The families behind your festive feast

Denise O’Callaghan has been baking — and eating — mince pies since August. But then, Christmas has to start early if you want to send a staggering 500,000 hand-finished mince pies to gourmet food markets in Ireland and, for the first time, Europe this festive season.

Denise’s Delicious Gluten-Free Bakery will be supplying a range of gluten-free festive treats to Italy, France, and Germany this month. Little wonder that it’s all hands on deck at the Cork bakery. Denise, husband Derek, parents Mary and Michael, and sister Louise are all helping out.

“Estée Lauder used to discuss lipstick at mealtimes, we talk about food,” she tells Feelgood.