The Food Academy Start programme is a pioneering new enterprise training programme specially developed to nurture start-up food businesses.

The programme is targeted at new and early stage food manufacturing businesses. It aims to provide West Cork food entrepreneurs with a range of essential food marketing skills as well as brand development guidance and support services to enable them take their food businesses to the next level.

The Food Academy Start programme is supported by Bord Bia, SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Office (LEO)- a new streamlined service that replaces the County & City Enterprise Boards and provides a first stop shop for entrepreneurs.

The Local Enterprise Office, Cork North & West(formerly known as the West Cork Enterprise Board) has supported nine West Cork participants on the programme. Clients vary from a diverse range of West Cork food businesses including: chocolate, pies, preserves, readymade meals, baby food, salads and nut mixes. 

Christine Heffernan, Business Advisor at The Local Enterprise Office, Cork North & West spoke about the significance of the food sector to the local economy.

“The food industry plays a vital role in the local economy and it is of huge significance to Ireland’s economic recovery. The Irish food and drink sector experienced very strong growth in 2013 with exports approaching €10 billion for the first time, demonstrating that there is growing demand for Irish food and drink products on the global market. Small and medium food businesses are at the cutting edge of the industry and they are ideally placed to create sustainable job growth in communities all over the region. The Food Academy Start programme has been specially designed to equip entrepreneurs with a range of marketing skills and supports that can help them to grow successful businesses.”

The West Cork  programme commenced in February and it will run until May. It is designed with a commercial focus and fits around the needs of start-up businesses. Its range of intensive workshops provide participants with business support and knowledge including consumer insight, technical and commercial advice, resource planning and marketing skills.

Today, at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery, participants had an opportunity to make a sales pitch to two local SuperValu store owners: Eugene Scally , SuperValu Clonakilty and Ruth Field, SuperValu Skibbereen.  The objective was for the food companies to secure an initial local listing. Musgrave SuperValu Managers were also present and were very impressed with the new food companies in West Cork. They provided participants with invaluable feedback on what steps to take next to grow and develop their business and to get listed both locally and nationally.