Broadway Bagels Shortlisted For The Small Firms Association (SFA) Business Awards 2009

Waterford News And Star
By Marion O'Mara

Broadway Bagels, which was set up in Dungarvan in 2001 and currently employs 18 people, has been short-listed in the food and drink section of the Small Firms Association (SFA) business awards for 2009.

The company was established by Dubliner Des Sheehan and his American wife Rosie. Having lived in New York, they saw a gap in the Irish market for the tasty bread.

Despite not having a background in large scale baking, manufacturing, distribution or marketing - Rosie had been working in the office of the Transport Workers' Union in Manhattan while Des was engaged in the construction industry - the couple set up Ireland's first bagel company dedicated to producing authentic bagels made to a New York recipe.

Their aim was to bring to an emerging and discerning society of food lovers a range of bagels made with no preservatives, no additives and no cholesterol.

Since then they have gone from success to success, moving out of a small back-room bakery with two people producing about hundred bagels a day to a 2,500 square foot factory producing over 10,000 bagels a day.

Last October Rosie was named Entrepreneur of the Year 2008. The award was presented to her at a gala ceremony by 'Women Mean Business' magazine.

Now the company is in line for further honours as it competes against businesses from Tipperary, Cork, Dublin and Mayo.

All of the finalists this year will receive a comprehensive management training prize comprising firstly of a Strategic Management Masterclass.

This will take the format of a residential weekend where finalists will be immersed in an entrepreneurial environment. They will also receive a full day Interactive Media Skills training programme.

The final awards will be presented by the Taoiseach at a gala lunch on March 5, 2009.