Castlerea food hub

​The tendering process has opened for the second phase of the food hub in Castlerea. A total of €500,000 of state funding has been allocated for the entire project, which is called ‘An Chistin’. The project was granted planning permission in January 2017, and the state-of-the-art food hub in Castlerea became operational in September of last year, with a professional cookery course ongoing in a food-training facility located in the premises. The course is being run by the Galway-Roscommon Education and Training Board. There are currently fifteen students undertaking the 48-week chef training course at the facility.  

The next stage of the food hub involves the development of three incubation units for commercial kitchens, which will cost about €140,000, and is funded jointly by Roscommon Leader Partnership, Roscommon County Council, and Enterprise Castlerea. The three units will include a 500 square feet unit, an 800 square feet unit, and a 1,000 square feet unit. Ten units were granted planning permission, and it is understood that if the project proves successful more units will be developed in the future. Benny O’Connell, the chairman of Enterprise Castlerea, which manages the food hub has said that this next phase will see three units developed, with a basic fit-out which can be easily adapted by whatever operator takes on the units. He has said that anyone looking to start a small food business in any of the units will face minimal expense in finishing the fit-outs. 

It is hoped that the tendering process can progress as quickly as possible to the construction phase, with the intention being to have the three units ready for use by Easter 2019. It is expected that the units will be suitable for start-up or small-scale food operators who are perhaps currently operating from home making small batches, who want to test their product and see if it has a greater commercial appeal.