A businessman who hopes to double his workforce by building a €500,000 food production facility in Co Cork says his plans have been stymied by cuts and changes to the State’s Leader funding scheme.

Irish producers are hoping that an unlikely addition to 2016’s must-eat healthy foods will pay dividends for a key part of the Irish cooked breakfast.

An Irish-owned food business has hired five staff ahead of its move to a huge new factory which will help it target massive export growth.

The proof of their success is in the pudding — literally.