Ireland’s leading accelerator for high-potential food and drink start-ups, Food Works, has announced the call for applications to its 2026 programme. Backed by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc, the state-funded initiative has already helped over 130 ambitious companies to launch, scale or secure investment since its launch in 2012.

The programme has been instrumental in the success of brands such as All Real Nutrition, Grá Chocolates, Chimac, Valentia Island Vermouth and Wicklow Wolf, proving its role as a launchpad for some of Ireland’s best-known innovators.

Food Works combines the expertise and resources of the three state agencies to fast-track growth, providing participants with investor-readiness training, expert mentorship, and access to world-class facilities for product development. The ten-month programme is designed to help food and drink entrepreneurs scale faster and smarter. Taking part in the programme has been shown to dramatically improve the odds for new food businesses – companies that participate in Food Works are five times more likely to remain in business*.

This year’s Food Works cohort features an exciting mix of start-ups such as Bamboolas, BioVit, Femme Biome, Fierce Mild, Ól, RYSE, Sligo Bay Oysters, and Smokin Bones; companies shaping the future of food, from biotech and nutrition to innovative flavours and sustainable seafood.

Aisling Kelly Hunter from Sligo Bay Oysters said: “Food Works has been an amazing experience. The programme really works as it takes you back to the basics and makes you think about all the facets of your product, specifically about how to develop your brand and how can you hone in on key areas that might need work.”

Nicholas Deaney from BioVit said: “I couldn’t recommend Food Works more. Taking part in this programme offers you access to mentors, support, and invaluable expertise across all aspects of the food-value chain. The insights into who your customers could be, financial planning, as well as the level of support offered, helps you look closer at your business, poking holes where needed with the view of helping you become airtight as you grow.”

Since the programme began, Enterprise Ireland has invested over €8.02 million in Food Works companies including 24 High-Potential Start-Up (HPSU) and 29 PSSF/CSF investments.

Food Works 2026
Food Works runs annually from February to November. Participating companies take part in workshops with national and international industry experts across various disciplines such as strategy, finance, sustainable manufacturing and marketing. Successful applicants are supported to get investor-ready by developing a comprehensive business plan focussed on scaling internationally. They also receive customised support from business advisors, facilitated peer-to-peer learning and the opportunity to avail of feasibility grant funding of up to €30,000.

The three state agencies, Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc, work jointly to deliver the Food Works programme.

• Bord Bia provides strategic insight and support, assisting participating companies in their understanding of consumers, competitors, trends, opportunities and both domestic and international markets.
• Enterprise Ireland focuses on helping entrepreneurs to start and grow their business internationally. It works collaboratively with the High Potential Start-Ups (HPSUs) taking part in Food Works to develop a robust funding strategy to drive growth and supports them to prepare an investor ready business plan.
• Teagasc provides technical support to companies in the development of high-quality, sustainable products, processes and packaging solutions.  State-of-the-art food centres in Dublin and Cork provide participants with access to facilities, equipment, and specialist expertise.

If you want to be the next successful food, drink or ingredients entrepreneur, make sure you apply by the closing date of the 28th November 2025. Full details and an application form are available at FoodWorksIreland.ie

Food Works, run by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc, is calling on Ireland’s next food, drink and ingredients entrepreneurs to apply for the accelerator programme to take advantage of investor-readiness training, expert mentorship, and access to world-class facilities for product development. The final deadline for online applications is the 26th November. See Foodworksireland.ie for more information. Photo: Chris Bellew, Fennell Photography.

Food Works Alumni Survey 2025

*Food Works surveyed its active alumni with a 29% response rate. These businesses reported a combined turnover of €36.5 million and employed 271 people. When extrapolated across all active alumni, the estimated total impact reaches €125 million in revenue and 502 jobs created, highlighting the programme’s role in driving sustainable growth in Ireland’s food sector.

Key Statistics include:

• 131 companies have completed the Food Works programme since its inception in 2012.
• Of these, 73 companies are still trading, representing a 56% success rate.
• This compares to industry norms, where 90% of food startups fail within the first 3 years (Grocer Magazine, May 2025).
• Conclusion: Participation in Food Works increases a startup’s chance of surviving beyond three years by a factor of 5.

