By Business & Finance 
Pictured outside Cork City Hall are Adrian and Padraig Hyde of Munster Brewery, David and Stephen Flynn of The Happy Pear and Tracy and Carol Desmond of Trace of Cakes with Martin Kelleher, MD of SuperValu (centre)
It was announced at the Cork and Kerry Food Forum that retail sales from companies supported by the Food Academy programme are expected to top €25m in 2016.
The Food Academy programme is a partnership initiative between SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) Network, and works with and nurtures small food businesses from start up to getting their products onto supermarket shelves.
The two-day event features one of the largest artisan food markets in Ireland.
Martin Kelleher, managing director, SuperValu, said: “I am delighted to announce that sales from the Food Academy programme are expected to top €25m this year. 281 Food Academy producers are currently selling their products in SuperValu stores across Ireland, with these producers supporting more than 900 jobs nationally. Small food businesses play a vital role in the Irish economy and SuperValu are delighted to support these local producers.”
Joe Burke, LEO South Cork, added: “The Food Academy was established to support passionate and entrepreneurial food producers in Ireland. This unique joint initiative has proven hugely successful, as evidenced by the phenomenal 2016 sales figures announced today by SuperValu. We are delighted to have our Food Academy producers at the Cork and Kerry Food Forum, this event is about showcasing the incredible offerings from the Cork and Kerry region.”
Guest chefs at the Cork and Kerry Food Forum included David and Stephen Flynn of The Happy Pear. The twins shared their vegan and wholesome approach to eating, their favourite recipes through hugely popular free cookery demonstrations and their philosophy of making natural and healthy food mainstream.
