Food firm selected to launch in US

Kinsale’s Blue Haven Food Company has been selected by the Smurfit School of Business and the Irish Exporters’ Association as a case study to develop its business into the US market.

One of the two founders of the of the Blue Haven Food Company, Cormac Fitzgerald, said he expects exports to thrive.

“We developed the Blue Haven Food Company a number of years ago, which is the food manufacturing part of our business, and we feel that this will be probably our biggest growth area for the next few years as agri-food, seafood and food exports are a massive growth sector.”

The firm will launch in Boston in the next three months after receiving intensive mentoring from the IEA and Smurfit School of Business.

Mr Fitzgerald said they could not have gone to the US without the support of the likes of Musgrave, who helped the brand gain traction.

The inclusion of Blue Haven Food Company in the selection caps off a remarkable turnaround for the company which is part of the Blue Haven Collection.

The Blue Haven Collection was served with a winding-up petition by Revenue following a tax issue. The was resolved by an agreement between both parties which resulted in 110 jobs being saved.

The company is now focused on becoming the leading supplier of quality seafood, according to chief executive Tommy Doyle.

“Our vision is to become an international food brand, producing top-quality niche seafood products for both the domestic and international market underpinned by the world renowned Gourmet Capital of Ireland, Kinsale.”

The Blue Haven Food Company represents the pinnacle of the industry, having won innovation awards in the food and beverage sector, Blás na hÉireann food awards, and the UK Great Taste Award.