TU Dublin ARISE team joins Flavour Forward the Next Chapter for Midlands Food and Drink Event in Tullamore
On 10th March 2025, TU Dublin ARISE team including Ruth Mc Adams, Business Development Manager and Perveen Akhtar (Nanolab PhDresearcher),Emmanuele Duah Osei (Nanolab PhD researcher) along with Jemma Nolan participated in the Midlands Flavour Forward event at the Old Warehouse, Tullamore. This event celebrated innovation, resilience, food tourism, and sustainability within the Midlands food and drink industry, officially launching the Midlands Flavours initiative.
The event was chaired by esteemed food critic John McKenna and included a panel discussion on three thematic areas.
- Adapt, Innovate, Thrive: The Key to Resilience in the Food Industry
Key Speakers include Tom Doyle (Promise Gluten Free), Stephen Bell (Bell Lane Coffee), James Ryle (Geneal Manager, The Old Warehouse) and Orla Martin (LEO Head, Offaly). Panel provide valuable insights on how businesses adapt to market shifts, sustainability, and leveraging support networks for food business success.
- Feast on the Landscape: The Role of Food in Regional Tourism Growth
Key Speakers includes David Walsh Kemmis (Ballycilcavan Craft Brewery), Liam Tutty (Dead Centre Brewing), Margaret Edgill (Mount Briscoe), Mary Hensey ( EU JTF Tourism Activator) and Caren Carruthers (Ireland Ancient East, Failte Ireland). Panel discussion topics include how local businesses can grow and drive regional tourism.
- The Future on a Plate: Top Food Trends Shaping the Industry
Key Speakers includes Niamh Dooley (Biasol), Georgia Quealy (Bon Chocolatiers), Brendan Guinan (Fiorbhia Farm) and Ciara McDonagh (Food Industry Development industry, Teagasc). Food entrepreneurs and experts discusses latest trends, from plant-based innovations and functional foods to sustainability, food upcycling and digital transformation.
The event combined expert insights, networking opportunities and provided PhD students and Nano lab researchers with a valuable opportunity to discuss their ongoing ARISE projects with entrepreneurs, food producers, and other stakeholders and foster meaningful connections with a strong emphasis on building a sustainable future for the Midlands food and drink industry.