Saturday, October 9, 2010

Fast-Growing Irish Firms Expand Abroad


www.businessworld.ie

A Waterford bagel baker run by a husband and wife team and a Dublin architecture and design practice were both today celebrating big contract wins abroad.

Waterford Food Company, Rosie's Broadway Bagels today announced that it has expanded its exports into Europe and is now serving customers across four European countries.

Earlier this year, the Company announced its first shipment of 10,000 Bagels into Spain through American Food importer, 'Taste of America' and supermarket distributor 'Frico-dan' which supplies the 'Dinosol' chain. Following this initial success, Rosie's Broadway Bagels is now distributing an additional 23,000 Bagels through French distributor 'Forezia' and directly to food outlets 'Cristalli de Zucchero' in Italy and 'Blakemore' in the United Kingdom.

Based in Dungarvan, Waterford, Rosie's Broadway Bagels was established in 2002 by husband and wife entrepreneurs Des and Rosie Sheehan.

"We are delighted that our Bagel products are the subject of continued interest amongst distributors and food outlets in Europe. Domestically it's a considerable challenge to secure competitive shelf space amongst Irish retailers so the continued interest from the European mainland comes as a welcome boost," said Rosie Sheehan.

Meanwhile, Dublin-based HKR Architects said that it has recently won a number of international contracts.

This is the result of a successful strategy of geographic diversification and refocusing HKR's business on large-scale international architecture and design projects. HKR has been awarded contracts to design a new airport in the Middle East and a large resort in Slovenia.

HKR is re-structuring its UK business, expanding its London office but will close its regional office in Manchester.

"We are pleased to announce a number of new international project wins which reflect our focus on increased geographic diversity. These project wins also reflect the unique design skill-set we have developed across our practice over many years. Consistent with our focus on large-scale international projects, we are expanding our London office to support the needs of our growing international client base. We have, however, also taken the decision to close our regional office in Manchester and will serve our UK and international client base from our expanded London office," said Jerry Ryan, HKR Architects CEO.