TU Dublin, Supervalu and Local Enterprise Office launch new food and drink entrepreneurship course as part of the Food Academy Programme
Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) has launched its inaugural Certificate in Food Entrepreneurship, a pioneering programme developed in collaboration with SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Office as part of the Food Academy Programme. The innovative new course will equip aspiring food and drink entrepreneurs with the essential skills and knowledge to succeed in the Irish food industry.
Designed to address the growing demands of Ireland’s burgeoning food and drink sector, this innovative programme is the result of a strategic partnership between the School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology at TU Dublin, SuperValu, Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), and the TU Dublin Enterprise Academy. It showcases the university’s commitment to collaborating with industry leaders for educational opportunities that develop skills and create new career pathways in the food and drink sector.
The Certificate in Food Entrepreneurship expands and accredits the existing programme, ensuring participants develop essential knowledge in food safety to scale their food and drink businesses. Additionally, successful participants will have the opportunity to trial their products in local SuperValu stores, providing invaluable market exposure. Currently, over 300 Food Academy producers have products in SuperValu stores across Ireland and have collectively surpassed €260 million in retail sales since the programme began in 2013.
The Certificate in Food Entrepreneurship (TU 5093, 15 ECTS, Level 6) was officially launched at TU Dublin’s Grangegorman Campus by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD. Highlighting the significance of this initiative for the Irish food and drink sector, Minister Burke said:
“The Irish food and drink industry is a hugely important one in terms of economic contribution, with exports in this sector valued at €17 billion in 2024. We have high-quality produce to work with, and combined with culinary skills and business acumen,)entrepreneurs are well-placed to launch their products into a thriving market. Qualifications such as TU Dublin’s Certificate in Food Entrepreneurship – in collaboration with the Local Enterprise Office and SuperValu – provide excellent opportunities for those considering careers or new businesses, in this important indigenous industry.”
Dr Deirdre Lillis, President of TU Dublin, remarked: “For more than 80 years, TU Dublin has been at the forefront of food entrepreneurship in Ireland, empowering culinary innovators to transform their passion into successful businesses. This collaboration between TU Dublin, SuperValu, and Local Enterprise Offices combines our expertise in food innovation with commercial insights and business acumen. The result is a programme that will provide participants with the tools they need to take their businesses to a larger national stage.”
The Food Academy programme, which has successfully operated for 12 years and is supported by SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) network, has a strong track record of nurturing Irish food and drink businesses. It has enabled scores of small Irish food businesses to grow and thrive in a competitive retail market. Successful producers from Food Academy include Sushi King, Drummully Boxty and SynerChi kombucha, all of which can be found in SuperValu stores nationwide.
In August 2024, 32 Irish food and drink producers joined the new revised TU Dublin pilot programme, benefiting from expert training, authentic assessments, and university accreditation. Fees for this programme are subsidised via the Higher Education Authority’s HCI Pillar 3 Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy.
Luke Hanlon, Managing Director, SuperValu, commented:“Now in its 12th year, Food Academy is the only accredited producer development programme dedicated to supporting innovative small to medium food and drink businesses across Ireland.
“Since its inception in 2013, Food Academy producers have collectively surpassed €260 million in retail sales, underscoring the programme’s remarkable impact on the Irish food and drink industry. Through this exciting partnership with TU Dublin, we are further strengthening the credentials of our Food Academy producers. The strength and growth of Irish food producers is key to driving economic growth and fostering innovation within Ireland’s food and drink sector.”
“Food development is a key sector in our enterprise development activities as it leads to local, sustainable job creation and development,” added Tomás Hayes of the National LEO Food Committee. “The network of Local Enterprise Offices has been engaged with the Food Academy Programme for over 10 years. The accreditation by TU Dublin recognises the strength of the programme and brings added value and a progression path for participants.”
The Food Academy Programme is currently open for applications until April 11th. Apply now through www.localenterprise.ie/
CAPTION:
Keith Barry, Co-founder of Bay Biotics (Seaweed products); Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment; and Yasmin Halpin, Co-founder of Bay Biotics (Seaweed products) at the launch of the inaugural Certificate in Food Entrepreneurship at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin).
