Kells Food Showcase attracts 3,000 visitors

A tasty bunch of Meath-based businesses gathered in Kells last week to showcase their produce and drum up business locally and further afield. In the first event of its kind in the county, Meath Food Showcase - Bia na Mí drew large crowds all day to the Headfort Arms Hotel when 35 of the county's newest and most established food producers and distributors stood side-by-side to exhibit and promote all that's great in the local food industry. An estimated 3,000 customers attended and about €30,000 in 'takings' were reported by exhibitors. The steady stream of people who attended came from near and far to sample what was on the menu of the businesses that were offering lots of free tastings and samples throughout the day. Businesses present ranged from start-up enterprises to large-scale producers who are exporting worldwide. From a new-business perspective, the event was invaluable for promotional purposes and provided people with an opportunity to meet their customers in an informal setting and chat about their product. One start-up business, Roll-It, used the event as a launch pad. "This is a great opportunity for us," commented owner Mairéad Finnegan who was carrying out some very worthwhile market research at the event. Feedback "We have received great feedback from our potential customers," she said. Currently, the Crossakiel-based enterprise, which produces high-quality, ready-to-roll pastry, is a very small family operation. Ms Finnegan is very keen, however, to secure funding to expand and enable her to take the business to the next level. Like many others in her position, she greeted with enthusiasm the announcement on the day by LEADER - the programme which helps fund rural businesses - that it will increase its funding from 50 to 75 per cent to aid entrepreneurs through the government's Rural Development Programme. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Meath East TD, Shane McEntee, who was involved in bringing the Bia na Mí event to fruition, commented that he expects to see a significant increase in entrepreneurial project commitments as a result. "This extra LEADER funding should make it easier for small businesses to get credit from their bankers," he added. Another start-up business of note that was exhibiting on the day was JD'S Gourmet Popcorn which has recently been short-listed for the Food & Drink Entrepreneurial Start-Up of the Year at the Start-Up Awards, 2012. Run by Canadian-born Joe McGrath, the Dunshaughlin-based flavoured popcorn producing company is hoping to raise funds to develop the shelf-life of the product in order to increase sales. Mr McGrath is hoping to source further funding to enable this to happen. More established businesses like Lobinstown-based Meade Potato Company, which is celebrating 30 years in business this year, was using the event to make new business contacts in an industry that has become increasingly competitive. Philip Meade Junior, who works in the family-run business, commented that it was a great event to "support and promote local farmers and producers".