BordBiacourse worth€50kto localstart-ups
FOOD entrepreneurs and start-ups in Wexford are being encouraged to apply for a place on a programme which offers supports worth over €50,000.
The Food Works Programme is a combined initiative of Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc and the deadline for applications for its 2020 iteration is fast approaching.
Prospective companies have until December 10 to submit their applications via www.foodworksireland.ie for a programme which offers in-depth consultancy and advice from Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc and provides access to consumer and market research, feasibility funding and bespoke mentoring with industry experts.
Wexford chocolatiers, Bean and Goose, are one of the businesses who have successfully participated in the Food Works Programme and benefited from the wealth of mentoring advice and industry expertise on offer.
As part of the programme, participants benefit from one-to-one mentoring with the country’s best business minds from the food and drink industry. Among those involved are John Stapleton, co-founder of the new Covent Garden Soup Company and Little Dish; Joanna Walker, Food
Retail Expert and Former Buyer with Sainsbury’s and M & S; Eamonn Rice, Business Consultant and former Kerry Group Director; Matt Bentley, Marketing Consultant; Gavin Sherry, Manufacturing Specialist; and Moira Creedon, Food Business Financial Planning Expert.
Discussing the Food Works Programme for 2020, Nicola Nic Pháidín, Manager of Food High Potential Start Ups with Enterprise Ireland said: ‘Food Works is the only programme of its kind in Ireland where three government agencies have come together to help develop innovative food and drink start-ups into commercially viable businesses with export potential.
‘ This year we are looking for scalable and export driven Irish food products that satisfy a genuine market need. As the diversity of participants for the 2019 Programme suggests, this is a programme that is open to many and varied start-ups so we encourage food entrepreneurs at all levels to apply.’
Food Works is recruiting individuals and companies at the early stage of their development who believe they have a cutting edge product which addresses a gap in the market. It will be hosting a final introductory event on Tuesday, November 26 in Bord Bia.
OVER 20 travel agents from across the world have visited local tourist attractions as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.
Working with one of Italy’s leading tour operators, Boscolo Tours, a group of travel professionals visited Hook Lighthouse and Dunbrody Famine Ship in New Ross. In 2018, Ireland welcomed 384,000 Italian visitors.
Eleven top travel agents from the US visited Wexford and Ireland last week for the first time. They are all members of Virtuoso – an international network of luxury travel agencies.
The aim of their visit was to showcase some of the many things to see and do here for high-end American travellers and to really enthuse the travel agents about selling Ireland.
Their action-packed trip included visits to the Dunbrody Famine Ship and to Hook Lighthouse. After visiting the lighthouse, they enjoyed lunch in the Lightkeeper’s House Café and Bakery. ‘We’re delighted these travel agents took time out to come and experience our luxury tourism offering and see for themselves what Wexford and Ireland have to offer their clients,’ said Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head of North America.