Wheatfield Prison kitchens and a Supervalu supermarket shared the top honours at yesterday's National Hygiene Awards.
The governor, Mr Edward Whelan, said it was a first for the prison service. "I don't think any other prison in Europe has achieved these standards," he said. The prison has entered the competition for the past 10 years and was previously a category winner. The prison's catering service also serves as a training facility, Mr Whelan said.
Scally's Supervalu supermarket, Clonakilty, Co Cork, was the joint winner of the Supreme Hygiene Award, for the second time in succession. Speaking at the presentation of the awards, the chief executive of the Food Standards Authority of Ireland, Dr Patrick Wall, said: "The winners today have demonstrated that it is possible to achieve standards in excess of the legal requirement in a commercial environment."
More than 1,000 Irish companies in the food and non-food sectors participate in the Excellence Ireland Hygiene Programme.
The St John of God Centre in Monavalley, Tralee, won the Best First Time Applicant category while McDonalds, Shop Street, Galway, won the Fast Food Restaurant category. The Dochas Centre, at Mountjoy Prison, won a special merit award in the industrial catering category.
O'Hara's of Foxford, Co Mayo, a family-owned bakery, won the bakery category. The Great Southern Hotel, Dublin Airport, won the hotel category.