Work has started to expand a food innovation centre in Co Kerry.

Through significant Enterprise Ireland investment, the Kerry Food Hub will grow from four 1,000sq ft units employing 35 people to 14, 1,000sq ft units, delivering 100 direct and a further 62 indirect local jobs. All of which will contribute to an estimated €9 million in new income to the Kerry economy over the next three years.

The Kerry based not-for-profit community project was the vision of local farmer David Gleeson. He founded a group of local social based entrepreneurs with the aim to enhance employment opportunities in the region and make the community it serves a “better place to live”.

The Kerry Food Hub has purpose-built food production units provide start-up entrepreneurs and small but growth-oriented food businesses the opportunity to expand and develop at a rate that would be far more difficult to achieve without easy access to a dedicated and high-quality food-production facilities.

The expansion of the Kerry Food Hub and the launch of a tailored online B2B Artisan Marketplace connecting hospitality providers with local Artisan producers simplifies the process of buying Hero Foods OR "Food with a story”. The platform aligns, and directly responds to an identified tourism industry need - specifically the need to showcase local ‘hero’ foods to visitors.

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Martin Heydon T.D., Minister of State with special responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development at the Department of Agriculture, commented: "Today is yet another notable milestone as we move to a robust re-localised focus on food and the agriculture supply chain. Digital transformation reshapes the market relationship by creating new bridges between independent local artisan food producers and buyers. I am confident the combination of dedicated food-grade production space and the B2B eCommerce Marketplace will inspire opportunities and develop the next generation of producers in the region, delivering national impacts for the sector."

Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland said: "Supporting regional entrepreneurship is a key priority for Enterprise Ireland and the Regional Enterprise Development Fund is an effective mechanism of supporting regional development. Following a rigorous evaluation process, we were delighted to support the expansion and development of the Kerry Food Hub which aims to encourage and develop entrepreneurial food production talent by providing operationally independent state-of-the art production units, from which start-ups can operate. We see this as a launch pad for innovative indigenous artisan food companies, allowing them to lay the foundations for a successful business with the aim of scaling up and expanding into international markets. Additionally, the development of the Artisan Market on-line platform is a really innovative approach to linking artisan producers with buyers in 4-star and 5-star hotels and restaurants in Killarney, one of the highest tourist footfall locations in the country."