New food business incubator in Cork

A new food incubator in Cork aims to position the region as a national player in Ireland’s agri-economy.
Food businesses in Cork have a new ‘incubation’ facility available to them courtesy of the Cork County Council.
Cork Incubator Kitchens offers food startups and existing food businesses access to a fully equipped kitchen on a pay-as-you-go basis of just €15 per hour. 
The CIK is aimed at food entrepreneurs looking to develop and market-test their food products before investing in their own kitchen equipment.
Brand new and fully equipped
The incubation space was opened this week by Mayor of Cork, County Cllr Seamus McGrath. He says, “Cork is a vibrant and leading player in the national food and drinks sector. With facilities like the Cork Incubator Kitchens and the support infrastructure in the region, Cork is ideally positioned to be a leader in Ireland’s agri-economy.”
Located in Carrigaline Industrial Estate, the bakery and kitchens are designed to meet the highest health and food safety regulations and boast a broad range of equipment including refrigerators, blast chillers, fogging machines, tilting bratt pan, vacuum packers, sealing machines and Zanolli deck ovens.
Networking opportunities
As well as offering food entrepreneurs kitchen facilities, the incubator will also provide networking and support provided by the Food Safety Company, who will manage the day-to-day running of the space.
The kitchen has already attracted some clients, including A Touch of Magic which is using it to help expand its cake and confectionary business, and Athula Fusion Foods which is developing a range of sauces.

This post was originally published here - https://www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/start-a-food-business-in-cork/ on thinkbusiness

The business end of Budget 2017

What were the main business related results of Budget 2017? How did this budget affect SMEs and farmers?
The eleven key takeaways, for SMEs and farmers, are:
1: There was a continued strong commitment was made to the 12.5% corporation tax rate.
2: The ‘Start Your Own Business Relief’ was extended for a further two years to the end of 2018.
3: Foreign Travellers Relief – ‘SARP’ and ‘FED’ extended to 2020 and the minimum number of travel days is reduced to 30.
4: A new SME-focused share based remuneration scheme to be introduced in Budget 2018.
5: Farmers being able to opt out of income averaging for the 2016 tax year was announced.
6: Farm Restructuring Relief was extended to the end of 2019.
7: The flat-rate addition for farmers is being increased from 5.2% to 5.4% from 1 January 2017.
8: The Minister confirmed that an independent review of the Corporate Tax code is to take place. The report and recommendations are due by the end of Q2 2017.
9: The 9% VAT rate for the hospitality and tourism sector is retained.
10: Savings – a 2% DIRT reduction from January 1, 2017 followed by three further 2% reductions out to 2020.
11: For startups and SMEs, the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rate was cut from 20% to 10% up to just one million euros.
For full details visit Budget 2017.

This post was originally published here - https://www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/budget-2017-and-business/ on
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The 12 finalists of Spark of Genius

Some of Ireland’s brightest tech startups are in with the chance of winning €25,000 at this year’s Web Summit in Lisbon. 
The prize is part of the ESB’s Spark of Genius competition, which has currently narrowed the finalists to a field of 12. Only three, however, will be selected to go to Lisbon and compete for the cash prize.
Narrowing the field 
The 12 semi-finalists will be judged on their businesses’ originally, development so far, and growth prospects. 
“It’s a great opportunity for startups, and it shows how thriving the Irish tech scene is,” Web Summit founder and CEO Paddy Cosgrave. 
The ideas
BikeLook: Tackling bike theft with Bluetooth sensors. 
Buymie: Personal shopping service through your smartphone. 
EnergyElephant: Helps businesses be more energy efficient through data analysis. 
Fillit: Connected those with unused space with those who need it for events etc. 
HouseMyDog: Links dog-owners with dog sitters. 
iKydz: Helps parents control their kid’s internet access through a ‘plug and play’ system.
Kollect: On demand, choose-your-own-bin-day collection service. 
OpenBack:  “Creating a new standard in mobile notifications to drive engagement while putting users first”.
Parkpnp: Online parking marketplace; links people with unused spaces with those who need them.
Responder: “A product aimed at supporting independent living, health and well-being through the use of mobile and wearable technologies”.
WeSavvy: An app which allows users to get rewarded on their life insurance policy for keeping active, tracking how often they walk, run or cycle. 
Wia: “Provide developers with a real-time platform for building Internet of Things applications”. 

