Food Retailers such as cheesemongers/ bakeries etc, Craft Beer/ Alcohol (including pubs), Gastro Pubs, Markets, Agri-Food experiences and other food and drink related experiences.

Welcoming this project, Tom O’Neill, Cathaoirleach – Carlow County Council said, “This Taste Trail food and drink guide aims to raise the profile of and stimulate local engagement with food and drink experiences in County Carlow to support the kickstart of these industries in 2021. Insight from the recently developed Taste in Carlow food and drink brand indicated that Carlow is a county of endless discoveries connected to the land and its produce which are not bring communicated sufficiently to consumers.’

He continued, “This map and guide aim to encourage the public to ‘Unearth the Taste in Carlow’. The project will develop a new consumer experience guide in the form of the Carlow Taste Trail Food & Drink Map and associated digital marketing activities to promote awareness. The focus will be on telling the Carlow food story and stimulate engagement with known and newly discovered food and drink experiences.”

Carlow County Council - Local Enterprise Office has gained funding under the Town & Village Accelerated Scheme to deliver a marketing campaign built around the ‘Taste in Carlow’ experience and to promote Carlow’s Food, Drink & Hospitality establishments.

An open call for applications to be featured on the map and guide will launch in December and companies will have until the third week in January to express an interest in being part of this project.  From the applications independent tourism and food experts will select a collection of experiences for this trail that reflects the unique and individual character of Carlow’s food and drink landscape to be featured in the map and guide. Features are limited and will granted to applications who best demonstrate their unique contribution to Carlow’s food and drink landscape.

The guide is designed to last a period of 2 years  and will  provide the foundation for a permanent food and drink trail to be developed as part of Carlow’s Food and Drink Strategy – A Taste of County Carlow 2020-2025 by Carlow County Council in partnership with industry and key stakeholders.

Each company that participants must be willing to engage with the process which will include photography, placement of a plaque at your premises and social media co-operative training. Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office will be working with Failte Ireland on this project.

Ends

For further information contact Kieran Comerford on 086/8252037 or e-mail kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie

Attachments

Taste in Carlow Brand logo

Editors Notes

Carlow Food and Drink Strategy – a Taste of County Carlow 2020 – 2025 was published in June and the development of a food and drink brand and narrative has been completed. This project will be the first use of this new brand.

The Funding for this map and guide has come from the Accelerated Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2020.