SuperValu call on Offaly’s best food and drink producers to join the Food Academy

SuperValu is seeking promising food and drink producers in Offaly to join this year’s Food Academy Programme. It is a fantastic opportunity for those who have a great idea for a food or beverage product but require support from industry leaders to launch their business.

Currently the Food Academy Programme supports eight local food and drink producers in Offaly including; Feighery's Farm, Glen Field Rapeseed Oil and KO Kombucha. Their products are available year round in their local SuperValu stores. Offaly-based Food Academy producers sold a combined €147,709 in retail sales in SuperValu in 2021.

Food Academy, which is run by SuperValu in conjunction with Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Offices, gives start up food and drink producers an opportunity to get their products on SuperValu shelves. The programme, which has been an established part of the Irish food industry for nine years now, supports 1,500 jobs nationwide.

Last year, there was a 6 per cent growth in Food Academy sales. Food Academy producers have sold a combined €200 million of produce in SuperValu since 2013.

Ian Allen, Managing Director, SuperValu said: “Food Academy, run by SuperValu in collaboration with Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Offices, helps new businesses to grow and get the support they need. With Food Academy, producers are on shelves 52 weeks of the year. We have so many examples of former Food Academy producers that have gone on to fantastic success, including The Happy Pear, Pizza Sorrento and SynerChi Kombucha. If you have a great idea for a food or beverage business, then this is your opportunity to sign up for Food Academy and make your dream a reality. At SuperValu, we are committed to supporting local Irish producers and we are ready and waiting to nurture new talent this year.”

Food and drinks producers, who are in the early stages of developing their business and would like to see their products on shelves in SuperValu are strongly encouraged to apply for the programme. The deadline for application for this year’s intake is Friday, April 8, with the programme beginning in September. Those interested in applying can contact their Local Enterprise Office for application details. Participants in Food Academy receive training in food safety, market research, branding, marketing, finance, sustainability, and business development.

Padraic McElwee, chair of the network of Local Enterprise Offices added: “At the Local Enterprise Offices, the Food Academy Programme is a vital part of our supports to drive entrepreneurship in the food sector. It is the final element of our food pathway that brings entrepreneurs from idea right through to shelf, from the Digital School of Food, on to Food Starter and finally Food Academy. We have a fantastic history of food entrepreneurs and businesses in Ireland and we must continue to support this sector so if you are a new entrepreneur in the food or drinks sector we would urge you to get involved.”

As part of its continued support for its Food Academy producers, five local food producers have been chosen from the 290 suppliers to be showcased in 150 SuperValu stores nationwide over a three-week period, beginning March 3.

The five companies chosen for nationwide distribution are King of Kefir, Co Dublin; The Wild Wok, Co Dublin; Jaru, Co Dublin; Dan & Monstro, Co Dublin; and Kilbeggan Farm, Co Westmeath. The products selected demonstrate the quality and range of choice that food entrepreneurs are creating and delivering to shoppers across Ireland.

Commenting on the launch of the five Guest Stars products going nationwide, Carmel Biggane, Food Academy Manager, SuperValu, said: “We believe in supporting local businesses and we are incredibly proud to have helped so many local producers over the last nine years. In the Food Academy programme, we aim to offer as much support as possible to our producers. This is evident in the nationwide launch of our five Guest Stars. All of them have created unique and great tasting products and this three-week period of nationwide sales will be a big boost to their growing businesses. We are really looking forward to seeing some great new products from this year’s Food Academy applicants.”

The Food Academy supports 1,500 local jobs nationwide.