Clare food businesses continue to benefit from strong collaboration between the Local Enterprise Offices and Bord Bia. At a recent Food Leads engagement event, representatives from across the country came together to examine industry performance, emerging consumer trends, sustainability opportunities and the supports available to food producers. The workshop also focused on identifying barriers to growth and addressing support gaps, ensuring that food businesses can continue to innovate, scale and compete in both domestic and international markets. The event highlighted the importance of partnership, knowledge sharing and targeted supports in driving growth across Ireland’s thriving food sector.
Bia Innovator Campus Workshop Supporting Food Business Growth
As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting Clare’s food sector, the Local Enterprise Office is partnering with Bia Innovator Campus to deliver a specialised workshop focused on product development, food labelling and innovation. The event will provide food producers with practical guidance from experienced food technologists on bringing products to market, meeting regulatory requirements and identifying opportunities for growth.
Participants will also have the opportunity to avail of one-to-one mentoring sessions tailored to their individual business needs. In addition, all participants will be invited on a site visit to the Bia Innovator Campus in Athenry, providing a unique opportunity to experience first-hand the state-of-the-art food innovation facilities available to Irish food businesses.
The Bia Innovator Campus offers access to food-grade production kitchens, pilot-scale manufacturing facilities, product development and testing space, training and innovation hubs, sensory evaluation capabilities, and technical expertise designed to support food entrepreneurs at every stage of their growth journey.
Importantly, a number of Clare food businesses supported by Local Enterprise Office Clare are already producing and developing products through the facilities in Athenry, demonstrating the value of this national food innovation resource in helping businesses scale production, enhance product quality and access new market opportunities.
This initiative forms part of a wider programme of supports available to help Clare food businesses innovate, develop new products, improve market readiness and build sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Ennis Artisan Christmas Market Showcasing Clare Food, Drink and Craft Businesses
Local Enterprise Office Clare is delighted to partner with Ennis Chamber and our colleagues in Ennis Municipal District in the delivery of the Ennis Artisan Christmas Market which will take place from 10am to 3pm on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th December 2026 in the Ennis Market Building. Following the success of previous years, this event continues to be a fantastic showcase for local artisan, food, drink and craft businesses during the busy Christmas trading period, providing visitors and locals a unique opportunity to purchase high-quality, locally produced gifts and festive treats in the heart of Ennis. The market will feature a strong Food & Drink focus on Saturday, with Craft producers taking centre stage on Sunday, ensuring a diverse and vibrant visitor experience.
Working in partnership, Ennis Chamber and Local Enterprise Office Clare will recruit high-quality artisan exhibitors, with a particular emphasis on supporting Clare-based businesses and LEO clients. The market will provide an excellent platform for producers to connect directly with consumers, increase brand awareness and generate valuable sales during one of the most important retail periods of the year.
The initiative forms part of a wider commitment to supporting small businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship and promoting the exceptional quality of Clare’s artisan food, drink and craft sectors. By creating opportunities such as the Ennis Artisan Christmas Market, Local Enterprise Office Clare continues to help local producers grow their businesses while contributing to the vibrant atmosphere and economic activity of Ennis town during the festive season.
If you are a food, drink or craft sector business in Clare and wish to get involved in the Christmas market, please contact Ennis Chamber at info@ennischamber.ie as spaces are limited, with a significant number of businesses already confirmed over the two day event including Nordic Twist, St Tola’s, Savage Cabbage, Sliabh Aughty Honey, Burren Beef Experience, Quin Art, Valentyna Kyryliuk, Vicky’s Cupcakes, Tania Little and many more.
Supporting the Growth of Clare’s Food Sector
Local Enterprise Office Clare offers a comprehensive range of financial, productivity, sustainability and digitalisation supports designed to help food businesses start, grow and become more competitive. Whether you are developing a new food product, investing in production capacity, improving sustainability, adopting new technologies, or expanding into new markets, there are supports available at every stage of your business journey.
The Feasibility Study Grant can provide funding of up to €15,000 to help entrepreneurs assess the commercial, technical and financial viability of a new food product, process or business concept before making significant investment decisions. Eligible activities may include market research, product development, technical assessments, product testing, prototyping and specialist consultancy support. This grant enables businesses to evaluate opportunities, identify risks and build a strong foundation before committing substantial resources.
For businesses moving from concept to trading, the Priming Grant supports eligible manufacturing and internationally traded food businesses during their first 18 months of operation. The grant can fund up to 50% of eligible project costs, typically up to €80,000, with support of up to €150,000 available in exceptional circumstances. Funding can be used towards equipment, fit-out costs, marketing activities, consultancy support, innovation projects and employment creation, helping ambitious food businesses establish themselves and achieve sustainable growth.
Established food producers looking to scale their operations can avail of the Business Expansion Grant, which supports investment in equipment, innovation, production capacity, export development, marketing initiatives and job creation. The grant can fund up to 50% of eligible project costs, generally up to €80,000, with support of up to €150,000 available for businesses demonstrating significant export and growth potential. This support can play an important role in helping food manufacturers increase productivity, enter new markets and strengthen their competitiveness.
The Energy Efficiency Grant supports food businesses seeking to reduce operating costs and improve environmental performance. Funding of up to 75% of eligible costs, to a maximum of €10,000, is available for projects identified through a Green for Business Report, GreenStart Report or SEAI Energy Audit. Investments may include energy-efficient machinery, heating and cooling systems, smart controls, water conservation initiatives and other sustainability measures that reduce energy consumption while improving profitability.
In addition to financial assistance, LEO Clare offers a wide range of Lean for Business supports aimed at improving productivity, efficiency and profitability. Through programmes such as Lean Start and Lean Plus, food businesses can work with experienced consultants to identify waste, improve workflows, streamline production processes, optimise factory layouts, improve stock management and enhance quality systems. Lean methodologies can help food producers increase output, reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction and build a culture of continuous improvement across the business.
As digital technologies become increasingly important in the food industry, LEO Clare also provides access to a range of digital supports designed to help businesses embrace digital transformation. These supports can assist companies in developing e-commerce capabilities, improving websites, implementing customer relationship management (CRM) systems, adopting digital marketing strategies, strengthening cybersecurity practices and introducing new software solutions that improve business performance. Businesses can also access specialist mentoring and training to help build digital skills and maximise the return on technology investments.
Further supports available through LEO Clare include one-to-one mentoring, management development programmes, export readiness initiatives, sustainability programmes, networking opportunities and sector-specific training workshops. These services connect food businesses with experienced advisors and industry experts who can provide practical guidance tailored to individual business needs.
Together, these financial, lean, sustainability and digital supports provide Clare’s food businesses with the expertise, funding and practical assistance required to innovate, improve productivity, create employment, increase competitiveness and build resilient, future-focused enterprises. By supporting businesses at every stage of their development, Local Enterprise Office Clare continues to play a vital role in strengthening County Clare’s vibrant and growing food sector.
Full details of all supports, funding options and eligibility criteria are available on the Local Enterprise Office Clare website at Local Enterprise Office Clare. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the stage of development, needs and growth potential of the business, with eligibility criteria applying to all supports. For more information, or to discuss the most appropriate supports for your business, contact Local Enterprise Office Clare to arrange a meeting with an experienced Business Advisor who can help you develop a tailored roadmap for growth and identify the funding, training, mentoring and development supports best suited to your business journey.
