Why have you developed a rapeseed oil business?

For some time I’ve been trying to find a food manufacturing business to create a significant point of difference. The business had to manufacture a food staple that wasn’t currently made in Ireland. And there were only two food staples not made in Ireland – sugar and vegetable oil. Ireland produces less than 0.5% of its vegetable oil needs, importing 170,000t of vegetable oil every year.

How much have you invested in establishing the business?

There’s been a €5m capital investment in this business since it was established in 2017. I liked the idea of making a product that was capital intensive to start and would deter copycats. Developing the technology was the most difficult part of starting this business. It involved a lot of travel inside and outside of Europe and has taken a number of years to develop.

What is the technology used in the manufacturing process?

It’s a two-stage process to make our product. It involves a traditional cold press for the first stage. We’ve developed a technology for the second stage that uses only water vapour to remove the strong smell, taste and colour that comes from rapeseed.

How does this differentiate the product?

Because it’s a minimum refining process, the fatty acids of the oil are unbroken and naturally occurring lecithins are retained. When compared to a cold press or virgin oil, Collar of Gold doesn’t impart any smell, taste or colour in the food that you’re cooking or the environment you’re cooking in.

Where is the market for your product?

SuperValu gave us our first big break when their buying team put us into 120 stores nationwide. But there’s also an export story to this product. Collar of Gold is being used in a number of internationally recognised restaurants in London and the southeast of England. And we’re in the midst of securing distribution to the US, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Where do you source rapeseed?

We source rapeseed direct from seed and crop merchants. About 35,000t of oilseed rape (OSR) is grown in Ireland every year and it’s an important break crop for farmers. OSR is mostly used in animal feed but there isn’t really a domestic market for the oil. I think you will soon see an increase in the acres of OSR grown in Ireland on foot of the volume of oil we will be moving.

Title: Managing director.

Company: Collar of Gold Ltd.

Location: Drogheda, Co Louth.

Capital investment in the business: €5m.