Musgrave MarketPlace has named Spiddal producer Builín Blasta as one of five partners in its Green Shoots programme, which aims to provide local suppliers with access to the company's more than 45,000 customers.
In collaboration with Bord Bia, the Dragons Den-style Green Shoots initiative invited pitches from local Irish businesses with the opportunity for their product to be promoted and sold across Musgrave MarketPlace branches and online platforms.
Builín Blasta presented to a panel of foodservice experts spanning the areas of culinary, purchasing, sales and marketing and was one of five providers selected. The others were Vanilla Bean Patisserie in Cavan, Uneek Functional Cheese Company based in Limerick, and Spice O’Life and The Culture Food Company, both from west Cork.
Builín Blasta is an Irish language cafe in the Connemara Gaeltacht. The company also produces its own range of sauces, dressings and relishes.
The businesses will now be listed in three Musgrave MarketPlace branches as well as online. There will be the opportunity to host monthly sampling events in branch and an extensive promotional campaign will now begin across Musgrave MarketPlace social media and digital platforms as well as in foodservice brochures.
“At Musgrave Marketplace we are committed to providing our customers with the most extensive range of products and supporting local Irish suppliers is extremely important to us," said Mark Moriarty, trading director of Musgrave Wholesale Partners. "Green Shoots brings these two commitments together.
"We are always scouting for new and innovative food and non-food products to supply to our large network of customers in Ireland. This new initiative allows us to showcase local Irish suppliers, and I look forward to seeing more businesses come on stream in the coming months.”
Maureen Gahan, foodservice specialist with Bord Bia, added: “Bord Bia is delighted to collaborate with Musgrave MarketPlace in the initial supplier selection process. A key element of Bord Bia’s role is to act as a bridge between Irish food and drink producers and industry buyers. A range of product categories with new growth potential were identified by restaurant customers. Bord Bia facilitated a series of one-to-one bespoke presentations with suppliers in these categories, from which Musgrave MarketPlace selected the final group of participants.”
Musgrave MarketPlace is the only 100 per cent Irish owned national foodservice wholesaler. The company is committed to supporting Irish jobs, Irish businesses and the future of the foodservice industry across the island of Ireland.
