07 December, 2018

CIT’s Department of Tourism & Hospitality hosted their annual Food Product Development Showcase on Tuesday, December 4.

The event was the culmination of a semester’s work for the Bachelor of Business in Culinary Arts Degree students, bringing together modules in Culinary Entrepreneurship and Food Packaging & Design.

Students worked individually, or in groups, to develop an original food product, as well as a business plan to support their product.

Sixteen products were presented to a panel of judges which included: David Chandler, Sales Director of Blenders; Susan O'Shaughnessy, Senior Applications Specialist at Edlong and Michele Santry, Food To Go Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland.

Sophie Curtain and Patrice Crowley took first prize with Fruitea, their fruit flavoured green tea creation, while second place went to Aaron Comerford’s Frozen Gourmet handcrafted Aranchinis.

 The standard was extremely high this year, Susan O'Shaughnessy, from Edlong, said many of the products were shelf ready. David Chandler remarked on the enthusiasm of the students. “The most noticeable thing about this year is the level of confidence of the candidates and the passion each and every student had for their product”, he said.

Mary McCarthy, lecturer in the Department of Tourism and Hospitality said the annual event is wonderful for the students. “It gives them respect for their product, wonderful feedback from the judges and real-world experience so they are ready to take their product to market.”

There are many opportunities for students to take their products to the next level in CIT, including applying for the Student Inc. Programme in The Rubicon where mentoring and a bursary of €4,000 is provided. 

Students can also take the Level 8 Programme in Culinary Entrepreneurship in the Tourism & Hospitality Department, where they take modules, in areas such as Food Processing and Technology, Product Scale Up and consolidate their learning during internship in an Artisan Food Company. 

Julie Delaney, Brand Manager of Blenders, sponsors of the award, thanked the students and staff “for all their hard work…in creating a truly wonderful event”.

Pictured L-R: Anna Murphy, Lecturer Biological Sciences Dept; First prize Fruitea, Sophie Curtin, Patrice Crowley; Second Prize Frozen Gourmet handcrafted Aranchinis, Aaron Comerford; Third Prize Oinkies, cubes of sausage-meat with fluffy mashed potato, Sarah O'Sullivan; Fourth Prize Probucha, a smoothie enhanced with Kombucha fermented tea, Ciara Carey; Mary McCarthy Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality Dept.

If you would like to collaborate with CIT get in touch. Email extendedcampus@cit.ie or call 021 4335302.