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Fuelling Food Entrepreneurs in the heart of Dublin 7

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy was joined by Minister of State at Dept of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Damien English to “turn the sod” on a new Shared Kitchen incubator facility at SPADE Enterprise Centre in the heart of Dublin 7 on Tuesday 11th October 2022. The event was attended by the Member and Board of Directors of SPADE, representatives from Enterprise Ireland, elected representatives, Dublin City Council, TUD as well as local residents, clients and staff of SPADE Enterprise Centre

SPADE, a not-for-profit Enterprise Centre works to assist local people and food producers to build businesses by offering an inclusive, supportive and nurturing community. Since 1990 SPADE has been providing space and mentoring and currently has 30 own door businesses including 14 food units.

Th new project at SPADE will make it simpler and more affordable for anyone to turn their passion into a sustainable business, The centre will provide food entrepreneurs with a unique supportive environment to start, grow and scale their business.

The Shared Kitchen will provide 6,600 square feet of culinary production facilities that can accommodate multiple clients simultaneously and will be dedicated to growing early-stage wholesale, retail and/or catering food businesses. The project aims to support over 200 businesses over the next 3 years by providing professional kitchens, specialist equipment, mentoring and business supports. Expected completion date is summer 2023.

The centre is positioned at the intersection of several trends: the artisan food movement, the sharing economy, and the current growth in entrepreneurship. Food is a powerful tool for job creation economic development, and multi-cultural inclusion.

Spade was approved funding from Enterprise Ireland under Regional Enterprise Development Funds towards the development of this new Shared Kitchen incubator.

Carol Gibbons Divisional Manager Regions and Local Enterprise in Enterprise Ireland commended the project. “Enterprise Ireland is delighted to support this project through the Regional Enterprise Development Funds. This new Shared Kitchen reflects the spirit of sustainable Regional Development promoting resource sharing to facilitate job creation, new product development and innovation. We congratulate Spade on their achievements to date in supporting new and growing food enterprises in Dublin.”

Minister Damien English added “I am delighted to be here in the heart of Dublin and to mark this exciting development which will see a new shared kitchen facility at SPADE. For more than 35 years SPADE have nurtured and encouraged a spirit of entrepreneurship here in the city and provided flexible work spaces which can grow with businesses as they scale up. The shared kitchen will provide that much needed practical support and surety that are vital to all start-ups and will build on an already innovative and thriving food scene.”

For more information on SPADE please visit www.spade.ie

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