Bord Iascaigh Mhara assist Kinsale Gourmet to develop a range of ready meals using traditional Irish dillisk

Kinsale Gourmet's innovative range of ready meals using sea vegetables Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Seafood Development Agency, would like to congratulate Kinsale Gourmet on their new innovative range of ready meals using sea vegetables including traditional Irish Dillisk. The company have recently secured contracts with Tesco and Dunnes Stores which is set to substantially expand their business.

Kinsale Gourmet's innovative range of ready meals using sea vegetables Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Seafood Development Agency, would like to congratulate Kinsale Gourmet on their new innovative range of ready meals using sea vegetables including traditional Irish Dillisk. The company have recently secured contracts with Tesco and Dunnes Stores which is set to substantially expand their business.

Since the establishment of the company only last year; the Kinsale Gourmet brand has seen rapid growth in demand for their unique ready meals. Sales of their sea vegetable dishes are now growing faster than any other similar product in Ireland. They are the only Irish convenience product targeting the premium frozen meal sector and this sector is showing 7% year on year growth.

Prior to setting up the company, Owen O’Brien, Owner and Manager of Kinsale Gourmet met with BIM at their Seafood Development Centre (SDC) in Clonakilty. BIM assisted Owen and his team on key aspects of new product development including; sourcing quality sea vegetables, focus groups, packaging design, legal compliance, nutritional analysis and market research.

Donal Buckley, BIM’s Business Development and Innovation Manager congratulated the Cork based company; ‘Kinsale Gourmet are another example of a small company that despite the current recession has overcome challenges and developed a range of unique seafood products that has clearly resonated with today’s consumers. To achieve contracts with such major retailers as Dunnes and Tesco in such a short time is phenomenal. We were delighted to be able to assist the company through our SDC Innovation facility in Clonakilty and I would like to congratulate Owen and his team and wish them continued success for the future’ 

Kinsale’s ‘ready to eat’ products will appeal to consumers with busy lifestyles who are looking for a healthy easy to prepare meal. Their range is hand prepared, free from artificial flavours and additives and all seafood and meats used are sourced from local fishermen and farmers. All you need to do is pop it in the microwave or oven!

Learn more about the services provided through BIM’s Seafood Development Centre