Kildare's O'Brien Fine Foods celebrate 25th anniversary

KILDARE’s O’Brien Fine Foods celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon TD as guest of honour last week.

Jim O’Toole, CEO, Bord Bia, Mark Christal, Manager Food, Sustainability & Climate Change, Enterprise Ireland and members of Kildare County Council and Kildare Chamber also attended the celebration at O’Brien Fine Foods’ headquarters in Timahoe, Co Kildare.

O’Brien Fine Foods has grown exponentially since it was established in 2000 with a team of just 18.

Specialising in the manufacture and marketing of premium meats, the company produces high-quality value-added ham, chicken and turkey products at four processing facilities in the UK and Ireland, supplying four of the top five grocery retailers in Ireland, as well as convenience and independent retail customers.

The Kildare company employs a total of 635 people in Ireland and the UK. Underlining its commitment as an employer to the Kildare community, 383 of these roles are based in Timahoe, Co. Kildare with a further 161 in Rathowen, Co. Westmeath.

O’Brien Fine Foods also has a major financial footprint in the Kildare region, contributing tens of millions annually to the local economy through indirect employment and supplier contracts. 75 per cent of the company’s investment in meat, packaging and ingredients is invested with Irish-owned businesses.

Reflecting its deep roots in the community, O’Brien Fine Foods has a long-standing relationship with Gaelic games in Kildare through Brady Family’s sponsorship of Kildare GAA, LGFA and Camogie, a connection that stretches back over 12 years.

The company also works with children’s charity Barretstown, food waste initiative Foodcloud and has a school partnership with Ard Scoil Rath Iomgháin through Business in the Community.

Brady Family has grown to become one of the top 20 names in Irish grocery and Ireland’s No. 1 cooked meats brand, having become the first ham brand in Ireland to receive Bord Bia’s highly sought after Quality Assurance mark back in 2006.

Speaking at the event, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon TD said: “O’Brien Fine Foods represents the best of Irish enterprise – a homegrown company that has grown from modest beginnings to become a leading player in the food sector. Their focus on local sourcing, sustainability and innovation is a model for what Irish food businesses can aspire to. It is a pleasure to mark this 25-year milestone alongside the O’Brien family and their team. Their success story is a testament to what can be achieved when deep community roots and strong business vision come together.” Jim O’Toole, CEO, Bord Bia said the company’s passion and hard work have been instrumental in achieving this remarkable 25-year journey.

“As a member of Origin Green, O’Brien Fine Foods exemplifies the quality of Irish food brands both domestically and internationally. This milestone reflects not only their commitment to building and growing a sustainable business, but also their dedication to showcasing Irish produce to the world.” 

John O’Brien, Managing Director, O’Brien Fine Foods, commented: “Reaching 25 years in business is a proud moment for all of us at O’Brien Fine Foods. From our beginnings with just 18 people to today’s team of over 600 across Ireland and the UK, our growth has been driven by a belief in quality, innovation and community.

“We’ve always stayed close to our roots in Kildare, investing in our people and supporting the local economy. I want to sincerely thank Minister Heydon for joining us today, and acknowledge the hard work, loyalty and passion of our colleagues – they are the reason we are celebrating this milestone today.”