Tim, 16, bakes up a business in lockdown..

Teen is a rising star as pre-mix recipes take off We sold 1,000 mixes in the first 10 days via a network of stores

A TRANSITION year student has capitalised on school closures and the lockdown to launch a new baking mix company.

With products in demand during the Covid-19 crisis, 16-year-old Tim O’driscoll seized the opportunity to launch Fastnet Foods.

Based in Skibbereen, West Cork, the concept grew from a school Home Economics project in which the teenager saw the cost and potential waste when buying ingredients for baking recipes.

He began working on the business during school holidays and in his free time, conducting market research, testing recipes and engaging with the authorities in relation to health and safety regarding food produce.

In recent months, with additional time out of school due to coronavirus, Tim accelerated his planning, branding, packaging, product labelling and legal requirements so he could go to market at the ideal time for consumers who want to bake without complicated recipes, ingredient shortages or high costs.

Fastnet Foods offers all-in-one baking mixes, with the simple addition of water or butter.

Tim said: “We sold 1,000 mixes in the first 10 days through a network of Supervalu stores across West Cork when we launched.

BUSY

“It’s been a really busy time for the food start-up and with customer feedback and demand, we are confident and ready now to scale to meet the national market.

“We are also selling our baking mixes online for those concerned about shopping instore and for every day convenience also.”

Fastnet Foods is the second food company Tim has founded.

When he was only 10, the young entrepreneur established an ice-cream firm.

The Fastnet Foods start-up products include traditional brown bread, delicious flapjacks, chocolate cupcakes and butter icing, white scones, crumbly crumble and gluten-free crumbly crumble.

They can be found in the baking aisles of Supervalu stores and other retailers nationwide from €2.95 each.

Baking mixes can also be purchased in multi-packs online at www.fastnetfoods.com.

TIM O’DRISCOLL CORK YESTERDAY