An East Galway bakery is showing how to grow new markets with the opening of new premises at its location in Derrymullen, Ballinasloe.
From humble beginnings, the Bunowen bakery was founded by Andy Cavan and his father Danny and operated out of a small retail unit in the village of Ahascragh. Bunowen Bakery to this day still bakes its original artisan scratch recipes, which have been handed down through the family for generations.
Bunowen Bakery Founder Andy Cavan said that as a chef he loves going to work each day and working with an excellent team here in Ahascragh and Derrymullen.
“From bakers to drivers, every one makes Bunowen Bakery a success. I would like to thank my father Danny Cavan for the family tradition and passion for baking which he has passed onto me.
“We are so fortunate to have access to so many local providers of fresh and premium local produce and all the ingredients used in our baking are sourced locally from eggs, to milk, to flour - to printing and packing and more.
“Our focus is on excellence in food and reliability and our vision is to scale up our business to meet demand and to build the brand of Bunowen Bakery across the country.
“We grew from a team of three to currently 12 staff and we plan to have 20 people as part of the Bunowen Bakery team by the end of 2023. Our success is very much down to our excellent loyal staff and business consultant Frank Cadam who has also been a great addition to our team.
“Ballinasloe is a fantastic location with such easy access to the motorway. We are currently recruiting staff so please do send us on CVs for bakers, finishers and bakery assistants,” he said.
General Manager Seamus Concannon said that as an Ahascragh native, he was delighted to join Andy in developing Bunowen Bakery.
“Our name is taking inspiration from the Bunowen River that flows through Ahascragh to Ballinasloe. It powered many businesses in previous generations and now we see the renovation of the old mill through the Ahascragh Distillery.
“I would like to thank all of our business partners, suppliers and distributors for their support through the years and I look forward to working with new partners as we expand our sales. It is a challenging time for small businesses and government supports are crucial to help manage rising energy costs. I would also like to thank our customers who buy our breads, cakes and pastries and who are supporting a business in the West.
Ballinasloe-based Fine Gael Senator Aisling Dolan said that this is a success story for a local family bakery here in Ballinasloe.
“It is a tribute to founder Andy Cavan and General Manger Seamus Concannon who have built up Bunowen Bakery in Ahascragh over the past 6 years.”
Senator Dolan welcomed Minister of State Damien English at the opening of their new premises.
“ Today Minister Damien English with responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail has launched the next stage of Bunowen Bakery and celebrated the opening of new premises in Derrymullen.
“Funding support for new equipment to support enterprise was provide through the EU LEADER programme for business in rural areas managed by Galway Rural Development”
“Both Andy and Seamus have highlighted the importance of an experienced mentor to assist start-ups when moving to the next stage of growth and expansion. Groups like the Local Enterprise Office in Galway can also offer supports and training for staff. And Bunowen Bakery is also working on new product ideas with the Bia Innovator Campus in Athenry”.
“I wish Bunowen Bakery and all the staff well on their new location in Derrymullen and to seeing even more choice of breads and pastries,” she said.
Minister Damien English said that the growth and expansion of Bunowen Bakery is a wonderful example of how businesses across the country can grow new markets and create new job opportunities from their local community.
“I am delighted to be here in Ballinasloe to meet with Andy Cavan and Seamus Concannon, two enterprising people who are part of our strong SME community who employ over one million people in Ireland.”
“I am especially encouraged to see this young business expand from their traditional family roots with Andy’s father, Danny Cavan, providing much experience, inspiration and of course his delicious recipes.”
“As well as encouraging everyone to sample the tasty treats on offer from Bunowen Bakery I also encourage anyone interested on starting a business to seek out assistance from the Local Enterprise Office who play a crucial role in supporting entrepreneurs and the local business community,” he added.
