One of the local successes at the Volvo Ocean Race was the Joyces Supermarket Food Stand at Breathnach Quay which served the fienst of Irish produce to customers to take away or consume at the deating area which formed part of the stand.
Joyces had a great reaction to the facility, with many tourists having commented to them on the excellence of the produce they supplied, showcasing many Irish-based food suppliers.
Joyces’ Mark Spitzer who oversaw the arrangement of the stand said that the company had taken a decision to showcase the produce of local suppliers whose food is available at Joyces Supermarkets.
“It was an opportunity for us to showcase what we can do better than the bigger guys,” he said adding that there is huge interest in locally-produced fresh produce.
Food on offer included a selection of carvery sub rolls, homemade seafood chowder, fresh fruit pots, a shrimp and lobster bar, a chocolate fountain, fresh cut Irish cheeses, continental meats, filled jacket potatoes with homemade chilli con carne, and much more. The shrimp bar was one of only two in Connacht, and strawberries came from Pat Clarke in Co Meath. His business, Clarke’s Fresh Fruit, has been based outside Stamullen in Meath for more than 50 years.
Cheeses from both local and national suppliers included Ardrahan Farmhouse Cheese, Cooleeney Camembert, Cashel Blue, Killeen goat’s cheese and Greek fennell cheese, Tipperary brie, Gortnamona goat’s cheese, Cahill’s Ballintubber Cheese, Ardagh Chalice, smoked Gubbeen, Wexford red and white cheddar, and more.
