Country Crest: From Family Farm to Irish Retail Titan, Facing Industry Challenges
Country Crest, founded by Michael and Gabriel Hoey, evolved from a family farm into a leading Irish potato and onion supplier. The sector faces challenges like declining grower numbers and financial pressures, yet new ventures like Welgro Produce, co-owned by Shane Halpin, demonstrate resilience and innovation in meeting local demand.
Country Crest, led by brothers Michael and Gabriel Hoey, transformed their family farm near Lusk, north Co Dublin, into a major supplier of potatoes and onions to the Irish retail sector. The company, which farms 3,500 acres and employs over 400 staff, utilizes two prominent wind turbines for energy, often producing more than needed.
The shift from a sole trader to a company in the 1990s, prompted by high interest rates, allowed Country Crest to expand, supplying major retailers like Superquinn, Dunnes Stores, and SuperValu. The re-emergence of Tesco in the Irish market further fueled their growth by emphasizing consumer demand for quality produce.
The Irish growing sector faces significant challenges, including a decline in the number of growers from an estimated 300 to around 60 over the past decade. Factors contributing to this include financial pressures, insecurity, the lure of the property market, and difficulties in attracting younger generations to farming. Recent events, such as the provisional liquidation of a Co Kilkenny carrot producer and concerns from Brophy Produce Ltd about solar farms on prime agricultural land, highlight these issues.
Despite these challenges, new ventures emerge. Shane Halpin, 32, co-owns Welgro Produce, which grows cucumbers in former Country Crest glasshouses. Halpin, who grew up in the industry, emphasizes the advantage of their north Dublin location for fresh, quickly delivered Irish cucumbers, meeting local demand and chef preferences.