.
At the launch of the Manor West Food and Craft Fair Awards in Manor West Shopping Centre were
Derek Rusk – Manor West Centre Manager , John Sheahan Mayor of Kerry and Fiona Leahy – Business Advisor & Training Coordinator, Kerry Local Enterprise Office. Photo By Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus
MAYOR of Kerry, John Sheahan, launched the Manor West Food and Craft Fair Awards at the Manor West Shopping Centre and Retail Park last Friday.
The awards, in association with the Kerry Local Enterprise Office (LEO), will be an opportunity for Kerry’s finest food producers and craftspeople, whose thriving businesses celebrate all the county has to offer, to be recognised for their excellence and entrepreneurship.
Throughout the year, Manor West hosts Food and Craft Fairs which tell the story of Kerry’s vibrant culinary and creative scene by showcasing the wealth of artisan producers and diverse local entrepreneurs, providing then with a space to exhibit their delicious locally-made produce and beautiful handmade crafts free of charge.
Continued below…
.
Due to the phenomenal success of the fairs, and to create exciting opportunities and open new doors for the producers involved, Manor West decided to launch these awards.
Mayor of Kerry, John Sheahan, who launched the awards said; “I am delighted to be here today to launch the Manor West Food and Craft Fair Awards. There is an abundance of local talent in Kerry, and it is extremely important that we nurture this talent and create opportunities for these small businesses to excel. These awards will recognise the significant contribution such businesses make to the local economy, as well as to Kerry’s vibrant cultural scene, and I am sure they are going to be a huge success.”
The Kerry LEO will present the winner with a VIP package, which includes business mentoring, a training course or courses of their choosing in 2018/2019 and a Trading Online Voucher to a maximum of €2,500 (subject to terms and conditions).
They will also win an opportunity to exhibit their produce in a Pop Up Shop once a week in the Manor West Shopping Centre free of charge (subject to terms and conditions), as well as promotion through the Manor West Facebook and Twitter pages, and website.
In addition to this, the winner will receive a full page advert in Connect Magazine and a double page interview in Connect Business Magazine.
Speaking about the awards, Derek Rusk, Centre Manager, said, “We are thrilled to launch the Manor West Food and Craft Fair Awards, which is our way of recognising the excellence of Kerry’s food and craft producers who exhibit at our Food and Craft Fairs. We are passionate about supporting local businesses, and we are excited about the opportunity that these awards will offer to the winner. We can’t wait to see all the wonderful food and craft producers that will take part over the year!”
The public can vote for their favourite stall at each Manor West Fair, as well as through social media on the Manor West Facebook page.
The votes, along with a final judgement by Manor West Management and the Kerry LEO, will determine the winner who will be announced at the final fair of the year on December 9th 2018.
For more information on Manor West Shopping Centre and Retail Park and the Food and Craft Fair Awards please visit www.manorwest.ie or find them on Facebook and Twitter.
