Athlone business, The Irish Craft Soda Company, the brainchild of Dead Centre Brewing at Custume Place, took part in the 2023 Food Academy programme, which is a tailored business development programme for early to mid-stage producers, supported by SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Office.
Dead Centre has carved out a reputation for innovation and quality and is launching a lemonade with only four natural ingredients with no nasties, and is here to say no to boring mass produced soda.
More than 1,000 local food producers have completed the Food Academy programme since its inception, with over 300 Food Academy producers regularly stocked in SuperValu stores across the country, including The Irish Craft Soda Company, across 52 weeks of the year. The initiative provides training in food safety, market research, branding, marketing, finance, sustainability, and business development through a range of dedicated workshops. Food Academy producers also have the opportunity to feature their products on SuperValu shelves nationwide, giving them real, tangible opportunities for growth in the market.
This milestone anniversary comes as new research by Bord Bia and B&A reveal that 90% of consumers choose to buy locally produced food, with more than two in three (68% ) buying this category at least weekly. The main driver for purchasing locally produced food is a desire to support the local economy and jobs. Secondary drivers are that locally produced food is fresher, better quality and good for the environment. Consumers are seeking out locally produced products, with more than half of consumers expecting to buy locally produced products in the next six months.
This year, 23 new Food Academy entrants are launching a wide variety of products including naturally leavened sourdough bread, low sugar fruit jam, organic microgreens and eggs, as well as products utilising spent grain to make protein snacks, and used coffee grinds to create a tan-removing soap.
Speaking on the 10th anniversary of Food Academy, Ian Allen, managing director, SuperValu, said: “The Food Academy is a fantastic collaboration between SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Office which has gone from strength to strength over the last 10 years, enhancing and supporting the growth of Ireland’s food and drink sector. At SuperValu, we are passionate about food and supporting the development of Irish food and drink producers in local communities across Ireland - having proudly done so since 1968. The Food Academy programme is a fantastic opportunity for small businesses to gain direct access to leading expertise to help them on every step of their journey - from start-up producer to securing their products on supermarket shelves.
“Over the last 10 years, SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Office have fostered a superb relationship through this programme and have been heartened and inspired by the innovation and leadership shown by over 1,000 Irish food producers who have participated in the programme since 2013. We are immensely proud of the success these brands have achieved in the last 10 years - some of whom include names like Lily’s Tea and Janet’s Just Delicious. At SuperValu, we are committed to supporting local communities and the €230m sales of Food Academy products in SuperValu stores in the last 10 years is not only remarkable, but it is a testament to the calibre and quality of Irish producers who have gone through the programme.”
