Food Academy programme supports 1,500 jobs in local communities nationwide

SuperValu is calling on small food and drinks producers around the country to enter its Food Academy programme.

Now in its eighth-year, Food Academy is a unique food business development programme between SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). Participants in the programme receive training in food safety, market research and branding, marketing, finance, sustainability and business development.

Unique food business development programme

The Food Academy programme currently supports 290 Irish food and drink producers including 140 female entrepreneurs, generating €170m in sales. In 2020, there was a 15% growth in SuperValu Food Academy sales with participants earning €28m. The Food Academy programme supports 1,500 jobs in local communities nationwide.

Carmel Biggane, Food Academy Manager, SuperValu said: “At SuperValu we believe in local business and are proud to continue to support local producers across the country. In collaboration with the Local Enterprise Office Network and Bord Bia, the Food Academy is a great way for us to help new businesses to grow and get the support they need.

“The programme allows us to use our experience to help small businesses through their journey from start up to getting their products on our shelves all year round. We’ve had great success with the Food Academy in recent years, we look forward to welcoming new producers this year and continuing to support local communities. I would call on local food producers across Ireland to get involved and see how Food Academy can help you grow.”

 Up-and-coming food producers

Tómas Hayes of the Local Enterprise Officessaid: “Since it was started up eight years ago by the Local Enterprise Offices, SuperValu and Bord Bia, the Food Academy programme has been hugely successful, going from strength to strength. It has helped hundreds of up-and-coming food producers to get their products market-ready, giving them an opportunity to sell to a nationwide audience.”

He added: “The Food Academy is part of a suite of Local Enterprise Office supports aimed at food and drink entrepreneurs in Ireland, such as the Digital School of Food and Food Starter programmes, both aimed at getting those with food ideas off the ground. As food and drink producers around the country grow their sales through these programmes, the Local Enterprise Offices are on hand to support their expansion plans through further training, mentoring and financial assistance.”

Food Academy Programme

The Food Academy Programme is now open for applications until Friday 23^rd April 2021. To apply, interested food and drink producers are encouraged to contact your Local Enterprise Office for an application form on www.LocalEnterprise.ie

https://supervalu.ie/real-people/food-academy-programme.

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AsIAm, proudly supported by SuperValu, are continuing their series of webinars with ‘Voices of the Community: Starting the Autism Journey, A Parent’s Perspective’ on 24th March at 7pm.  The online seminar will explore the experiences of parents who have started out on their family’s autism journey. The webinar will be the fifth in the 2021 series that continues to bring informative topics and valuable advice to the autism community. The community support events can be accessed online and through AsIAm and SuperValu’s social channels. To register for the ‘Voices of the Community’  virtual seminar click here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fVZzynu7QzCHRAU0O0FIOw

The webinar will provides a unique platform for a number of parents to speak first-hand of their experiences with autism. On the night, parents Ciara Jones, Cathal McDaniels and Caroline Poole will each speak to their own personal stories about their family’s journey with autism. The parents will discuss their individual experiences to date, the process of understanding their child’s autism, accessing support and sharing their own family’s milestones and progress. Due to the nature of this upcoming webinar, it will only be available through the livestream and will not be recorded for later viewing.

Commenting on the upcoming webinar Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm “AsIAm is thrilled to continue to deliver Community Support Seminars to families across Ireland with the kind support of SuperValu.  With the changing nature of our environments over the past year it is vital to provide additional support to our community. As all seminars are available live online, members from across Ireland have the opportunity to gain knowledge and advice from trained experts.”

Ian Allen, Managing Director at SuperValu said, “As sponsors of the community support seminars we are delighted to witness their continued success and value to the autism community. During this challenging time it is vital that we support the autism community now more than ever and ensure resources such as the webinar series continue to provide support and create pathways for greater inclusion across Ireland.”

SuperValu is committed to raising understanding and awareness of autism among its customers and staff. With over 50,000 families in Ireland living with autism, those affected face barriers to inclusion because of the attitudes of people who may not have first-hand experience of autism.

This programme is supported by SuperValu Ireland.

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