IRISH FOOD BRAND RÍVESCI WINS BIG AT GREAT TASTE AWARDS
Co-Founders Shannon Forrest and Michelin Star trained Chef, Declan Malone opened Rívesci as a food truck in September 2019 but when the Pandemic hit in March, the pair decided to change their strategy and move to the condiment business.
Last week, the Irish start-up won the coveted three-star award at the Great Taste Awards, for their Cashew Chilli Crush.
The range of condiments had already been developed before the pandemic hit and once the doors shut on the Food Truck, growing that side of the business became their focus.
Just before the initial restrictions were introduced, Ms Forrest had completed the SuperValu Food Academy training and now their range is on shelves in two SuperValu stores and elsewhere.
"Luckily, I had just finished the SuperValu Food Academy so we had done the brand development work and knew there was a potential retail opportunity there," said Ms Forrest.
"The win at the Great Taste Awards was a real endorsement of the brand and great boost given this is not where we saw the business going when we launched this time last year," she added.
SuperValu Food Academy is a food business development programme between SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Offices.
Participants in the programme receive training in market research and branding, food safety, marketing, finance and business development.
Food Academy producers have sold a combined €140 million of produce in SuperValu since 2014, supporting 1,500 jobs in the economy.
To date, 620 producers have come through the programme, with 272 producers currently enrolled in the programme.
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