Food Works, Ireland’s leading accelerator programme for food and drink start-ups, is seeking to identify a number of high potential start-up food teams with a strong business idea to take part in Food Works 2017.
The programme, run by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc, aims to foster and encourage innovative new product ideas which satisfy a genuine market need while supporting the growth of the Irish food industry on a global scale.
Since 2012, Food Works has worked with almost 70 start-ups in developing scaleable and export focussed business ideas. One in five of the programme graduates have already achieved export success, with €1.5 million generated in export sales in 2016 alone.
Companies involved with the programme have also reached global markets across four continents, and secured over €2 million in funding from Enterprise Ireland.
The intensive programme guides successful participants from the initial concept phase through to the development of a winning food product with international appeal and global export potential. This includes the provision of a full range of practical business supports designed to provide participants with an investor ready business plan.
Among the supports are consumer market research, one-to-one mentoring, technical advice, commercial viability testing in addition to access to fast track access to research and development (R&D) facilities, possible investors and state funding.
Alison Cummins, co-founder of the Wicked Food Company and participant in Food Works 2016, said, “Food Works for us was an absolute game-changer. To have the support of the three agencies was phenomenal and invaluable to our business. We have no doubt that with their help and backing the sky is the limit for us.”
Individuals or companies who would like to learn more about the Food Works programme are asked to register for an introductory meeting on Foodworksireland.ie in advance of completing a formal application.
© 2017 - Checkout Magazine by Donncha Mac Cóil
