Why did you decide to set up a juice business?

I had returned from a trip to the US and saw a gap in the market here for freshly squeezed orange juice. I was working in the agri sector and saw this as a side business. Initially, we supplied orange juice to local hotels and the catering industry. Today, 40% of the business is still to the catering sector with the balance to retail. What makes our product different is that there is nothing added. For example, every bottle of our orange juice contains nothing only 14 oranges.

Own label has also become important as retailers continue to expand their own-label ranges

How has your business changed over the last 20 years?

We have diversified with orange juice, cold-pressed juices and fresh fruit salad. Our customers are becoming more focused on packaging and we have recently launched a new compostable package in our fruit salad range. Own label has also become important as retailers continue to expand their own-label ranges. Our people are a key part of the success of the business and driving it forward.

Do you export?

To date we have concentrated on the Irish market – which is growing. The UK is a highly competitive market with very large players.

Where do you see the growth?

We want to continue to displace the high volumes of imported juices which could hold up to 80% of the market in Ireland. We see growth in the catering sector with the expansion in hotels. The food-to-go market which includes filling stations and small retail outlets is also rapidly growing. Our cold-pressed juice brand, Veg Out, which is aimed at millennials who have high disposable income and want a healthy drink, is seeing solid growth too.

For our cold-pressed juices, we source only locally grown Irish carrots, beetroots and apples

Where do you source your ingredients?

The oranges are mainly sourced directly in countries in South America or in South Africa. For our cold-pressed juices, we source only locally grown Irish carrots, beetroots and apples. We believe in Irish provenance and we want to support Irish growers.

We have also outgrown a lot of the Government supports at a local level

What are the main challenges and opportunities?

We see Brexit as an opportunity given that 80% of orange juice is imported. If trade barriers come in, we can displace some of this product. One of the biggest challenges facing the business is insurance costs which have quadrupled in recent years.

Government action is needed to help businesses in this area.

We have also outgrown a lot of the Government supports at a local level and as we do not export we don’t have access to expansion assistance or R&D funding at national level.

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  • Company name: Sunshine Juice.
  • Title: Founder and MD.
  • Employees: 60.
  • Based: Carlow.
  • Founded: 1998.