What Dublin Has to Offer:

DUBLIN - IRELAND’S LARGEST FOOD AND DRINK INNOVATION ZONE

Dublin has become a leader in food and drink innovation, securing its status among the top regions in this vibrant industry. Dublin city and county boasts seven modern kitchen production hubs, providing exceptional resources for both entrepreneurs and established brands to explore, develop, and enhance their culinary creations. In addition to this dynamic landscape of food hubs, Teagasc Ashtown, houses Ireland’s largest and most sophisticated product development centre. This state-of-the-art facility offers Dublin food & drink innovators access to premier research, technology, and expertise, positioning Dublin as an ideal hub for those eager to advance the frontiers of food and drink excellence. Whether you are a new venture or a well-established company, Dublin's flourishing food and drink environment is the perfect setting to realize your most ambitious ideas.

1. LOOKING FOR PRODUCTION SPACE IN DUBLIN?

Dublin has seven food and drink innovation hubs throughout the city and county. The services offered by these hubs ranges from shared kitchens, dedicated kitchens to rent in short blocks of hours and ‘own door’ production units. To find out more about availability and services provided, contact each hub directly. At any one time, some hubs are full while others have space. Those with shared kitchens have constant access to space

Ace Enterprise Park

Contact: Lisa Rowntree

Phone Number: 01 264570

Website: www.acepark.ie

This hub has one electric powered shared kitchen measuring 750 square feet and is bookable by the hour with a minimum booking of 3 hours. Additionally, it has one shared gas powered kitchen measuring 750 square feet is bookable by the hour with a minimum booking of 3 hours. Furthermore it has Six “Own Door” food grade units ranging in size from 400 – 750 squared feet

Base Enterprise Centre

Contact: Emma O’Toole

Phone Number: 01 820 3020

Website: www.baseenterprisecentre.ie

The centre has a total of ten kitchen units ranging in size from 379 square feet to 1,569 square feet. It offers kitchen spaces on a licence agreement term for long-term use. There are also three production space units ranging in size from 461 to 1,577 square feet

Drinan Enterprise Centre

Contact: Aine McEneff

Phone Number: 087 2372552

Website: www.drinanenterprisecentre.ie

This Unit has three individual units at 54 square meters

Hour Kitchen

Contact: Therese O’Sullivan

Phone Number: 085 8795022

Website: www.hourkitchen.ie

This hub has a multipurpose kitchen rental facility providing HSE compliant kitchens. It includes four fully fitted commercial kitchens of approx. 250 square foot each or can be rented as two kitchens of 500 square foot each. In addition, there is a communal space, along with locker rooms, toilets and storage.

Liffey Trust Studios

Contact: Michelle McDermott

Phone Number: 018364645

Website: www.liffeytrust.ie

This hub has nine individual production kitchens ranging from 700 square foot to 1000 square foot.

Partas

Contact: John Kearns

Phone Number: 01 4145700

Website: www.partas.ie

Based in south Dublin, the aim is to build an inclusive and thriving community by being a leading source of excellence in development of local enterprise and of social economy. With four enterprise centres in the Tallaght area, Partas is at the heart of the entrepreneurial spirit within the community. Partas are currently building new food and drink production units

SPADE Enterprise Centre

Contact: Phil Smith

Phone Number: 01 617 4850

Website: www.spade.ie

This hub has Fifteen “Own door” kitchen units ranging in size from 280 square feet to 1500 square feet. They also have a new shared kitchen (get from website)

Bridge Enterprise Centre

Contact: Ciaran Kenny

Phone Number: 01 494 8400

Website: www.bridgeec.ie/spaces/commercial-kitchens/

This Unit has Two commercial kitchens both ranging from 640.22 foot squared.

2. WHAT ABOUT BUSINESS SUPPORT IN DUBLIN?

The Local Enterprise Offices are your local first-stop shop for seeking information and support on starting or growing your food & drink business in Dublin, whether you are a new food and drink entrepreneur or an existing small business owner.

The Local Enterprise Offices in the Dublin area provide advice, information and support to you in starting up or growing your food & drink business and help with development of essential management and leadership skills. In addition they provide practical knowledge and strategies for business growth, personalised guidance and support from mentors and networking opportunities with other business owners. There are 4 Local Enterprise offices in the Dublin area and you should contact the one where your business is based. Each Dublin LEO office has a dedicated food & drink executive.

LEO logo

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown : www.localenterprise.ie/DLR
Dublin City : www.localenterprise.ie/DublinCity/
Fingal : www.localenterprise.ie/Fingal/
South Dublin : www.localenterprise.ie/SouthDublin/

3. WHAT ABOUT FOOD & DRINK SPECIFIC TRAINING IN DUBLIN?

There are an array of courses, workshops and programmes available for those starting out in the food and drink sector, provided by the 4 Local Enterprise Offices in the Dublin area. For details on the next available course contact the Local Enterprise Office in your own region. Here are some of the food and drink specific supports

Digital School of Food

This is an e-learning hub to support food producers in developing their food manufacturing businesses from start-up to the growth phase. It is free to use, and flexible to complete in your own timeframe. Producers need to complete this in advance of the Food Starter Programme.

