Founders Friday a resounding success
The first-ever Founders Friday event in Tullamore was a resounding success, with a packed room of local business leaders, entrepreneurs, and aspiring founders gathering for an evening of inspiration and networking.
Hosted at Eugene Kelly’s Bar, the event featured Offaly's Tom Doyle who is the founder of Promise Gluten Free and Choose Plastic Free Wipes. Tom shared his remarkable journey of building multiple businesses from the ground up.
The event, organised by Allpro Recruitment in association with Tullamore & District Rotary Club, was completely sold out, demonstrating the strong demand for an event where business owners can connect, share insights, and learn from experienced entrepreneurs.
During his talk, Tom Doyle captivated the audience with stories from his humble beginnings in Offaly working as a van assistant in Carrolls Meats, to his time in the Middle East working with Almarai, to returning to Ireland as the Commercial Director with Aryzta, the group behind household food brands like Cuisine de France, and his decision to enter the gluten-free market before it became mainstream.
Tom got his start in the world of entrepreneurship when his father decided their garden should be a working asset and planted it with cabbages. Tom and his brother Aidan then spent a few Saturdays selling the cabbages outside the Bank of Ireland in Tullamore.
He recalled how, despite initial setbacks, he secured a game-changing deal to sell 1,400 stores worth of gluten-free bread to a major Canadian retailer—an achievement that helped his business dominate the market. “I always believe in starting straight from the top,” Doyle told the audience. “Go to the markets that want your products, not just the ones that are close by.” Today, Promise Gluten Free has a multi-million euro business in Canada alone, where Promise is now the market leader in Gluten Free Bakery.
Next, Tom co-founded Choose Plastic Free Wipes. “The problem with baby wipes is that they often contain chemicals that can irritate the baby’s skin and most baby wipes contain plastic”, said Tom. Following his motto on business, “Is your product the best of what is out there?”, Tom and his team developed baby wipes that were made from natural plant fibres and contain 99.99% water.
Beyond business, Tom also spoke about his commitment to giving back, highlighting his fundraising efforts for Hospice Uganda, which has raised over €128,000 to provide vital end-of-life care.
The event was designed not just as a speaking engagement, but as a space for meaningful connections. Attendees networked over refreshments, exchanged ideas, and engaged in a lively Q&A session with Tom, who was generous in offering insights into the world of scaling businesses, overcoming setbacks, and staying adaptable in uncertain markets.
David Gleeson, CEO of Allpro Recruitment, the driving force behind Founders Friday, expressed his excitement about the event’s success:
“Entrepreneurship can be a tough and lonely journey, but events like Founders Friday remind us that we don’t have to go through it alone. Tom Doyle’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and looking beyond local markets. We’re thrilled with the turnout and the enthusiasm from the local business community.”
The next Founders Friday will take place next month, with the date and a keynote speaker yet to be confirmed. Those wishing to attend are asked to please email Jasmine at jasmine@allprorecruitment.ie to be added to the Founders Friday email list.