NEFF Home Appliances are delighted to partner with Euronics to sponsor the National Brown Bread Baking Competition 2025, in association with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish Countrywomens Association (ICA).

The competition is open to the public. All entrants will be asked to drop off their freshly baked bread at one of the prescribed Euronics stores. Entry to the competition is free.

The winning brown bread baker will walk away with a cash prize of €5000 and a Neff oven, with the three finalists all walking away with a €500 Euronics giftcard.

Entrants will submit a pre-baked brown bread to one of the nine locations outlined below for judging in July and August 2025. Bread will NOT be accepted outside of these times.

Friday 18th July 09.00am - 11.00am

J O’Mahonys Prosperous, Downings North, Prosperous, Co Kildare, W91 DA3A

Grange Baldoyle, Unit 48G, Baldoyle Ind Est, Baldoyle, Co Dublin OR

Mastercare in Killester, 164 Howth Road, Clontarf West, Killester D03 V820

Heavins, A1&A2 Shannon Retail Park, Dublin Road, Athlone, Co Westmeath

Friday 25th July 09.00am – 11.00am

Bandon Co-Op, Kilbrogan , Bandon , Co Cork P72 X275

Jack Fitzgerald, Howleys Quay, Prior’s Land, Limerick V94 W295

Joyce & Sons Galway Road, Cuilleen, Headford, Co Galway H91 A9X7

Friday, 1st August - 11:00am

Callaghan’s Electrical, Euronics, Unit 8, Letterkenny Retail Park, Neil T Blaney Rd, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Friday 1st August 09.00 – 11am

Redmond Electric, Unit 6 WFC Retail Park, The Avenue, Gorey, Co Wexford

Keans Claremorris, Mount Street, Clare, Claremorris, Co Mayo F12Y642 OR

Brodericks Westport, 5 Castlebar Road, Westport, Co Mayo OR

Harrys Electric Unit 2 Moynehall Retail Park, Ballinafg Road, Cavan H12 HP64

Eight bakers will be chosen to go through to the finals where they will bake their Brown Bread in a Neff oven live in front of the judges.

Please note:

The judges’ decision in all competitions shall be final and binding on all competitors and the fact of entering shall be deemed an acceptance of this rule.

Details of ingredients allowed are addressed in our FAQs below.

Step 1: Entrants bake bread at home and drop for tasting and judging on the dates and locations outlined here. Please note, your bread has to be clearly labelled with your name, address, email address and contact number.

No entries will be taken outside the times and locations specified above. Winning entrants will be contacted by Laura Wills. Please note no feedback will be provided to unsuccessful entries.

Step 2: The top 8 Brown Bread bakers will go through to the finals where they will bake their Brown Bread live in front of the judges on either the 17th or 18th of September, on the Neff stage at the National Ploughing Championships. 2 winners from each day will go into the live final which will take place on the 19th of September. Please Note that the final 8 bakers will need to bring ALL ingredients and ALL equipment eg scales/tins/bowls etc with them as nothing will be supplied.

Who is the National Brown Bread Competition open to?

The National Brown Bread Baking Competition, sponsored by Euronics in association with the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) is open to residents of the Republic of Ireland. To compete, you must be over 18 years on 1st January 2024. Directors, management, and employees (and the immediate families of directors, management, and employees) of the Promotor or the agencies or companies associated with this promotion are ineligible to enter.

I’m a professional chef/baker. Can I enter the competition?

Professional chefs are excluded from competing in the National Brown Bread Baking Competition.

What do I do when I go to the drop off point?

Drop your bread to one of the Euronics stores listed on https://www.neff-home.com/ie/brown-bread-comp Please ensure your bread is clearly labelled with your name, address, email address and contact number.

How many breads can I submit?

Each participant may only submit one brown bread. Please note that a 2lb loaf tin must be used to bake your brown bread. Any bread that is not in this 2lb loaf tin shape will not be eligible.

How will I find out if I am successful?

Winning entrants will be contacted by Monday, 11th August. Unfortunately, no feedback will be provided to unsuccessful entries.

Queries can be directed to laura.wills@bshg.com

What happens if I am successful?

The top eight Brown Bread bakers, as determined by the judges, will go through to the finals where they will bake their Brown Bread live in front of the judges on either the 16th or 17th September, with the final four bakers taking to the baking stage on September 18th at the National Ploughing Championships.

What are the prizes?

1st prize: €5,000 and a NEFF oven

2nd prize: €500 Euronics voucher

3rd prize: €500 Euronics voucher

4th prize: €500 Euronics voucher

What ingredients are acceptable to use?

Flour

1. White Flour

2. Wholemeal Flour

3. Soya Flour

4. Spelt Flour

5. Rice Flour

Seeds

1. Poppy Seeds

2. Linseed (Flaxseed)

3. Sunflower Seed

4. Pumpkin Seeds

5. Chia Seeds

Other

1. Bran

2. Wheat Germ

3. Pinhead Oatmeal

4. Jumbo Oat Flakes

5. Oat Bran

6. Wheat Flakes

7. Pearl Barley

8. Cracked Wheat

9. Porridge Oats

10. Wheat Fibre

11. Salt

12. Baking Powder

13. Baking Soda

14. Whey Powder

15. Mixed Spice

16. Glucose

17. Brown Sugar

18. White Sugar

19. Cinnamon

20. Rapeseed Oil

22. Buttermilk

22. Black Treacle

23. Honey

24. Cream

25. Butter

26. Eggs

27. Sultanas

28. Apricots

29. Cherries

30. Mixed Peel

31. Cranberries

What ingredients are not allowed?

1. Sesame Seed

2. Celery

3. Mustard

4. Lupin