www.digitalschooloffood.ie

Food Starter

This course is for those either prestart up or for those within the first 24 months of starting out. In Dubin it is delivered in a mix of 1 day in person and 2 x half days delivered online. It overviews the Irish food sector to the specifics of starting a food production business and provides key information on researching your idea, product costings/funding your business, understanding retailer and foodservice operator margin expectations, food safety requirements, creating your brand etc.

www.localenterprise.ie/DLR/Start-or-Grow-your-Business/Food%20Sector%20Supports/Food%20Starter%20Programme/

Food Academy

This is an initiative with the Local Enterprise Office and SuperValu. Food Academy collaborates with small businesses on their journey from beyond the start-up phase right through to getting their product on SuperValu shelves. Through workshops, mentoring and the opportunity to pitch to SuperValu team, this is a unique opportunity to see your product on the shelf of one of Ireland’s leading retailers. Recruitment takes place in March each year.

www.localenterprise.ie/FoodSupports/Food-Academy-Programme/

4. WHERE DO I FIND HELP WITH PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ETC IN DUBLIN.

Teagasc Ashtown is a key part of Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority in Ireland, focusing on research, advisory, and education services in the food and agriculture sectors. The Ashtown Food Research Centre, located in Dublin, specializes in providing supports and services to the food and drink industry, particularly in areas such as food innovation, safety, and sustainability. Teagasc Ashtown provides extensive R&D support to Dublin companies looking to innovate new food products. Examples of areas you might need help on with your product range might be shelf life extension, product development (NPD), sensory analysis, packaging selection etc.

Teagasc Ashtown also has pilot plant facilities that allow food businesses to scale up production processes from the lab to commercial levels. These facilities are vital for testing new products and processes before full-scale production. To contact Teagasc Ashtown email xxxxxx

Through partnerships with Enterprise Ireland, small Dublin food & drink businesses can access innovation vouchers to fund collaborative projects with Teagasc, focusing on new product development or process improvements. (to qualify for an innovation voucher your business must be set up limited company). The Innovation voucher is worth €10,000

www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/supports/innovation-voucher

5. WHAT OTHER PROGRAMMES EXIST TO SUPPORT MY JOURNEY?

There are several other route to market programmes which are all designed to support your journey. These ones in particular are for a little later in your journey when you have capacity for volume.

"Grow with Aldi"

The "Grow with Aldi" programme is designed to support small and medium-sized Irish food and drink producers by providing them with the opportunity to have their products stocked in Aldi stores nationwide. Successful participants receive business development support and a listing in Aldi’s Specialbuys promotion, with the potential for long-term contracts.

www.aldi.ie/grow

Lidl's "Kick Start"

Lidl's "Kick Start" is a supplier development programme aimed at supporting small and medium-sized Irish food and drink businesses. It offers participants the chance to showcase their products in Lidl stores across Ireland. The programme provides mentoring, marketing support, and a platform to reach new customers.

www.lidl.ie/c/kickstart/s10020775

Food Works

"Food Works" is a joint initiative by Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland, and Teagasc, designed to support Irish food and drink entrepreneurs in developing scalable and export-ready businesses. The programme offers tailored business advice, mentoring, and networking opportunities with industry experts and potential investors.

www.foodworksireland.ie

Green Shoots

The "Green Shoots" programme by Musgrave Marketplace is aimed at nurturing and supporting small, local Irish food and drink producers. It provides successful applicants with a route to market through Musgrave’s retail and wholesale network, along with mentoring, marketing support, and business development advice.

www.musgravemarketplace.ie/page/green-shoots

6. Other Producer Supports

On this page we will add and update relevant resources for Dublin food businesses, such as funding, training, industry guides, food safety information etc.

Dublin Food Chain is a collaborative initiative of Local Enterprise Offices in the Dublin area. The Dublin Food Chain is part of an ongoing effort to harness the power of the 'collective', in order to ensure that Co. Dublin's unique food heritage benefits from the attention it deserves.

Next Event - Wednesday, March 5th, 2025 2:00 PM

Meet the Entrepreneurs who Beat the Odds

What Dublin Has to Offer:

DUBLIN - IRELAND’S LARGEST FOOD AND DRINK INNOVATION ZONE

1. LOOKING FOR PRODUCTION SPACE IN DUBLIN?

Ace Enterprise Park

Base Enterprise Centre

Drinan Enterprise Centre

Hour Kitchen

Liffey Trust Studios

Partas

SPADE Enterprise Centre

Bridge Enterprise Centre

2. WHAT ABOUT BUSINESS SUPPORT IN DUBLIN?

3. WHAT ABOUT FOOD & DRINK SPECIFIC TRAINING IN DUBLIN?

Digital School of Food

Food Starter

Food Academy

4. WHERE DO I FIND HELP WITH PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ETC IN DUBLIN.

5. WHAT OTHER PROGRAMMES EXIST TO SUPPORT MY JOURNEY?

"Grow with Aldi"

Lidl's "Kick Start"

Food Works

Green Shoots

6. Other Producer Supports

Some Highlights

Business Startup & Support Resources

Food Safety Advice

Speciality Retailers

Farmers' Markets

Food Testing Labs

Foodservice Operators

Distribution, Imports Exports

Finance Options

Consumer and Market Research

Packaging Companies

Food Kitchens to Rent