Irish start-up wins big at the ‘Oscar’s’ of the food world
Irish company Rívesci launched their business just one year ago and since then have pivoted from food truck to condiments as a result of the pandemic.
Last week the start-up won the coveted three-star award at the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink awards, the Great Taste Awards, for their Cashew Chilli Crush.
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 Ireland in March the pair decided, in order for their business to survive, they needed to pivot and they moved from a food truck to the condiment business. The range of condiments had already been developed but they weren’t a priority for them, and sales were low. Once the doors shut on the Food Truck, growing the condiment business became their priority.
Just before the initial restrictions were introduced Shannon had completed her SuperValu Food Academy training and the Rívesci business was ready to expand.
Co-founder Shannon said “Initially when the Pandemic forced us to shutdown, we were devastated but after a few weeks we looked at what we could do and we decided to focus on the condiments side of the business. 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. Now the range, including the award-winning Cashew Chilli Crush is on shelves in two SuperValu stores and we’re on sale in different shops locally in Tipperary and nationally as well. 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.”
SuperValu Food Academy is a unique food business development programme between SuperValu, Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). 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.
