Award-winning Kanum keeps going from strength to strength
OWNED by a Firhouse family, award-winning Thai eat-in, takeaway and delivery service Kanum is this month celebrating its eighth birthday.
Brothers Marc and Niall Fitzharris, their mother Breda and their uncle Micheal Loftus opened the first takeaway, sit-in diner and delivery service of Kanum on Mespil Road in Ballsbridge in 2009.
Since then, a second premises was opened in Rathgar Village in 2010, with a third location opened in Park West, Clondalkin, last September – which is now delivering to Tallaght, Clondalkin, Lucan, Rathcoole, Ballyfermot and Crumlin.
Across their three branches and their prep kitchen in Park West, Kanum employs 63 people – and also covers some of Ireland’s biggest festivals such as Electric Picnic, Body and Soul and Forbidden Fruit.
During his time as a student, Marc built up six years’ experience behind the counter and as a delivery driver for takeaways.
After travelling for a few years, Marc returned to Ireland in 2006 with the intention of setting up a food business.
His initial plan was to set up a pizza outlet. However, when he saw the growing market trend for healthier food and the demand for low fat, fast food, he decided to go Thai – and establish a food business that didn’t use MSG and provided restaurant quality food at takeaway prices.
“When I moved back to Ireland from travelling, I saw a huge gap in the market for good quality, healthy fast food”, Marc said.
“I’ve always been business-focused and have had a passion for great quality food so starting a food business was something I wanted to do for years.
“I’ve been really proud watching the business grow from strength to strength since 2009.
“It was a big step to open our first branch in Ballsbridge and then launch our first outdoor catering unit within the first year before opening our second branch in Rathgar shortly afterwards – it was a bit of a whirlwind business journey.
“We’ve now moved into lunchtime catering for large companies, which is a total different kettle of fish.
“The biggest challenge in the sector, I think, is producing fresh, healthy fast food in bulk very rapidly.”
He added: “Our head chef creates all of the recipes in our menus and the fresh sauces are made daily in-store following the same recipe, which means our great-quality food is always at the same high standard, regardless of the branch, venue or outlet.”
To celebrate their eighth birthday, Kanum is doing meals for €8 for the month of July.
“Food in Thailand is really the anchor of any social occasion, event or celebration,” Marc said.
“Some Thai people even believe that eating alone is bad luck, that’s how important eating with family and friends is in Thailand.
“It’s a wonderful thing to have been able to bring a part of this sociable, family- and friend-centred culture back from my travels to Ireland and start a successful business I’m so proud of with my family.”
Visit www.kanum.ie for more, or to order online. Alternatively call Park West for delivery on 9059399.
