Food Works – producing the next generation of food entrepreneurs

Ciara McDonagh, Eddie O’Neill, Carol Griffin

Industry impact: Food Works is a Government-supported accelerator programme that helps to develop the next generation of scaleable and export-driven Irish food businesses. It is run by three Government agencies: Teagasc; Bord Bia; and, Enterprise Ireland. Teagasc offers technical support to the companies on the programme, particularly expertise in terms of product and process development. Following a rigorous selection process, nine ambitious Irish food and drink companies were selected to take part in Food Works 2018, and a number of success stories have resulted.

Shane Ryan from Limerick City founded Fiid and has launched a range of meals designed to eliminate mindless snacking by keeping you fuller for longer. Fiid’s four-minute plant-based meal pots are currently available in retailers across Ireland including Supervalu and Dunnes Stores, with the company donating a meal to a child in the developing world for every pot sold.

Wellnice Foods was founded by nutritionist BJ Broderick and engineer Trín O’Brien from Limerick City. Their first product, Wellnice Pops, developed under the Food Works Programme, is a range of healthy ice pops made exclusively from cold-pressed vegetable and fruit juice. Wellnice Pops are now stocked in a number of independent health food shops and specialty stores across the country.

Juspy, a functional foods company focusing on the nutritional needs of women at different life stages, was founded by Leonie Lynch. 2018 saw the launch of the company’s first product, Juspy Natural Nourishment, which was developed and is currently being produced at Teagasc Moorepark. Juspy now employs three people and is available online and in a range of cafés and health food shops.

Correspondence: ciara.mcdonagh@teagasc.ie

Contribution of non-research stakeholders: Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia work in collaboration with Teagasc to deliver the Food Works Programme.

Funding: Teagasc, Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland.