Padraig Fahy, Beechlawn Organic Farm

Successful Organic Brands

History of the BusinessPadraig and Úna

• Arts Degree and Diploma in Organic Horticulture from The organic college Dromcollogher, Co. Limerick.  

• From 2000, Padraig worked part‐time as a teacher managing three FÁS one acre organic garden projects, training 21 adults. 

History of the Business• 2001: Ballinasloe

– One acre of vegetables, – Polytunnel– Box scheme

• 2003: Nine acres into organic conversion with Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association.

• 2004‐05: Business expands– Padraig gives up teaching– Box scheme now has 80 customers. – Ballinasloe and Athlone weekly markets started. – First farm van bought.  – First employee for the growing season. – SHWS‐Macra na Feirme/Bord Bia. Funding from LEADER

Farm volunteer in the packing shed 2009 and 

lettuce growing through mypex

We aren’t selling as much as weAnticipated to Supermarkets butHave started wholesaling the surplus to buyers in Dublin and in Wicklow

In 2010 we are growing: beetroot, broccoli, chard, celery, red & white & spring & summer cabbage, cherry tomato, salad leaves, lettuce, kale, onion, leek, cauliflower, potatoes, turnip, carrots, parsnip, fennel, tomatoes, rocket salad, spinach, rhubarb, cucumber, frenchbeans, scallions, celeriac, parsley, basil, courgette, pumpkin.

History continued

• 2006– Úna begins working full time in the business. – Purchase of 2 tunnels, tractor, rotovator, cold room, 1 van, office 

equipment, two wheel tractor, propagator, tools.  – Set up stalls at three local markets. – Box scheme reduces to 30 customers.– 10,000 sq foot multi span tunnel erected with 40% funding from 

the Organic Unit, Johnstown Castle.  

• 2008– Rent a further 8 acres of land and put into conversion.  – Stalls at four markets a week. – Box scheme back up to 50 customers after a farm open day and  PR

drive.  – Business consultant helps to steer in the right direction

2009/2010

• 2009 Musgraves approach us about the Supervalu Local Organic Trial, we sell to 10 Supervalu stores. 

• HACCP plan done for health and safety. Purchase of shrink wrapper/sealer, new sinks and barcode label printer for SV sales. Grant aided from Organic Unit.  We sell at two farmers markets per week. We joined the Bord Bia Vantage programme and now get business advice from three advisors.

• 2010. New organic Grant aid application and funding. New land gets full certification.  Supervalu Local Organic Scheme spreads out to other counties. 

• Bank loan from BOI towards new machinery, wind turbine and re‐flooring of packing shed, insulation and washable work benches as part of health inspection requirments.

• 8 acres of veg grown on new land. We now sell to 5 Supervalus and 4 other Supermarkets in Galway. 65 customers on box scheme & two weekly markets. Wholesaling regularly to Dublin and Wicklow. 

New wind turbine and crops‐ August 2010

Our new farm label for packaged veg should incorporate the environmental/local /economic health of our produce and good taste.  

Indication of start up costs, financial incentives and state supports

Start up costs 2002‐2004: • Tunnels €3,000, • machinery€10,000• Irrigation: €3,000• Propagation equipment: €1,000• Baskets for home deliveries: €2,000• Total: 19,000

Expansion 2006‐2007• Fridge: €5,500• Polytunnel: €43,690• Planning permission for tunnel €1,000• Transport: €18,000• Farm accommodation: €20,000• Market stall equipment €5,000• Total: €93,190

2004 Leader funding€5,000

2007Dept of Agriculture Organic Grant€18,300 (40% funding)

Our Irish organic farmers and Growers Association logo and licence number 

IE‐ORG‐EU‐4556

Happy staff, owners and customers helps to create a healthy business!

Beechlawn Organic Farm turnover is: 

• 25% farmers markets (Thursday to Saturday)

• 50% wholesale: bulk/ shops/restaurants/other box schemes

• 25% box scheme (Tuesday home deliveries)

Supermarkets sales; training needed in dealing with staff, management, accounts depts, food packaging, presentation, 

“branding” and delivering to shops.

In June 2010, we were’nt selling enough of our produce in the Supermarkets. Musgraves werent’producing the POS fast enough so we got our own “shelf talkers”printed and asked staff to put them up. Supervalu did produce the POS in August but the shops havent used them yet.

We planned to grow enough to supply 10 Supervalu stores with 200e worth of veg every week. Only 5 worked out successfully. However we now have 4 other independant stores on board.

Expansion & supermarket sales 2009/20102009  Expansion costs

• Haccp plan & van refrigeration installed

• Shrink wrapper & plastic packaging. 

• Barcode label printer & label design & print

• Fax machine

• Office staff 

2010 Expansion costs

• Business advice‐ Bord Bia Vantage Programme

• Machinery: power harrow, root crop harvester, planter, 

precision seed sower, flat bed weeder, bed former, brush weeder, seed trays.

• Farm shed renovation: re‐ surfacing and painting floor, walls and work tables. 

• Insulation and sealing all gaps in roof for hygiene and energy saving. 

• Wind turbine  &   New accounts assistant in office 

• TOTAL : €80,000 source: Dept Ag. Organic unit grant aid & BOI loan

Spring bed preparation, planting, and leeks later in the summer 2010

Supervalu Oranmore, french beans in tunnel, early potatoes in June, National Award “best local organic product” Sept 14th 2010