Food Works Ireland is calling all Tipperary Food Entrepreneurs for development programme
Food Works Ireland is calling out to all budding food entrepreneurs across Tipperary, if you have a big idea for a food business or you could create a successful and scalable global food business then Food Works could be the ideal opportunity for you. It is an intensive business development and accelerator programme designed for food and drink start-ups and is jointly run by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc.
Previous Food Works participant Patrick Shelley of Kalak Vodka based in Kilsheelan County Tipperary. The programme is now open for 2016 applications and interested participants are invited to register online for an introduction meeting in Dublin, Cork or Galway via www.foodworksireland.ie
This is the fourth year of the programme and over the last three years some of Ireland’s most successful food start-ups have taken part in Food Works. Previous Food Works participant Patrick Shelley from Kilsheelan in Tipperary set up ‘Origin Spirits’ and has gone on to produce and launch an Irish Vodka, ‘Kalak Vodka’ in June 2015 and has taken it to market with much success. Kalak Vodka is now available at over 80 stores nationwide along with mixology bars and counters. 2016 sees the company growing even further with detailed discussions ongoing for entry into the UK, French, German and US markets.
Encouraging other food producers to apply to take part in Food Works 2016 and speaking of his experience with the programme Patrick said, “I had a very clear vision of what I wanted to produce; a world-class vodka with real depth and flavour and I wanted it to be a 100% Irish product. As I had worked overseas for my entire career I was at a loss when it came to doing business in Ireland; Food Works was excellent for me in that regard. When it came to doing business in Ireland, I didn’t know how things worked; I didn’t have any contact with the state agencies or banks and being a graduate of this programme was very valuable for me in that regard. It offered real credibility as being a graduate of this programme was almost pre-validation from three principle state agencies in Ireland.”
How it works
Through a series of workshops and one to one mentoring, successful participants are given an invaluable range of practical business supports required to develop an initial concept into a winning food product with global export potential.The available supports provided by Bord Bia, Teagasc and Enterprise Ireland, include consumer market research, business plan development, technical advice, commercial viability testing in addition to access to fast track access to R&D facilities and possible investors and state funding. Over the past three years, following a competitive process attracting in excess of 250 proposals, a total of 60 start-ups from all food sectors have participated in Food Works. The Food Works team have revealed that 60% of these businesses are now trading which is deemed extremely positive given the high rate of start-up failures within the first 12 months of launching, while 32% of them have started exporting.
Meet the Food Works Team
Introductory meetings are now being held with candidates interested in being a part of Food Works 2016. These meetings will help to establish if the Food Works programme is the right support for you and your business at this stage of development. Ideal applicants are ambitious food or drink entrepreneurs, or companies trading for less than 3 years that wish to target export markets and scale their business.
Interested participants are invited to register online for an introduction meeting in Dublin, Fermoy or Athenry viawww.foodworksireland.ie:
Tuesday, 8th March, Teagasc, Moore Park, Fermoy, Cork
Thursday, 10th March, Enterprise Ireland, Eastpoint Business Park, Dublin
Tuesday, 22nd March, Enterprise Ireland, Eastpoint Business Park, Dublin
Tuesday, 5th April, Teagasc, Athenry, Galway
Following this, companies will be asked to complete a formal application for Food Works bootcamp on 26th and 27th May from which up to 15 companies will be selected to progress through to the programme which begins on 14th June 2016.
