Broadway Bagels Teams Up With Pat the Baker

Dungarvan Observer

ROSIE'S Broadway Bagels,Ireland's only dedicated, kosher bagel bakery has teamed up with Ireland's premier award-winning bread company, Pat the Baker to launch a dual-branded range of authentic, New York-style fresh bagels.

Since starting in 2001, Rosie, who hails from NY, and her Dublin-born husband Des have produced an astonishing 20 million of their delicious, all natural, preservative-free bagels in Dungarvan, Co.Waterford.

Already available as a "jumbo bagel" offering under the "Rosie's" brand in supermarket freezer cabinets all over Ireland, Rosie's Broadway Bagels is excited about this innovative expansion. Says Rosie, 2008's WMB Entrepreneur of the Year, "We are delighted to be associated with Pat the Baker, who have a reputation for the freshness of their quality products. We worked for several months on the development of this fresh range, in striving to preserve the integrity of both of our brands. We are delighted that we have been able to maintain the quality of our bagels, naturally and without compromise." Added Des, "With so many food products being imported from overseas, contributing to the loss of jobs in the food manufacturing sector in Ireland, it is commendable that Pat the Baker has partnered with an Irish-owned and managed family bakery...supporting Irish jobs and Irish industry. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Pat the Baker." The new range of Pat and Rosie's fresh bagels are listed nationally, and consists of 3 flavours; Poppy Seed, Rosie's famous - The Works and Plain. Rosie's Broadway Bagels has just been named Best in Ireland by Bridgestone for the third year running, and is the recipient of 2 Great Taste Awards.

Broadway Bagels, Winner Of Great Taste Awards 2009

Broadway Bagels from Dungarvan, Co. Waterford is celebrating after winning 2 prestigious Great Taste Awards. Broadway Bagels has been presented with 2 coveted Gold Great Taste Awards for its Rosie's Chocolate Chip Brownies and Rosie's Savoury Bagel Chips.

Rosie's Broadway Bagels is a premium range of preservative-free New York style bagels sold in freezers cabinets in Tesco, Superquinn, Supervalu, Spar as well as several independent shops nationwide. This year sees the expansion of the Rosie's range into premium American offerings, including brownies, cookies, soft pretzels and bagel chips.

Rosie Sheehan, managing director of Broadway Bagels, who hails from New York said: "We are so pleased with this award. Winning a Great Taste Award recognizes the craft and enthusiasm that goes into making premium food and drink. We are delighted to bring recognition to Ireland, which is known for it's fresh and innovative premium food!"

The Great Taste Awards judging standards, devised by the Guild of Fine Food, are the most rigorous in the UK. Every entry is blind tasted by teams of experts. By the time it earns gold, it will have been assessed by at least three different teams.

Bob Farrand of the Guild of Fine Food, said: "Lovers of fine food and drink only pay for the best if they're certain what they're buying is the best. Every food with a Great Taste Award gold has been independently proven to be just that - and it tastes great too"

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.

Dungarvan Business Woman Named Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008

Dungarvan People Newspaper

A New York business woman who moved her whole family to Dungarvan in 2001 and set up a bagel factory has been named as Entrepreneur of the Year. Dungarvan-based businesswoman Rosie Sheehan, of Broadway Bagels has been named Entrepreneur of the Year 2008. The award was presented to her at a gala ceremony by 'Women Mean Business' magazine last week.

Rosie Sheehan, who runs Broadway Bagels with her husband Des, was shortlisted from hundreds of entries from across the country for the awards. The award was presented at a gala conference in Dublin by 'Women Mean Business' magazine in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, last week.

The award comes after years of hard slog for Rosie and Des who struggled for a long time to make a go of the business as well as trying to adjust to life in Dungarvan.

'To win the award is fantastic and a validation for what we have been working for so hard and so long,' Rosie told the Dungarvan People. 'I am over the moon with the award, because when we started out neither myself or Des had any business experience. But this award is fantastic and it is great for the business.'

Rosie said that the conference was a great opportunity to network with other businesses and speakers at the event included Ronan Keating and Claire Byrne, sponsors through the Marie Keating Foundation, as well as Karren Brady from Birmingham city FC.

Rosie appeared on Today FM's Sunday business show at the weekend to discuss her win and her business.

Rosie and Des started Broadway Bagels in Dungarvan in 2001 and the company has grown from there. They now employ up to 18 people and supply their product to supermarkets and export to the UK.

Photo: David Clynch Photography

Rosie Sheehan Has Been Named Entrepreneur Of the Year 2008

Dungarvan Observer Newspaper

We are pleased to announce that Rosie Sheehan has been named Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 from Women Mean Business Magazine.

