
Earlier today, Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food officially opened the Blue Haven Food Company’s new production facility at Little Island, Co. Cork. From humble beginnings at the site of the old fishmarket in Kinsale, the Company now employs 125 people, 15 of which are new jobs now located at the new facility in Little Island.
The Blue Haven Food Company is a dedicated catering and food manufacturing company based in Kinsale, the gourmet capital of Ireland. It specialises in gourmet food products for the retail and hospitality sector.
Said Cormac Fitzgerald, Director, Blue Haven; “We are delighted to be opening this facility today, as it means we can deliver even more of our fantastic range of 12 products to supermarket shelves up and down the country. At Blue Haven we take great pride in the food we produce, we have a dedication to excellence embedded in the way we work.
However, I must give credit to the team at SuperValu, who are super to work with and have been a great support to us. In 2010 they included us on their Enterprise Ireland ‘SuperValu Supplier Development Programme’ and it is their support of local Irish Companies and Irish jobs that has given us the platform to drive our business forward.”
Commenting at the launch Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said, “The food industry is one of our largest indigenous sectors and a key contributor to the Irish economy. Encouraging and supporting the creation of Irish food companies is a key priority for Government and I am delighted to see a company like Blue Haven succeed in what is undoubtedly a very tough market. I also welcome the 15 new jobs created by this new production facility and would encourage other local Irish companies to look at Blue Haven as best practice for their own future development.”
Added Eamon Howell, Trading Director, SuperValu; “Entrepreneurship is at the very heart of what we do at SuperValu – across the country our 192 stores are owned and operated by independent retailers, who are all entrepreneurs with a passion for food. When we had the opportunity to get involved with Enterprise Ireland to support and help develop companies such as Blue Haven, we grabbed the opportunity with both hands and we are delighted to see how this contribution has added to their success today.”
“We began working with Blue Haven in mid-2010 through our SuperValu Supplier Development Programme and this year alone, their sales have significantly increased with us. This new production facility is a fantastic addition to their business providing both Blue Haven and SuperValu with the opportunity to grow these sales into the future and we wish them every success.”
The Blue Haven Food Company forms part of the Blue Haven Collection, a hotel and hospitality group located in Kinsale, Co. Cork.