Call for food entrepreneurs

Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland, and Teagasc have come together to set up Foodworks, a programme to foster new Irish food export businesses. Standards are high to get onto the programme, amongst other things you must have a track record in business, or be part of a team of entrepreneurs one of whom has experience in the food industry; be able to show that your product is new or innovative in the food industry; and be able to show that there is an export market for your product. A full list of eligibility criteria is available here.

However, once on the programme, successful applicants will have access to all Bord Bia's consumer research, receive one to one mentoring, and visit an overseas market in the process of developing and sense checking their idea. They will also be given support in validating their product through access to research and development expertise, pilot scale production facilities, food incubation units and product testing. The final stage will involve testing the product's commercial viability, consumer value, and export potential, resulting in a detailed and financially sound business plan.

Stage one of the programme has already started but Foodworks is still accepting applications for stage two of the programme. For more information see the Foodworks website.