2025 Participants:

• Bamboolas Snacks: Bamboolas Snacks offers crunchy, healthy bamboo chips made from bamboo shoots. A good source of fibre, these chips provide a satisfying crunch with a subtle, savoury flavour.
• Biovit: Biovit has developed a proprietary technology that enhances nutrient absorption, delivering nutrients into the bloodstream up to 70 times more effectively than conventional nutritional solutions.
• Femme Biome: Femme Biome develops microbiome solutions to support women’s health and well-being during hormonal changes. Backed by decades of microbiome research, their first product combines four carefully selected probiotics and prebiotics designed to address unmet needs during perimenopause and menopause.
• Fierce Mild: Fierce Mild is Ireland’s leading independent non-alcoholic beer specialist, redefining the category by challenging bland alternatives. Their flagship 0.5% Pale Ale is brewed with a special yeast and a blend of three hops, creating a flavourful, characterful beer.
• Ól: Ól creates innovative, bar-quality canned cocktails, blending traditional spirits with unique Irish and organic ingredients. Known for signature drinks like the Chilli Rita, Ól prioritizes authenticity and craftsmanship across its products, design, and ambition. Each cocktail pays homage to Irish heritage, delivering a premium drinking experience inspired by world-class mixology.
• RYSE: RYSE introduces the first-of-its-kind 26g caffeinated chocolate bar, delivering 80mg of caffeine—the equivalent of a can of Red Bull. Fortified with vitamins B6 and B12 to enhance focus, it comes in three core flavours: milk chocolate, orange chocolate, and mint chocolate. Designed to boost energy, it’s the perfect bar for moments that need an extra lift.
• Smokin Bones: Smokin Bones delivers premium quality pulled pork, ready to enjoy at home in just 2.5 minutes. Each 200g pouch contains hand-pulled, succulent pork, expertly prepared for convenient microwave cooking. Available in two flavours, it is perfectly seasoned and ready to serve, offering a simple and delicious way to enjoy restaurant-quality pulled pork at home or in the workplace.
• Sligo Oysters: Sligo Oysters offers a tasty and convenient way for gourmets across the country to enjoy succulent Wild Atlantic oysters, without the need for shucking. Their hand-pickled Pacific oysters preserve the meaty molluscs, eliminating the need for refrigeration while enhancing their flavour with a four-month shelf life.

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Food Works, Ireland’s leading accelerator programme for high-potential food and drink companies, is now accepting applications for its 2025 cohort. Combining the resources of Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc, Food Works has been a fundamental driver of innovation in the food sector in the last decade.

Food Works helps to drive scale and enables participants to become investor-ready in order to achieve success in domestic and international markets. The ten-month programme offers entrepreneurs the unique opportunity to access expert mentorship and development of an investor ready business plan, connect with potential investors and buyers as well as gain valuable marketing and production insights.

Successful applicants in 2023 included Chimac, Reso Health Ltd, Blynk Drinks, Ireland West Distillery – Shaker & Co. Brand, ELEMENT Irish Whiskey, Fire&5th, Mór Taste, SomaTech Limited and FemFuelz- all of whom will complete the programme in the coming months.  Speaking about the benefits of the programme, Mary Maguire from Fire&5th said “The Food Works programme has come along at an absolutely critical time in our business. The structure of the programme around the key elements of financial planning, route to market, and marketing strategy has been crucial and has enabled us to articulate a clear and compelling business plan for the future.” 

Kylie O’Donoghue from FemFuelz said “Food Works has been an incredible opportunity for us because sometimes when you’re in the business it’s very hard to focus on the business itself. The programme forces you to think outside the box and do all of things you know you should be doing when you are stuck in the day to day. I couldn’t recommend it enough for start-ups or anyone who is in business for a couple of years to focus on what you really need to”. 

Food Works was established in 2012 and since then has welcomed over 120 companies through the programme, including hugely successful food and drink brands such as Nobó, Grá Chocolates, Zingibeer, Valentia Island Vermouth and Lismore Food Company, to name just a few. Since the programme began, Enterprise Ireland has invested over €6.67 million in Food Works companies including 21 High-Potential Start-Up (HPSU) and 23 PSSF/CSF investments.

Food Works 2025
Food Works runs annually from February to November. Participating start-ups take part in workshops with national and international industry experts across various disciplines such as strategy, finance, manufacturing and marketing. Successful applicants are supported to get investor-ready by developing a comprehensive business plan focussed on scaling internationally. They also receive customised support from business advisors, facilitated peer-to-peer learning and may have the opportunity to receive feasibility grant funding of up to €30,000.

The three state agencies, Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc, work jointly to deliver the Food Works programme.

• Bord Bia provides strategic insight and support, assisting participating companies in their understanding of consumers, competitors, trends, opportunities and both domestic and international markets.
• Enterprise Ireland focuses on helping entrepreneurs to start and grow their business internationally. It works collaboratively with the High Potential Start-Ups (HPSUs) taking part in Food Works to develop a robust funding strategy to drive growth and supports them to prepare an investor ready business plan.
• Teagasc provides technical support to companies in the development of high-quality, sustainable products, processes and packaging solutions.  State-of-the-art food centres in Dublin and Cork provide participants with access to facilities, equipment, and specialist expertise.

The closing date for applications for the 2025 programme is 29th November 2024. Full details and an application form are available at FoodWorksIreland.ie

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