If you’ve got a big idea for a food business, maybe you should consider what’s on offer from Food Works, the business development and accelerator programme designed for food and drink start-ups, which today launched a new round of activity for 2016.

The Food Works programme is jointly run by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc, and provides workshops and one to one mentoring, consumer market research, business plan development, technical advice, and commercial viability testing, in addition to fast-track access to R&D facilities, possible investors and state funding.

In the past three years, 60 startups out of a total of 250 or more applicants have participated in the Food Works programme, with 60% of those now trading and 32% exporting.

One success story is HiRo By Roisín, a range of fresh vegetable flour noodle and pasta-based chilled meals, now the lowest calorie meals on the market. The noodles and pasta are made using vegetable flour, ultra-low calorie and virtually carbohydrate free.

Founder Roisín Hogan said the programme has been invaluable in helping her business reach its full potential. “It has brought what started as a simple idea in my kitchen to a reality, with HiRo by Roisín recently receiving a listing in all 223 SuperValu stores,” she said

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David Carey of Nutraplenish protein water added: "Food Works allows you to take a step back from your business to define a clear vision and path. The mentor support and industry contacts have been invaluable. Nutraplenish is teaming up with Musgraves for a nationwide launch in April and we already have our export sights firmly set on the UK market."

Interested participants are invited to register online for an introduction meeting in Dublin, Fermoy or Athenry:
·       Tuesday 8 March, Teagasc, MoorePark, Fermoy, Cork
·       Thursday 10 March, Enterprise Ireland, Eastpoint Business Park, Dublin
·       Tuesday 22 March, Enterprise Ireland, Eastpoint Business Park, Dublin
·       Tuesday 5 April, Teagasc, Athenry, Galway

Companies will then complete a formal application for Food Works bootcamp on 26 and 27 May, from which up to 15  will be selected for the programme beginning in June.

Photo: Previous Food Works participants Roisin Hogan (left), David Carey, and Natalie and Karen Keane, founders of Bean and Goose