ENDA KENNY WAS in Blanchardstown this morning to unveil the new manufacturing facility at The Jelly Bean Factory.
The company has announced plans to hire 25 people as it prepares to ramp up its confectionery production to include a new range of gourmet Belgian-chocolate covered jelly beans.
Currently, about 12 million jelly beans are created each day but this is expected to increase by a few million per day.
The state-of-the-art production line across the expanded 90,000-sq-ft plant is part of a €1 million expansion of the brand as the company hopes for a 50 per cent growth in export sales over the next two years.
The company was founded as Aran Candy Ltd in 1988 by father and son team Peter and Richard Cullen who are still the joint managing directors. Employment numbers at the firm will now rise to 80.
Speaking at today’s event, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Ireland’s economy recovery is being led by exporting Irish companies “just like The Jelly Bean Factory”.
With Irish food and drink exports at an all-time high, I am delighted to see indigenous companies continuing to increase their global footprint. The Jelly Bean Factory is one of Ireland’s success stories, exporting 97 per cent of its product to over 55 countries worldwide and contributing to Ireland’s growing global reputation as a provider of high quality food and drink products.
Richard Cullen said the new chocolate/jelly bean combination is the culmination of two years of research. It takes 10 days to produce the new mean to ensure a “perfect polish, smooth texture and rich taste”.
The Cullens were obviously excited about the “new member” of its jelly bean family at the launch, stating it broke the boundaries in flavours, quality and creativity.
It is due to be launched on the Irish market before Christmas.
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