Minister Creed opens Coolmore's new product development centre

THE future is indeed bright for Bandon-based company, Coolmore Foods, whose new product development centre was opened at Lauragh Industrial Estate recently by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr Michael Creed. 

Having recently received the Origin Green accreditation from Bord Bia, Coolmore Foods, which employs 43 staff, is also celebrating two new company listings in German supermarkets. 

Representatives from  Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and members of Lisavaird Co-op attended the opening. 

Speaking at the opening, managing director Shea O’Dwyer thanked the fantastic team that work in the company and said the success of the company was also down to its original and innovative products as well as their packaging, which was unique at the time.

Minister Creed acknowledged the innovation of the company and their entrepreneurial spirit and the risk taking ability of the company in the early years.

‘When you see Coolmore products on the shelves in supermarkets abroad that’s really really important in terms of the storytelling of Irish food as people are more interested now where the food comes from,’ said Minister Creed. ‘And it’s great to see a company like this that grew from the farmyard kitchen expanding into overseas markets like the US, United Arab Emirates and the UK.’ 

‘In the marketplace we are also being asked to prove our sustainability credentials and that’s what the Origin Green accreditation is about, which Coolmore has achieved. You can’t rest on your laurels and you do need new product development and that’s part of what we are celebrating today.’

In relation to Brexit, Minister Creed said Coolmore Foods hasn’t ‘all its eggs in one basket’ and that they are moving into newer markets like the Netherlands and Germany with innovative products.

Coolmore Foods concentrates on a niche market of cakes and muffins, including chocolate fudge and red velvet, and exports almost 50% of its products to overseas markets.