"Well Seasoned" Event Teaches Food Businesses to Build a Stronger Brand

Food Producers Encouraged to have a "Greater Goal" for Success

Thursday 10th March; The Local Enterprise Office Cork North and West hosted its headline event for Local Enterprise Week today in Inchdoney. The event which was MC'd by Geraldine Harney featured well known personalities David and Stephen Flynn of the Happy Pear and restaurateur Nick Munier who addressed over 100 local food producers, hotel, cafe and restaurant owners as well as entrepreneurs with a new food business ideas, on how to build a successful food business and take advantage of future food trends.

The Happy Pear brothers who set up their business in 2004 after purchasing a vegetable shop have built their business to become one of the most recognisable and successful food brands in Ireland today. The brothers spoke to business owners about the importance of having a greater goal and a real passion for your brand. Speaking at the event, David Flynn said "To have a great business you need to build a great team of people you love to work with and then you'll never really see it as work. People are emotional creatures so don't be afraid of telling your story to build your brand. The more you work the luckier you get so enjoy what you do every day."

Five local businesses also participated in an open forum panel discussion with Nick Munier where each producer spoke about their own paths to business success. John O'Connell of West Cork Distillers spoke about his journey to creating up to 30 jobs in Skibbereen and becoming the largest independent producer of spirits in Ireland, exporting to more than 60 countries while Caroline Murphy of West Cork Eggs spoke of her journey from 4 hens in West Cork to supplying dozens of supermarkets with her free range eggs from her now 1450 strong clutch of hens.

Other panellists included Kenneth O'Connor of SuperValu's Food Academy who spoke about the opportunities for smaller producers to get their products on the shelves of SuperValu,  Marie Curtin, Temple Dairy whose unique healthy chocolate milk is now available nationwide and Valerie Kingston, Glenilen who went from making cheese in her kitchen to being a major supplier of dairy products.  

Addressing food producers at the event, Nick Munier spoke about the power of media as being vital for the success of any start up business saying, "Know what your message is, and what you're good at. The importance of knowing your customer and what they want is vital and giving them a great experience is what will bring them back."

Speaking at the event, Kevin Curran, Acting Head of Enterprise, LEO Cork North & West commented: "This event is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting local commercial food producers. We are delighted to see such a great turn out here today and look forward to continuing to support and work with entrepreneurs with a business idea as well as those new and established small businesses in Cork North & West."

In 2015 the LEO Cork North and West approved grants for local SME's totalling almost  €600,000 and aided more than 390 businesses in 2015 alone through grant approvals and mentoring and guided dozens of entrepreneurs who are just at the beginning of their business journey.