This post was originally published here - https://www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/spark-of-genius-2016/ on thinkbusiness

Highway1 accelerator offers $100,000

Does your startup want $100,000 and an office space in San Francisco?
San Francisco-based accelerator programme Highway1 is accepting new applications for its eighth class from October 25, 2016. 
The programme is open to international applicants. Irish startups Drop and Ayda participated in the past. 

What is an accelerator? 
Accelerator programmes are for existing businesses that have the potential to grow. Accelerators typically offer shared office spaces, networking and mentoring opportunities and seed capital in exchange for a share of the business.
What’s on offer with this accelerator?
Successful applicants to Highway1 will avail of:
●        Up to $100,000 for 8% equity or $50,000 for 5%.
●        Onsite support from electrical, mechanical, firmware and manufacturing engineers.
●        Office space in San Francisco.
●        24/7 access to state-of-the-art prototyping labs.
●        Introductions to the best industrial design studios.
●        A trip to Shenzhen, China and an introduction to local resources.
●        A network of alumni, mentors and partners.
●        Introductions to key investors.
Applications close on November 1, 2016. For more information, visit Highway1.  
READ: A ‘gym for Irish food startups’.

This post was originally published here - https://www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/highway1-money-startups/ on
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FoodWise2025 – opportunities for Irish food firms

Bord Bia’s ambitious new project aims to spread Irish food around the globe.
The FoodWise2025 initiative aims to double Ireland’s food exports to €19 billion in the next ten years and to achieve this; the industry will need access not only to new markets but also unprecedented levels of research and insight. With this in mind, Bord Bia is launching a state of the art research centre called the Thinking House in Dublin.
State of the art
The centre comprises a Trends Zone to track the latest global food and drink developments, a packaging and branding gallery, as well as space for up to 70 people for workshops, presentations and meetings.
Also, the Thinking House will have what’s being called the ‘Living Room’; a space rigged with audio and video recording equipment for focus and discussion groups. Meanwhile, a comprehensive library of data and reports will be made available to industry SMEs which previously would not have had access to this kind of information. 
Global expansion
If FoodWise2025 is to meet its target, Irish exports to international markets will need to treble. In particular, as well as stepping up its efforts in Europe, the industry is hoping for a quadrupling of exports to Asia. Such is its commitment to this goal that Bord Bia recently opened an office in Singapore. 
Bord Bia already conducts extensive research into the emerging markets of Asia and Africa, with staff going to these continents and visiting people in their homes to get a better understanding of their food habits, even going as far to have a look inside their fridges.  
Did you know?

The potato was introduced to the British Isles in the 16th century but wasn’t embraced by the Irish until the late 17th century. Up until that point, the Irish seem to have consumed mostly corn and milk (and some meat

This post was originally published here - https://www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/foodwise2025/ on
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Newmarket Kitchen- a gym for food startups

Henry O’Brien describes Newmarket Kitchen as a ‘gym for food businesses’. It’s a great location for food startups to flex their creative muscles and grow.  
“The concept is simple, Newmarket Kitchen provides a kitchen space for food startups, caterers and independent chefs,” says O’Brien. “It’s a place where food business startups can come and test their idea and build their business.”
Opened in April 2015 and based in Bray, Co. Wicklow, Newmarket Kitchen has many different membership options to suit food businesses of all sizes and at all stages. Also, if a food startup wants to try out the facility for a day, it can. 
“If you have been selling at a farmers’ market, for example,” says O’Brien, “and want to expand, we can help with your idea.”

Ideas and ingredients 
“The one thing our members find most useful is the fact they become part of a community here. Often, entrepreneurs find themselves working alone, but at Newmarket, they are in a creative environment where they can ask others for advice, whether that be about packaging, marketing or sales.”
An essential ingredient of becoming a food business is the legal one. “You have to register your business through the HSE. We have an Environmental Health Officer that helps our members. You will also need insurance, and we can provide that through our preferred supplier. We help food businesses grow. It’s like taking the raw ingredients to the final product,” says O’Brien. 
Access all day and all night 
Members of Newmarket Kitchen also have 24/7 access to the facilities. “The food business is not a nine to five business,” says O’Brien. 
While all the companies require preparation space, there’s also the need for large refrigeration space. “That’s one of core functions, to make sure the startups have the facilities they need to make headway. We keep all the services up

This post was originally published here - https://www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/food-startups-newmarket-kitchen/ on thinkbusiness

How to hire your first employee

Hiring your first employee is one of the most important things you will do as a business person. You need to get it right.
Starting a new business is an exciting, and stressful, time for any new entrepreneur. One of the toughest phases that any new business can experience is growth. There will eventually come the point where you will reach the limit of what you can achieve as a one-man show. When it comes to hiring your second in command; you need to not only make sure you are choosing the right person for the right role but that you are in a good position to hire. Here are some items to check off your list when hiring your first employee.
Recruiting – know what you need
Full time, part time or just a few hours a week? Salesperson or office admin? Deciding which role you need to hire for first is just as important as the person you hire. Are you gathering more interest than you can keep up with and need a second salesperson to help with demand? Or are your suppliers not getting paid and admin is backing up? Perhaps you need both. Sitting down and deciding the most important role to help you to get to the next phase of growth is important. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of hiring your first employee but don’t hire because having a second salesperson sounds good, hire because you need them. 
 

