BY Declan Varley
Gran Grans Foods, the popular food producer is undergoing a growth that will see it expand into a new premises in Galway, as well as open a new artisan food pantry and bakery.
The food producer, which is located in Loughrea, is owned by Nigel and Magaly Murray, who has used the months of the Covid-19 pandemic to make some significant changes to the business by a rapid expansion into a newly renovated local Post Office building, located in Kilcolgan, Galway, which is significant for regeneration and employment in the area.
Nigel and Magaly both worked in the hospitality industry and after launching Peru’s first Irish Pub “Murphy’s” they returned home and founded Gran Gran’s in 2014, as it was the next natural step in their culinary journey for this husband and wife team. Gran Gran’s Foods make small batch products, with that “taste of home”. Their ever-growing range includes, preserves, relishes, dressings, dips, infused oils, and seafood sauces which are gluten free and vegan friendly.
“We remain true to the core values that have defined Gran Gran’s since the very beginning: making fresh food by hand and from scratch using homegrown or locally sourced ingredients’’ commented Magaly.
Keeping up with supply to the 300 outlets that stock the best selling brand was a struggle, their manufacturing kitchen, located at their home in Galway was not sufficient for the increase in sales during the pandemic - ‘’Shoppers wanted locally produced foods, we were lucky in that Aldi were one of our main stockists, that put us at the forefront of shop floors, and customers wanted to try out our entire range, most shops now report sell outs of nearly all our products within hours’’ said Magaly.
Gran Gran’s Food Pantry will stock Irish suppliers including generational oyster farmers Kelly’s Oysters, Kylemore Cheese, Burren Smoked Salmon, the award- winning Hazel Mountain Chocolate and many more, including gifts, Irish craft and design.
The new shop will host an official opening on June 11, check out https://grangransfoods.ie for more information. The new Pantry is open Monday - Saturday. 9.30am-5pm.
Great aromas were coming from Gran Gran Murray’s kitchen, from her treacle bread to her roast pork with crackling with which she would make a fresh Bramley apple sauce, there was a never-ending beautiful smell coming from the stove. It was about then, that Nigel realised, that a career in the kitchen was definitively for him.
Years later, he would meet Magaly in Venice, Italy, while both working in the hospitality industry. They travelled together across the Caribbean and Mediterranean, and they finally settled in Peru, Magaly’s Birthplace, a country rich in history which cuisine is a seamlessly blend of different cultures and ancient Peruvian food creating something utterly unique.
Soon after, they decided to open Peru’s first Irish Pub “Murphy’s” in the Peruvian capital, Lima, offering the locals and ex-pats community the best of Irish food and entertainment. “Murphy’s Irish Pub” turned out to be a great success. In 2005 they made the decision to come to Ireland with their 3 young kids: Sean, Brendan, and Nicole. Nigel worked as a head chef at the Ardilaun Hotel as well as The Glenlo Abbey Hotel, whilst keeping the dream of having their own business again.
The opportunity came in 2014. Gran Grans Foods was born with the purpose of sharing their culinary journey obtained around the world through the production of tasty handcrafted condiments following traditional and innovative recipes, using only quality fresh ingredients.
Instagram: @grangransfoods - Facebook: @grangransfoodsFor additional information email: [email protected] call: 087 9004145
