Cavan company gets ‘ploughing-ready’ thanks to Local Enterprise Office
In thirteen weeks’ time, the National Ploughing Championships (September 18th – 20th), Europe’s largest outdoor event, returns to Offaly and a small business from Cavan is getting ‘ploughing-ready’ thanks to Local Enterprise Office Cavan.
Under plans for the ‘Local Enterprise Village’, launched this week by the Minister for Trade, Employment and Business, Pat Breen T.D., Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are helping 30 small businesses and start-ups launch products and services to the thousands of visitors expected at the three-day event. 291,500 people, a record-breaking number, attended the National Ploughing Championships last year and Cavan will be represented in September by Fitzpatrick’s Gourmet Ketchup from Shercock.
The company, which was set up by Frank Fitzpatrick in 2016, produces a variety of unique gourmet sauces all with the added twist of ‘just a splash’ of poitin for a truly wholesome flavour. Frank’s flagship product is his Gourmet Ketchup with two new flavours, Smoked BBQ and Sticky Marinade Sauce, due to launch at the Taste of Cavan taking place on 10th and 11th August 2018. Frank was a participant on the national Food Academy programme, a collaborative initiative between LEO’s, Bord Bia and SuperValu, and now stocks his product within the Food Academy section of SuperValu’s nationwide and in a large number of independent retailers throughout the country.
Minister Breen met several Local Enterprise Village entrepreneurs at a LEO-run training day in Dublin this week, where they were learning about business development, product marketing and how to secure more sales for their small businesses. A second training day is taking place later in the month in Limerick.
Minister Breen said: “The Local Enterprise Office network is a key pillar in the Government’s support for the growth and development of micro and small enterprises. By having dedicated supports in place to help small businesses at international events like the National Ploughing Championships, we are promoting trade and driving innovation and export growth for all business sectors across the country. I would encourage all visitors to the National Ploughing Championships in September to pay a visit to the Local Enterprise Village to support Ireland’s start-ups and small businesses. The Local Enterprise Offices are central to the delivery of these dedicated supports, which help build a culture of entrepreneurship and enterprise, delivering jobs in every County in Ireland.”
Minister Breen was joined at the launch in Dublin by Oisin Geoghegan, Chair of the Network of Local Enterprise Offices, Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of The National Ploughing Association, Martin Corry of Enterprise Ireland and Paula Butler, Assistant Chief Executive of the Local Government Management Agency and representative of the County and City Management Association.
Marcella Rudden, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Cavan said: “As Europe’s largest outdoor event, the National Ploughing Championships are an international showcase for Ireland’s small business sector. To help small businesses get ‘ploughing-ready’, Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities across the country are providing expert training, marketing and project management support to maximise selling opportunities through the Local Enterprise Village.”
The 87th Annual National Ploughing Championships take place from September 18th to 20th at Screggan, Tullamore, County Offaly. The 30 small companies inside the Local Enterprise Village represent a diverse range of business sectors, such as skincare, fashion, technology, artisan food and drink, sports equipment and horticulture.