Advertise the role
Choosing the wording and platform to advertise your position can be just as important as the person you want. Ensure your job description is as detailed as possible so candidates know exactly what they are applying for. Vague titles, such as Business Development, can mean different things to different people so try to add as

This post was originally published here - https://www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/how-to-hire-your-first-employee/ on
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Opening a franchise in Ireland

Have you ever wanted to run a successful shop? Perhaps opening a franchise is the right option?
There are many new franchises taking Ireland by storm, from American style frozen yogurt shops to innovative new urban gyms.
While many have seen huge successes, others fail. Here we look at the advantages and disadvantages of buying a franchise as well as the typical fees involved in Ireland’s newest franchises.
Chopped
The healthy food company Chopped was set up by Dublin-based entrepreneurs, Brian Lee (pictured above) and Andy Chen in 2012. They developed the ‘traditional’ salad bar to meet the growing needs of healthy minded eaters in the city. The first Chopped opened in 2012, and there are now 11 shops across the capital. 
According to its website, to become a part of the franchise, there is a fee of €20,000. If you want to open a Chopped store, the turnkey capital cost will be approximately €160,000. This includes a provision for working capital. 
Once your franchise is set up the continuing costs include: 
Franchise royalty: 6pc of net sales.
Marketing contribution: 2pc of net sales.

Mooch
Mooch, the frozen yoghurt shop, was set up in Dublin in 2010 after the owners Declan and Suzanne saw the success of frozen yoghurt in New York.
The company now has two shops in Dublin while the frozen yoghurt appeal has spread across the country. 
Hillybillys
The fast food chicken restaurant was established in 1997 in Cork by Michael Grace, but in recent years it has developed into a franchise.
It opened its first franchised restaurant in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal in April 2011. Today the chain has ten locations throughout Ireland, including three restaurants in Cork, and restaurants in Derry, Dublin, Ennis, Galway, Letterkenny, Tralee, and Waterford.

Sásta
Sásta is a fitness franchise that uses treadmill fitness pods to help members lose weight. The franchise was founded in 2010.
With headquarters in

This post was originally published here - https://www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/opening-a-franchise-in-ireland/ on thinkbusiness

Fergus Gloster, founding director, Salesforce Europe

Pat Carroll in conversation with Fergus Gloster, the founding director of European operations at Salesforce. What advice would Gloster have for startups? 
As a chapter director of Startup Grind Limerick, I am fortunate to have fireside chats with some inspiring entrepreneurs. These founders share valuable insights at our monthly networking events. 
It’s not every day that you have the chance of interviewing a major technology thought leader, who you also happened to go to school with, a few years ago. 

Limerick native Fergus Gloster joined Salesforce.com as founding director of European operations when it was a startup with less than 100 employees worldwide. During his nine-year tenure, Fergus played a key role as SVP, corporate sales Europe, and helped shape Salesforce into a billion dollar CRM platform. 
After that, Fergus went on to set up leading marketing automation company Marketo’s international business in 2011 and saw the company go from private to public ownership.
Here are some of the key points made by Fergus during our fireside chat (video below). 

In the beginning
Fergus excelled at Maths in school and went on to study Applied Maths at the University of Limerick.
His first job was in Silicon Valley writing code for mainframe computers. “With a chisel and hammer  – I was a techie,” he says. 
He spent the first 15 years of his career writing code and leading various technical teams. These included global leaders in their field, Wang & Oracle, where he ended up as technology director.
In the late 90s, his role gradually moved on from explaining technology to people. The spur for changing from the technical to the marketing/customer-facing side of the business was that Fergus enjoyed presenting to people and interacting with the sales group:
“I started moving more into product marketing role – more in front of people than the ‘clever techie’ in the background”
Two of

This post was originally published here - https://www.thinkbusiness.ie/articles/startup-advice-fergus-gloster/ on thinkbusiness