A new food venture born around the kitchen table
THERE’S SOMETHING OF A FOOD REVOLUTION TAKING PLACE IN DUNDALK AND NORTH LOUTH SO WE CAUGHT UP WITH TWO LOCAL COMPANIES TAKING TASTY THEIR PRODUCTS ON THE ROAD
COMPROMISE is the secret ingredient to many a happy relationship, and while Laura McMenamy and Ruairi Browne don’t compromise on the ingredients which go into their Great Northern Larder sauces, they did compromise on where to live.
‘ The name really comes from our connections. I am from Belfast and Ruairi is from Dublin and we have found an amazing middleground in Lordship, Dundalk,’ explains Laura,
A passion for food sparks new venture in the heart of Cooley
who has a degree in pharmacy from Queen’s University, Belfast. Following the idea of the Great Northern Railway, connecting the North and South of Ireland , we settled on the name Great Northern Larder (GNL).
A love of good food, great recipes, cooking and baking using local fresh ingredients saw them deciding to come up with some of their own products to see if they could sell them and start their own business.
Once they had settled on a name, they decided to enter Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition with the Louth Enterprise Office last September - and got selected.
‘After a fantastic fact filled bootcamp, some financial mentoring and presenting in front of Dragon’s Den style judges we came away with our first official product - Browne’s saucenearly ready for launch,’ recalls Laura. They found the bootcamp so helpful that she adds: ‘I’d recommend all en- trepreneurs get their names into this competition. Although we didn’t win any prizes, the information and help we have received and are still receiving is priceless.’
Before going into production, they completed food hygiene courses as required by the HSE and use HACCP practices and full traceability procedures across all aspects of their business, in a leased kitchen.
‘So six months on we now have three sauces - Browne’s sauce, Gullion’s Fire Chilli sauce and Tomato Ketchup,’ explains Laura. ‘ They are all gluten free, fat free, vegetarian, paleo friendly. Browne’s sauce and Gullion’s Fire are vegan and our Tomato Ketchup is sugar free as is Browne’s sauce.’
‘We are always experimenting and we are going to add a few signature jams and chutneys to our collection very soon. We use local produce and suppliers as far as is possible and are trying to keep our manufacturing in the local area. We have managed to secure a kitchen to rent in Cooley Kickhams which is great.’
Already this summer, they have set up stall at Vantastival, The Louth Agricultural Show, The Armagh Show and the Irish Heart Foundation car boot sales in Lordship.
‘We are using our stall for feedback on some of products and as a way of advertising,’ says Laura. They are busy experimenting with jams and chutneys at the moment - made from local fresh ingredients. ‘We are hoping to expand our range which hopefully may include cakes, bread and biscuits.’
Great Northern Larder products are now on sale in Carlingford Craft Collective on River Lane, Carlingford, The Spirit Store, Dundalk, SoulBia in Jonesborough, The Duck and Cup Cafe,