Food Works can serve up a banquet of riches to entrepreneurs

As well as being utterly delicious, All Real Nutrition, Wicklow Wolf craft beer, Bean and Goose chocolate, Craft Cocktails and Nobó dairy-free ice-cream all have something else in common.

Their founders have all seen increased international success after completing Food Works, Ireland’s only dedicated food and drink start-up accelerator programme which has been completed by more than 100 Irish food and drink entrepreneurs to date.

Ambitious food and drink entrepreneurs dreaming of global sales can seek to emulate the international successes of these Irish companies by applying to participate in the next round of the programme.

Food Works is now in its 11th year and is open for applications for the next cohort of participants until December 2.

What distinguishes this accelerator programme from others is that it’s uniquely collaborative and run by three state agencies: Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and Teagasc.

The aim of Food Works is to support companies to achieve rapid scaling by enabling Irish food and drink businesses to make the most of the resources and expertise of each agency to drive international growth.

Through Teagasc, companies get access to its specialist research centres, which will enable them to bring their early prototypes through to manufacturing.

Our colleagues in Bord Bia bring deep consumer insights and branding knowledge to the programme, while Enterprise Ireland supports these innovative, ambitious brands to secure investment and build scalable international businesses.

A 10-month accelerator programme which offers up to 10 companies the chance to embark on the programme, Food Works offers participants workshops with industry experts, customised mentoring from business advisors and access to industry experts across finance, manufacturing, retailer engagement, export, marketing and distribution. It also incorporates facilitated peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities.

And upon completing Food Works, having participated in pitching workshops and panels, each participant leaves with an investor-ready, fully costed business plan that is focused on scaling internationally.

The programme concludes with participants taking part in an investor pitch to a panel of real-life investors and food and drink industry experts.

Anyone applying should expect to allow at least two to three days a month to take part in the programme, and it is a hybrid programme involving some online sessions, as well as some in-person and face-to-face events at Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland or Teagasc facilities.

Companies that participate also typically embark on an inspirational food trip to London, where they are immersed in emerging market trends and learn about competitor activity, innovative branding, packaging and global opportunities.

The Food Works programme has a market value of €50,000 to €100,000 for each participant, and the programme fee for participants is €3,000.

Each participant company can apply for an Enterprise Ireland feasibility grant worth up to €35,000. This includes €15,000 for salary expenditure and up to €20,000 in grant funding for other eligible expenditure.

Over the last decade of the programme, over 60pc of past participants are now exporting. Not only that, but many are also helping to boost regional employment while they seek to build global companies.

Furthermore, more than half of the client companies that have participated in this accelerator programme are female-founded, meaning the food and drink sector reached that milestone earlier than any other sector in Ireland.

Food Works welcomes applications from companies specialising in food or drink products, retail ingredients or food service.

In fact, any food or drink entrepreneurs in Ireland can apply, once their company is less than four years from its date of incorporation.

Applicants should have moved beyond the concept stage and have at least a design or prototype to share in their application.

Potential applicants can find extensive information on the programme and how to apply, along with case studies, on foodworksireland.ie.

There they will also find the 10 at 10 Podcast series, which marks 10 years of Food Works and features interviews with business mentors and leading Irish food and drink companies that previously participated on the programme – such as Beekon Batches, Fiid and Thanks Plants.

A shortlist of finalists will be invited to interviews with the Food Works panel in early January, and once the participants are chosen, the Food Works 2023 programme will run from January 31 to November 21 next year.

Dervla McCabe is Development Advisor, Food Enterprise and High Potential Start Ups at Enterprise Ireland.

Reporting: The Irish Independent