The Pursuit of Distinction and Innovation – Our Excellence Award Finalists at Lion’s Den 2023

We just wrapped up our Lion’s Den Start-up entrepreneurship event at the Dublin Food Chain Producer Showcase, where we partnered up with the four Dublin LEOs. This year, we had two categories: one for brands in business for up to two years (Start-Up Award) and another for the more experienced and in the game for two to five years (Excellence Award). Our six finalists had the nerve-racking task of pitching their product to our panel of three judges. And who stole the spotlight? Born Again Bites and Zingbeer snagged the top spots! After the show, we caught up with all of our Excellence Award finalists who gave us some great insights into their individual ventures.

Chimac, Sorbetto, and Zingibeer showcased incredible potential for business expansion within a five-year span. Each finalist has a distinct personality to their brand, resonating with the audience on various levels. With fierce competition and every brand boasting a strong unique selling point, our judges faced quite the challenge in picking a winner.

Korean Flavour Fusion

Chimac wowed us with the transformative power of Korean-flavoured and spiced sauces. Their Sriracha Caramel sauce, paired with meat and toasties, brought a kick and flavour boost to the meal. Sofie, reflecting on the experience, shared how she learned a lot from her fellow finalists, and gained valuable insights from the judges. She emphasised the goal of spreading the brand message abroad, especially in the UK, and understanding their consumers there in order to drive sales.

Aromatic Sorbets for All

Sorbetto, the sorbet connoisseurs, introduced their flavours—raspberry and tarragon, and strawberry and basil to the audience. With four distinctive sorbet offerings, Ivan, in conversation with Andrew, emphasised the significance of the creative process and the journey from idea to product. He shed light on the surprising part of the business side of things, highlighting that his role revolves more around sales, marketing and expansion rather than getting to explore in the kitchen.

Ginger Beer that Zings

In the end, Zingibeer snagged the top spot with its “zingy” ginger beer that left taste buds singing. With exciting plans on the horizon, including the release of more products, we’re eagerly anticipating Zingibeer‘s journey over the next few years, fuelled by the support of Bradley. Dive into the details of their victory in our winner’s article.

In summary, all of our finalists embody innovation and promise within the entrepreneurial landscape. We’re excitedly awaiting their continued growth and success in the years ahead. Their unique contributions to their industries stand as a testament to the bright future that lies ahead for these brands.

Check out our other articles on our Judges, Start-Up Award finalists and our two winners Born Again Bites and Zingibeer. Find out more about Lion’s Den at lionsden.ie or through our Lion’s Den Instagram and follow our socials – Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter. Also check out our youtube channel where we’re posting all of our interviews from Lion’s Den in full!