Local Catering Business Críoch Catering wins ‘Provenance Menu of the Year’ at National Catering Awards

We’re very proud to announce that our member Críoch Catering, under the stewardship of founder Tadgh Byrne has won ‘Provenance Menu of the Year’ at The National Catering Awards. The award in particular recognises his sourcing of local Wicklow Produce for his menus, featuring the fine food and drink grown and produced by fellow Wicklow Naturally members.

Críoch Catering founded by Arklow chef Tadgh Byrne in 2019 was nominated for 5 awards at the inaugural Gold Medal Catering Awards, held on 26th July in Clontarf Castle.

The team took the gold medal for menu Provenance for their use of local produce and their work with local Food and Drink Network ‘Wicklow Naturally’. Críoch was also shortlisted for awards for Best Public Sector Catering (at Wicklow County Council), Sustainability, Small Events Catering, and Rising Star for owner, Tadgh Byrne. The Gold Medal Catering Awards was created to shine a spotlight on the exceptional standards being set across the Irish catering landscape, from large-scale contract providers and healthcare caterers to niche event specialists and rising individual stars. The awards programme received over 150 entries in its first year, a testament to the vibrant and competitive spirit within the industry.

Spanning 20 award categories, the competition reflected the full spectrum of Irish catering: contract, healthcare, education, public sector, events, sustainability, customer service, and individual achievement. Entrants underwent a rigorous multi-stage judging process, including in-depth site assessments, mystery dining, and interviews, conducted by an independent panel of experts drawn from across the foodservice and hospitality world.

Speaking about the awards, organiser Trish Murphy, Head of Sales and Sponsorships at Ashville Media “The calibre of entries in this first year was nothing short of incredible. We launched this programme with the intention of recognising true excellence in Irish catering, and I think we’ve already exceeded expectations. These winners haven’t just met the standard, they’ve set it.”

The night itself was a celebration of professionalism and pride. Attendees enjoyed a sparkling prosecco reception, a gourmet three-course dinner, and an atmosphere filled with excitement, camaraderie, and well-deserved recognition. From established companies to passionate individuals, the winners represented the very best of what Irish catering has to offer.

One of the judges commented on the exceptionally high standard of the entries saying “We’ve seen creative, sustainable, and customer-focused work happening in kitchens, canteens, hospitals, and event venues across the country. It’s clear that Irish caterers are not only responding to the evolving needs of clients, they’re anticipating them.”

After winning the award, Tadgh Byrne, owner of Críoch Catering said, “Putting Wicklow on the plate was one of Críoch’s founding goals, so I’m thrilled that this has been acknowledged on a national scale. I hope that other contract catering companies will start to give Irish ingredients more attention in the coming years.”

Wicklow Naturally wishes to extend its congratulations to Tadgh and his team at Críoch and to acknowledge his consistent support of Wicklow Food and Drink produce. Chairperson Paul Smith said that Tadgh has been an active and valuable member of the network since its inception and has always endeavoured to champion local and sustainable produce from the Garden County.