Green Fingers pointing to new merger for expanded growth
Green Fingers Family in Larne, a multi-award-winning creator of granolas and energy snacks, is finalising expansion plans to enable the small business to respond to significant growth in sales of its hand crafted products here, in Great Britain and in the Republic of Ireland.
The hugely successful small family business, which is owned and run by husband and wife team Zsolt and Andrea Bohar, both originally from Hungary, plans to increase production by moving to a bigger factory.
The ambitious company has two successful brands which are Green Fingers Family and the recently introduced Yumbo premium granola, a recent success in the Blas na hEireann awards.
Zsolt, commenting on social media, says: “The past few months have been incredibly busy — moving premises, expanding our manufacturing capabilities and planning for the next stage of our growth in existing and potential markets.
The business will shortly announce it has merged with Jennings, a local wholesale bakery, described by Zsolt as “a match made in heaven”. “We needed more space and greater capacity, while the bakery brings decades of experience and know-how in volume food manufacturing,” he continues.
“Going forward, a big part of our focus will be brand manufacturing and white-label partnerships — combining our passion for new product development and innovation with the capability to manufacture at scale,” add Zsolt.
Green Fingers is now directly supplying local independent food stores and farm shops across Northern Ireland as well as selling online via its e-commerce website. A deal with a major food wholesaler in Dublin has strengthened its presence in the Republic, the company’s most important market outside Northern Ireland. It also supplies Dunnes premium range.
“We have been supplying Odaios Foods with our energy balls and granola products, providing products to foodservice customers in the Dublin area and across the Republic of Ireland.
High-profile customers there include high-calibre retailers such as Avoca and Donnybrook Fair, adds Zsolt, a father of three young daughters.
Green Fingers Family, a Food NI member company, is now a multi-award-winning food production business established in 2020 by the enterprising couple.
A widely respected leader in sustainability techniques, the progressive small company produces 100 percent natural, gluten-free, plant-based granolas, protein energy balls, and healthy, no added sugar treats. It doesn’t use any additives, preservatives, or processed sugars, only natural ingredients in our products. All packaging is eco-friendly, plastic-free, fully compostable or fully recyclable.
Green Fingers Family, Andrea Bohar continues, is pursuing a vision of “a world where delicious food experiences seamlessly intertwine with environmental sustainability”.
“We aim to lead the way in redefining the food industry by embracing innovative, eco-friendly practices in our packaging, ensuring a healthier planet for generations to come,” she says. “We both deeply care about our environment and so there was no question when it came down to packaging.
“There was really only one way to go and that was the eco-friendly channel. The challenge was to find plastic -free alternatives that were airtight to keep the granolas fresh.
“For the last 20 years, I’ve been obsessed with River Cottage and its self-sustainability. Homemade food just tastes so much better, and when you produce all the ingredients as well, something truly magical happens.”
It has long provided the facilities to enable other companies to create and bring their own products to life from ingredients to packaged product.
Resident in Larne for almost 20 years, the couple’s decision to start a small enterprise in 2020 was born out of Andrea’s decision to take charge of her own health and wellbeing. This included growing a range of healthy vegetables for the family and the business.
Andrea’s sweet tooth lead her to start developing her own range of granolas. “I had to change the way I make and bake sweet snacks in my home. I replaced sugar with natural ingredients. My favourite snack is granola,” she says.
Granola production was a logical step for the new enterprise, because she’s been making her own granola for the family for many year. “I’ve since created a range of different granolas – well one is a granola porridge to be fair so I could encourage my kids into eating seeds and nuts too. All contain only natural ingredients, no secret additives, and the granola is sweetened with only a drop of maple syrup.”
Andrea’s granolas have won acclaim from food experts, winning UK Great Taste Awards. The business, in addition, has won a Northern Ireland Food and Drink Award for sustainability and a Silver Level Innovator Award from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the commitment to eco-friendly packaging.
