International food business hopefuls sought for programme
It is a business development and training programme designed especially for food and drinks company start-ups, jointly run by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc. Food Works 2015 was officially launched at the new Wicklow Wolf Brewery in Bray, Co, Wicklow — it participated in last year’s programme and has just opened a 3,700sqftt brewery.
Wicklow Wolf plans to create 16 new jobs over the next few years to support its growing business.
The company’s co-founder Quincey Fennelly, said once they made the decision to produce beer on a commercial level, they looked for help from wherever they could get it.
“The Food Works programme was recommended to us and we were delighted to be accepted to take part.
“It was very challenging and brought us on many occasions outside our comfort zone, but it really helped us to become more disciplined about planning our business for the future for both the domestic and the export market.
“I would recommend it to anyone who has a good business idea and has the ambition to develop it into a strong food business capable of exporting around the world,” he said.
Over the past two years, following a competitive process attracting in excess of 150 applications, a total of 43 start-ups from dairy, snacks, meat, seafood and beverages have participated in the Food Works programme.
Rachel Nolan, co-founder of Nobó and a participant in Food Works 2013, said the programme had been invaluable in helping the business to reach its full potential.
“After first launching into stores eight months ago, our first product ‘Frozen Goodness’ is now available in over 100 stores around the country.
“This will be increasing significantly over the next number of weeks as the product is rolled out to SuperValu stores nationwide.
“We were delighted to recently receive two Great Taste Awards in the UK and to be included in the Great Taste ‘Top 50 Foods’ in the UK and Ireland out of 10,000 products entered and tasted.
“We are also excited at the possibility of seeing ‘Frozen Goodness’ on freezer shelves in other countries before the end of 2015,” she said..
Applications are now open for candidates interested in being a part of the 2015 Food Works programme Successful companies will be introduced to suitable investors to help them to fund a scalable business during the programme.
Interested participants are invited to learn more about the programme at regional information seminars between 5.30pm and 8pm in the Radisson Hotel, Athlone October 15), Tayto Park, Ashbourne (October 21) and Cork Institute of Technology (November 4).
