CSNA news

NDC launches new dairy training programme for SuperValu and Centra

The National Dairy Council has announced a new specialist online training programme focusing on nutrition and cheese production for the staff of SuperValu and Centra stores nationwide. The training programme is funded by an EU programme designed to support the foodservice industries impacted by Covid in Ireland, France, Denmark, Belgium and Northern Ireland. Bord Bia estimated that the food industry in Ireland contracted by half during the pandemic crisis where restaurants, pubs, hotels, coffee shops, workplace, hospitals and educational canteens all closed.

Musgrave is Ireland’s leading food retail, wholesale and foodservice company employing over 30,000 people across its SuperValu and Centra stores. NDC worked closely with the Musgrave learning & development team to create bespoke tailored training modules that will train and upskill retail staff in the benefits of dairy nutrition and the cheese production process. The Nutrition module was produced with Dr Marianne Walsh, senior nutritionist at NDC and covers all the essential information around the importance and value of dairy in the diet. The module on Cheese Production focuses on Irish grass-fed dairy, the development of small artisan farmhouse cheeses and large-scale cheddar cheese production in Ireland.

Recent research undertaken by NDC showed a 48% increase in dairy consumption during the pandemic. Nearly one third of young adults without children indicated that their consumption of dairy products has increased since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Jean Baptise, cheesemaker, Hegarty’s Farm, Whitechurch, Co. Cork,

Cathy Curran, NDC and Laura Murphy, Musgrave

In attendance during the Special Olympics Polar

Plunge at Sandycove Pier in Dublin were international

striker and Peamont United footballer Stephanie

Roche, second from left, alongside ‘Bear Chillis’

and CEO of Gala Retail, Gary Desmond and Special

Olympics athletes, from left, Lorcan Tully, Eoin Tully

and Edel Armstrong

SuperValu’s vegetables

reach new heights

SuperValu has announced the launch of two new hydroponically grown products grown right here in Ireland. SuperValu is the first retailer to bring vertically farmed hydroponic micro greens to market and the new products, available now on shelves around Ireland, are Signature Tastes Italian Style Microgreen Mix and Signature Tastes Microgreen Super Mix. Hydroponic vertical farming is an innovative farming method that allows greens to be grown in Ireland all year round whatever the weather, significantly reducing food miles and time between farm to shelves.

Hydroponics is the process of growing plants without using soil. In traditional growing, soil is a major source of nutrients for plants but with hydroponics, alternatives to those nutrients are directly fed to plants instead and so the use of soil can be removed completely and growing moved indoors.

In addition to the Microgreens, the Signature Tastes Growing Pea Shoots are also launching in SuperValu stores; these are also grown using innovative soil-free methods but are grown on a bed of compostable paper. The zero waste Growing Pea Shoots are a living product so customers can cut as much as they want and the plant keeps growing. SuperValu’s Signature Tastes Microgreens and Growing Pea Shoots are sustainably grown and herbicide and pesticide free. As they have been grown in a soil-free environment which reduces strain on land-based resources, customers get great-tasting, nutrient rich greens with fewer negative impacts on the environment. The new products are already award-winning with the Signature Tastes Pea Shoots taking home the Chef’s Larder Award and the Signature Tastes Italian Style Microgreen Mix winning a PLMA Salute to Excellence Award.

Stephen McCormack, McCormack Family Farms with

Special Olympics Ireland and Gala Retail want people to get freezin’ for a reason!

Long-term sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland, Gala Retail, has announced its support of this year’s Polar Plunge, assisting in the promotion of the event and funding branded merchandise for registered participants to help make this year’s event bigger and better than ever. The event will help to raise much needed funds for Special Olympics athletes to help them get back to the clubs and sport they love.

Gala Retail joined international soccer player and Special Olympics ambassador, Stephanie Roche, to help launch the Polar Plunge supported by Gala Retail which will take place at Sandycove Pier on 4 December at 11am, as well as taking place virtually from 10 – 12 December, allowing participants to take on the challenge at their own local pool, beach or lake.

Speaking at the launch event, CEO of Gala Retail, Gary Desmond said: “As a platinum sponsor of Special Olympics Ireland, Gala Retail is thrilled to extend our partnership to support the Polar Plunge this year. Having focused so much on isolating over the past 18 months, we hope to see a community of plungers taking part in the event at Sandycove or taking part virtually at their own local beach, pier, pool or lake; nominating others on social media, raising funds for Special Olympics Ireland and making this the biggest Polar Plunge ever!”

Those who think they are brave enough to take the Polar Plunge can register at www.specialolympics.ie/polarplunge. A donation of €25 will gain you access to the ‘coolest’ event of the year, as well as an exclusive Polar Plunge t-shirt. People can also take part virtually in the Polar Plunge, by signing up online, sharing their plunges and nominating friends to take part on social media. All proceeds will go towards helping Special Olympics athletes get back on the pitch, pool or court as they strive to get back to training and their friends in their clubs. ■