Dromoland Castle restaurant announced as first member of exclusive Certified Irish Angus Chefs Club

Musgrave Market Place launches partnership with the Irish Angus Producer Group and Kepak to deliver top quality beef to high end restaurant 

22^nd January 2019: The Fig Tree Restaurant, located in the magnificent surrounds of the Five Star Dromoland Castle in County Clare, has been announced as the first Irish restaurant to become a member of the Certified Irish Angus Chefs Club created by Musgrave Market Place, Irish Angus Producer Group and Kepak. Membership will be awarded to fine dining establishments around the country who have demonstrated a commitment to the Certified Irish Angus Beef brand and exclusively offer Certified Irish Angus Beef on their restaurant menus.

James Canavan, Trading Manager Musgrave Market Place said, “We are honoured to have Dromoland Castle as the first member to be selected for this initiative which will introduce our superior product to discerning visitors both from Ireland and overseas. Our customers are increasingly demanding full transparency on the provenance of the food ingredients we supply to them and, in particular when it comes to beef they are insisting that it is Irish and locally produced where possible. The Certified Irish Angus Beef brand provides the reassurance they need that the product has come from an Irish farm and is produced to the highest standards.”

The internationally renowned Dromoland Castle welcomes more than 60,000 visitors per year, 70% of which come from the transatlantic market. The Fig Tree Restaurant located in the Golf & Country Club is run by Head Chef Derek McCann and has gained a reputation for serving only the finest Irish beef.

Speaking about becoming a member of the club, David McCann, Executive Head Chef of Dromoland Castle Estate said, “I choose to use Certified Black Angus Beef from Musgrave Marketplace as it consistently delivers the right size, marbling, tenderness and above all fantastic flavour. Every steak is fully traceable from farm to fork by the Irish Angus Producer Group which provides me with the consistency and confidence I need.”

Kepak and the Irish Angus Producer Group formed a strategic alliance almost 25 years ago.

Mel Bohan, Kepak Group said “The quality of Certified Irish Angus Beef is testament to the care and attention it receives at every step in the food chain and we are delighted to be involved in processing it to the highest standards.  The Certified Irish Angus Chefs Club serves to further recognise the dedication of Irish Angus farmers in producing this premium product which is worthy of being featured on the menus of our best restaurants. We have developed a strong business partnership with Musgrave Market Place and we are delighted to see this relationship continue to grow and develop through initiatives such as this.”

Charles Smith, General Manager, Irish Angus Producer Group said, “The Certified Irish Angus Chefs Club is a win-win both for the restaurants, who will feature top-quality Irish beef on their menus, and for the Certified Irish Angus Beef brand which will achieve increased brand recognition by featuring on the menus of top restaurants around the country. The strength and awareness of our brand continues to grow. Operating through our unique system of certification we now have over 16,000 family farm members.”

The Certified Irish Angus Chefs Club is being rolled out through the Musgrave Foodservice network.  The Fig Tree Restaurant at Dromoland Castle is the first Irish restaurant to become a member of the club with other high-end restaurants set to join in the coming months.

For more information on becoming a member of the Certified Irish Angus Chefs Club, contact Fergal Reale, Musgrave Wholesale Partners Meat Specialist on fergal.reale@musgrave.ie.

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Gemma Smyth | gemma@gemmasmyth.ie | 087-9156639