GAA/GPA and Nuvion Nutrition team up to launch new Irish sports nutrition brand Cróga
Managing Director, Nuvion Nutrition, John Cunningham, centre, with Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna, GPA CEO Tom Parsons, Clare hurler Shane O'Donnell and Antrim ladies footballer Lara Dahunsi during the Cróga Nutrition product launch at Croke Park in Dublin. This launch event unveiled a groundbreaking new sports nutrition brand, specially formulated for Gaelic games, that has been developed as a joint venture between the GAA, GPA and Nuvion Nutrition. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile.
The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and Nuvion Nutrition today announced the launch of Cróga, a new Irish sports nutrition brand designed for Gaelic games and developed in partnership with the GAA and GPA.
Cróga (the Irish word for brave) represents a partnership between the GAA, GPA and Nuvion Nutrition, the Co. Meath-based manufacturer whose parent company brings over 20 years of experience producing Informed Sport-accredited sports nutrition products.
As a brand co-owned by the GAA/GPA, a portion of all proceeds from the Cróga range will be reinvested in supporting Gaelic games and backing players and the communities across Ireland.
The initial Cróga range, including whey protein, creatine and collagen are all formulated and made in Ireland. The products are available through the website www.croga-nutrition.com and carry the Guaranteed Irish mark.
Every product in the range is certified by Informed Sport – the independent screening programme for sports supplements – meaning every batch is tested for over 250 substances banned in sport using ISO/IEC 17025 accredited methods. The certification, run by UK-based laboratory LGC, is recognised as the global gold standard in sports nutrition quality assurance.
Cróga has been designed from the outset as a true partnership. The product range is being developed in collaboration with the GAA/GPA, ensuring formulations are tailored to the specific demands of hurling, football, camogie and ladies football. Further products will be developed in the same way, with GAA/GPA involvement at every stage.
“The welfare of our players and the strength of our games are at the heart of everything we do, and Cróga brings both of those together,” said Tom Parsons, GPA CEO.
“While Gaelic players have never been more knowledgeable about the link between nutrition and performance, Cróga has been formulated specially for our games, which is a unique feature of this brand. We’re very pleased to be part of this special collaboration.”
Peter McKenna, GAA Commercial Director, commented: “Cróga means players get a product that is high-quality, Irish-made and independently tested to the highest international standard. And, as a brand co-owned by the GAA/GPA, Cróga is designed to give back to Gaelic games. We see this as a long-term partnership and one that will support the nutritional welfare of players and the strength of our games for many years to come.”
Clare hurler Shane O'Donnell and Antrim ladies footballer Lara Dahunsi during the Cróga Nutrition product launch at Croke Park in Dublin. This launch event unveiled a groundbreaking new sports nutrition brand, specially formulated for Gaelic games, that has been developed as a joint venture between the GAA, GPA and Nuvion Nutrition. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile.
“Cróga is the brand I wish we'd had as players ourselves,” said John Cunningham, Co-founder of Nuvion Nutrition, at today's launch in Croke Park.
“For over 20 years, our team has been producing Informed Sport-accredited nutrition and foods for special medical purposes. At our facility in Co. Meath, we have the expertise and the standards. What we wanted to bring to Cróga was a product made in Ireland, formulated alongside the GAA/ GPA, and built for the players who give so much to our national sports. This is a true partnership.”
“The name Cróga comes from the Irish word for brave, bold and valiant and was chosen to reflect the qualities every player draws on when representing club or county. It is a word that lives in the language of Gaelic games and one that recognises the standard the brand is committed to upholding in every product we make.”
The Cróga launch range includes three products:
• Cróga Whey: Up to 23g protein per serving, available in 900g and 2kg pouches with a choice of seven flavours including Latté, Cookies & Cream, Red Berry, Banana, Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla.
• Cróga Collagen: Available in 250g and 500g pouches in Citrus and Red Berry.
• Cróga Creatine: Pure creatine monohydrate, unflavoured, available in 250g and 500g pouches.
All Cróga products are available now via www.croga-nutrition.com.