Ireland’s food and drink producers are being encouraged to apply for the 2026 Food Academy programme, which is supported by SuperValu, as the initiative opens applications for its 13th year.
As part of this year’s recruitment drive, Food Academy – supported by SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Offices – will host a webinar titled “The New Appetite: What Today’s Consumers Really Want” on Thursday 19th March, offering producers insights into evolving consumer trends and how emerging brands can succeed in today’s competitive retail landscape.
Since its launch, the Food Academy has established itself as one of Ireland’s most successful food and drink development programmes. From the time the programme began 13 years ago, Food Academy producers have collectively generated over €300 million in sales. This success underlines the continued importance of programmes like the Food Academy, which provide emerging producers with the support, expertise and retail pathway needed to bring innovative products from concept to market.
The webinar will take place online today Thursday 19th March from 3–4. 30pm and will explore a number of areas, including:
The different needs of different generations
How health is now a daily behaviour
The 4th Mealtime – Grazing & Food on the Go
How Tik Tok is driving new demand
Participants will hear from Michelle Fennell, Head of Insights & Strategy at Musgrave, and Charles Banks, Partner and Managing Director at The Good FoodCompany, who will share expert insights on current food and drink trends, shifting shopper behaviours such as food on the go and how TikTok is driving new demand.
Since its launch 13 years ago, the Food Academy has continued to evolve, most recently through a partnership with Technological University Dublin. As part of this collaboration, participants now benefit from increased training in Food Safety & Quality at TU Dublin, earning them a Certificate in Entrepreneurship complementing the already extensive learning and skills provided through the Food Academy.
Speaking about the Food Academy’s latest application process, as well as trends in the wider retail sector and why producers should attend this new, unique webinar, Carmel Biggane, Food Academy Manager, SuperValu said: “As applications open for the 2026 Food Academy programme, we are delighted to invite early and mid-stage food and drink producers to attend this webinar where they will gain valuable insights into how consumer tastes and expectations are evolving in today’s retail landscape.
Over the past number of years, we have seen clear shifts in the types of producers coming through the programme. When the Food Academy first launched, categories such as coffee, granola and protein balls were particularly popular. More recently, we are seeing growing interest in products such as kefir, fermented foods, non UPF, organic, adaptogens and cacao reflecting wider changes in consumer demand.
The Food Academy has always evolved alongside these trends, helping producers refine their products, strengthen their businesses and ultimately bring innovative Irish food and drink to market.”
Producers interested in attending the webinar can register via the Local Enterprise Office website www.localenterprise.ie Applications for the 2026 Food Academy programme are now open and can be submitted at: www.localenterprise.ie/FoodSupports/Food-Academy-Programme
