Broderick’s invest €6.3m in former Cadbury’s site

A TASTY investment of more than €6.3M has paved the way for food company Broderick’s move to the former Cadbury’s factory in Tallaght – with the family-owned business hoping to develop a visitor experience at its new base.

Manufacturing and selling a range of confectionary bars, treats and cakes under three brands, Broderick’s, The Irish Flapjack Company and Ina’s Handmade Foods, the 33-year-old company is vacating it premises in Walkinstown and moving to a larger, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Tallaght.

Fittingly, the new premises is the former Cadbury’s chocolate manufacturing plant in the South City Business Park, which Broderick’s will move into within the next three months.

Currently employing 100 people, the company will create an additional 40 jobs through the move, which has been made possible after Broderick’s raised €6.3M through a co-investment by the BDO Development Capital Fund, which provides development and growth for established, mid-sized and profitable Irish companies, and Enterprise Ireland.

The investment will specifically allow Broderick’s to expand production capacity through the purchase of the manufacturing facility in Tallaght, increase international sales and distribution and fund new product development and innovation.

In its second generation of family ownership, Broderick’s is led by brothers Barry and Bernard Broderick, after their mam Ina originally established the company in 1984 – when she started making and selling cheesecake to local coffee shops, hotels and food stores.

Speaking with The Echo this week, Bernard said: “We were crushing biscuits for cheese cake bases when we were as young as five or six, so were destined for a life in cakes.

“We are very excited about the move to Tallaght, we need a bigger space and it took some time to find the right one.

“The move will double the business in size and support us to further grow Broderick’s and also, hopefully, allow us to eventually open a visitor centre.”

Currently exporting to 23 international markets, Broderick’s has recently extended its range to include high-protein, gluten-free and wheat-free  products, all of which are made with natural ingredients.

Speaking about the investment, Bernard’s brother Barry Broderick said: “We are extremely enthusiastic about what Brodericks can achieve with this investment and expansion. 

“We have ambitious expansion plans and we are now positioned to implement them.  We can also now tap into the expertise that comes with The BDO Development Capital Fund and the support of the Fund’s advisory panel.

“Both Bernard and I would also like to acknowledge and thank Enterprise Ireland for their continuous support through our international development.”