The award was presented at the annual conference at the Shelbourne Hotel. Speakers at the conference included Claire Byrne and Ronan Keating, sponsors through the Marie Keating Foundation, as well as Karren Brady from Birmingham City FC and Caroline Casey, from Kanchi. Rosie Sheehan appeared on the Today FM Sunday Business Show this week at 11.15 a.m.

Photo Caption: Rosie Sheehan of Broadway Bagels and WMB Editor Rosemary Delaney.

Temple Street Children's Hospital Fun Run

Come join me in Phoenix Park on Sunday the 25th May for a Fun Run (or walk, or rollerblade, like me!) benefiting the Temple Street Children's Hospital.

Sign up at www.templestreet.ie. Free bagel for every participant...lots of fun too. Hope to see you there!

About Temple Street Hospital
Temple Street Children's University Hospital provides an acute paediatric service and specialist paediatric healthcare for children from all over Ireland.

Temple Street has always relied on the generous voluntary support from individuals and companies to assist it in the purchase of vital equipment and to help establish and fund research.

Manhattan Maiden Makes Dungarvan's Perfect Bagel

Dungarvan People Newspaper
By Justine Dwyer

ROSIE Sheehan arrives for our inter-view on roller blades, gliding into the Ormond restaurant like a breath of fresh air on skates!

She's carrying a battered old New York Yankees ruck sack on her back and from it she produces a bunch of Rhubarb which she hands to the owner of the restaurant. 'We have a barter-system going here,' he quips.

Quite how this Manhattan maiden managed to adapt to country living in Dungarvan is beyond me, but Rosie Sheehan possesses the glowing vitality of a country girl. Half of the 'brains' behind Broadway Bagels, Rosie and her husband Des arrived in Dungarvan Christmas 2000 with a one-year-old and three-month-old in tow They have since added to their brood with a third boy who is now four.

'Des is from Dublin; we met in New York. Neither of us had any connection with Dungarvan other than my sister had moved here with her husband in the Spring of that year and I missed her so much that we decided to move too.'

Neither of them had a background in the food industry Rosie worked for the Transport Workers' Union and Des had a construction company.

'We were looking for something to do when we came here, something different. I thought starting a construction company here with no contacts would be just too difficult.'

The thinking behind Broadway Bagels wasn't some convoluted, intricate business plan they simply missed eating what is the breakfast staple for most New Yorkers. 'We couldn't get them here. I think there was one shop in Dublin that sold them but that was about it.'

Looking back now, Rosie says they were very naive. 'We took a big risk. If I knew then what I know now I don't think I would have pursued it. We had a few very hard years. Thankfully we've turned the corner.'

When they started off it was just the two of them and a local girl, Lisa Hilton, who, eight years later is still with them, managing production. 'I made them at home at first. I made a dozen and it took six hours. Des asked me was I intending on having more than 12 customers?' she laughs.

Although, according to Rosie he had never so much as turned on an oven in his life, from then on in, he took over the baking. 'We had no money for equipment so we used a cookie cutter and a shot glass to get the shape!'

In the beginning they threw out thousands of bagels in a bid to find the perfect recipe, a secret Rosie's not willing to share. 'We threw out skiploads, literally. They were the wrong consistency Bagels should be chewy They shouldn't be doughey There has to be malt in there somewhere,' is all she will reveal.

When Rosie thinks back to when she was heavily pregnant with her third son, working all the hours God sends, seven days a week, she doesn't know how they managed.

'Now I'm glad we did it because it's finally a success but back then I wasn't so sure.' With a staff of 18, the company has certainly taken off, but Des and Rosie still go to the bakery every day to sort out any problems behind the scenes.

As a couple they've been through a lot together with the business, but it seems to have only made them stronger. 'I don't think I could've done it if Des wasn't my partner. He's my cheerleader. He's much braver than me, an optimist. He's never going to fail, no matter what he does.'

With her mom also now living in Old Parish having also moved from New York, Rosie has well and truly put down roots there. The family bought a house in Ballinamult a few years ago which she describes as breathtaking.'

'It took a few years to get used to it but now I love it here. I find comfort in the fact that we are part of a community. It's such a lovely town.

Post 9/11 was the only time she felt homesick for New York. 'We knew people who worked downtown in that area. We phoned them to make sure they were ok. Des was very homesick. It was difficult for us because it was happening to our home and we weren't there.'

Shortly after we say goodbye, Rosie texted me to say when she got back to the bakery there was a letter waiting for her to say she'd been shortlisted for The Image Magazine Entrepreneur in Business Award. 'If they saw me today on blades they would have rescinded!'

Somehow I don't think so.