Full coverage: Food

Vegan Sandwich Co was just getting traction at farmers’ markets when Covid hit. Its home delivery fall-back rescue plan is now just one of many channels for Sam Pearson’s business, which is raising funds for the next steps of its growth.

Politicians turning the sod on Glanbia Co-op and Royal A-Ware’s new plant yesterday were upbeat about the prospects for higher-value dairy processing and the removal of the legal barriers that delayed the project until this year.

Fulfil, which is majority-owned by entrepreneur Barry Connolly, has announced its takeover by the Italian group behind Nutella and Kinder.

Ireland’s largest dairy processor has completed its separation from the listed multinational it had created. Under full farmer ownership, its new priority is to boost lagging producer prices.

Technological change in agriculture and food may have to adapt to shifting consumer priorities after Covid-19, but the pace of innovation remains unabated. Here is a look at six big ideas – and one possible spoiler.

The farmer-owned co-op is regaining full control of Glanbia’s Irish operations in a €300m deal. This will now be largely funded by debt secured on the group’s listed shares, reducing the need to sell under-valued stock.

The two privately-held frozen vegetable businesses gave little financial detail when announcing their transatlantic deal in December, but more information is now emerging.

Barry McNerney is the CEO of wholesale ordering platform Unify Ordering. Over the past year, the company has raised almost €1m and is now looking for more to expand into new markets. All the while, McNerney plans to grow his Lotts & Co grocery chain.

One year after leaving his executive position in his father Larry’s ABP beef business, Goodman has acquired the owner of the Bunalun organic food brand through offshore structures different from those of the rest of his family.

When Giselle Makinde left Brazil, she knew she would find work anywhere as a trained chef. However, she didn’t expect to own an Irish business turning surplus ingredients into high-end ice cream.