2026 FOOD WORKS APPLICATION FORM

FOOD WORKS APPLICATION FORM

Please complete this application form to be considered for Food Works 2026. Closing date for applications is 5pm Friday 28th November 2025. A short list of candidates will be invited to an interview with the FoodWorks team on the 13th & 14th January 2026. Successful candidates will be notified in advance of the programme, Food Works 2026 will commence on Tuesday, 3rd February 2026.
SAMPLES
All applications must include a product sample. Samples must be delivered between Monday 1st and Wednesday 3rd December 2025 to:

Ita White
Food Works Application, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, D15 DY05

Please also email ita.white@teagasc.ie to confirm when your sample has been sent.

We receive a large number of products during the application stage, so please ensure the following information is clearly included on all packaging:
- Company & Product Name – Clearly add your company name, product name, and your full name so the sample can be easily identified.
- Storage Instructions – Clearly label if the product must be kept chilled or frozen, and include any other storage details.
- Preparation Instructions – If the product needs to be cooked, heated, or served chilled, please include clear instructions.
Thank you.
Name*

First NameLast Name
Company Name
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityCountry

Zip CodeCountry
Email*
Mobile Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Land Line
Please enter a valid phone number.
What is your product? *
SECTOR FOCUS: Please provide the sector focus of your business

Food ProductionFood ServiceFood TechnologyFood SupplementsFood Sector Service ProviderOther, please give details below
Can you please describe why and how it fits into that sector.*

0/400
Please upload a photo of your product, if possible

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Has the Company been Incorporated? If so, please provide CRO number and date of incorporation.
CRO Number*
CRO Date*
Please note all shareholders and percentage holdings*
Turnover for previous year (if any)*
Have you or business partner applied for or received government funding for this project previously? If Yes, what funding has been secured, please supply all details, name of agency, amount of support and dates.*
In less than 300 words, give an overview of your product, the unique selling point and value proposition, the opportunity and why your team is right for Food Works. Please use this as a short pitch.*

ENTREPRENEUR/ TEAM SKILL SET

Complete this section for each team member. If there is more than one business partner in your team or company, each person must each fill out this section of this application form (if applicable, there are more copies of this page at the end of the application form
Name

First NameLast Name
Summary of Key Skills and Experience, especially entrepreneurial experience
Are you currently committed to this project full time or part time? If currently employed, please state company name and sector.
What is your role in this food project and what skills/ experience make you the right person to ensure its success?
What key skills and knowledge are missing from your management team at this time?
What are the biggest obstacles facing your team at this stage?
Have you applied to the Food Works Programme previously? If yes, please give detail on how your product/ business has developed since the previous application.
Have you participated in any other entrepreneur support Programmes? If yes, please state name of programme, location and dates.
Please state any other mentors, advisors or influencers related to the business.
Please indicate where you heard about the Food Works Programme*

InstagramLinkedInWord of mouthPast participant of the programmeEnterprise IrelandTeagascBord BiaOther

BACKGROUND FOR PRODUCT AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Please describe your product in detail. What is technically unique or innovative about this product?
What stage of development is your business proposition/product at? i.e, Kitchen scale, prototype, small scale production, commercial manufacturing etc. Also, is your product currently being manufactured, if yes, please give details of where, how, by whom and on what scale? Describe the manufacturing (including packaging) and distribution process. If your product is currently a kitchen-scale prototype or being produced on a small scale outline how and where this could be scaled up?
What technical expertise was required to develop the product to this stage i.e. in house, consultancy, contracted?
If your product is currently a kitchen scale prototype or being produced on a small scale outline how and where this could be scaled up?
Please outline if product has been technically validated and by whom? E.g. shelf-life, nutritional and/or sensory analysis, label content, claims.
Is there any Intellectual Property associated with the product? Has a patent been registered?
Do you have samples of your product available?

YesNo

BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO THE MARKET OPPORTUNITY
Who are your potential consumers and why? Please be specific about the market demographic/segment.
What differentiates your product from existing similar products? Who would be your key competitors and what information/ research do you have on them?
Why would consumers buy your product?
Please detail any consumer research undertaken.
Please indicate where your product will be sold: E.g. direct to consumer, multiple stores, independent retailers, food service or online. If currently on sale, please indicate where?
Have you prepared a market gap analysis? If yes, please upload a copy

YesNo
Market Gap Analysis

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How big is your target market? How scalable do you believe this product can be?
What is your recommended selling price range identified? How did you arrive at this?
Where do you anticipate your first export market to be and why? When do you forecast your first export sale?

COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITY

It is acknowledged that this information may not be fully available due to the early nature of the business, but it is important that you research the potential growth in the business and demonstrate an understanding of the business opportunity.

Insert your company’s financial and employment projections in the table below. Please complete all fields to the most realistic estimate possible.

	Current Year (CY)	CY + 1	CY + 2	CY + 3
Total Sales (€)
Exports (€)
Investment Required (€)
Direct employment in Ireland (number of jobs)

Has the business received any cash investment to date? If yes, please provide sources, amount and dates?
How do you plan to fund this project for the next 3 years? Can you estimate how much finance you will require?
Do you have access to private funding for future investment into the business? Please give detail.
Notes
- All companies must complete an application form to be considered for Food Works 2026.
- This is a competitive application process. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview and must be available on the 13th or 14th January 2026.
- If there is more than one business partner in your team or company each person must complete the ENTREPRENEUR/ TEAM SKILL SET section of this application, click next below to add more teams members.
- All applications must include a product sample delivered to Teagasc between Monday, 1st and Wednesday, 3rd December 2025.
- All information provided will be treated with sensitivity and confidentiality by the Food Works Programme.
- Companies must be less than 4 years trading and must have a CRO date within the last 4 years.

ENTREPRENEUR/ TEAM SKILL SET

Complete this section for each team member. If there is more than one person in your team or company, each person must each fill out this section of this application form (if applicable, there are more copies of this page at the end of the application form), and also include CV for each business partner.
Name

First NameLast Name
Summary of Qualifications: College/University, Qualifications and Dates
Are you currently committed to this project full time or part time? If currently employed, please state company name and sector.
What is your role in this food project and what skills/ experience make you the right person to ensure its success?
Have you participated in any other entrepreneur support Programmes? If yes, please state name of programme, location and dates.
Please state any other mentors, advisors or influencers related to the business.

ENTREPRENEUR/ TEAM SKILL SET

Complete this section for each team member. If there is more than one person in your team or company, each person must each fill out this section of this application form (if applicable, there are more copies of this page at the end of the application form), and also include CV for each business partner.
Name

First NameLast Name
Summary of Qualifications: College/University, Qualifications and Dates
Are you currently committed to this project full time or part time? If currently employed, please state company name and sector.
What is your role in this food project and what skills/ experience make you the right person to ensure its success?
Have you participated in any other entrepreneur support Programmes? If yes, please state name of programme, location and dates.
Please state any other mentors, advisors or influencers related to the business.

ENTREPRENEUR/ TEAM SKILL SET

Complete this section for each team member. If there is more than one person in your team or company, each person must each fill out this section of this application form (if applicable, there are more copies of this page at the end of the application form), and also include CV for each business partner.
Name

First NameLast Name
Summary of Qualifications: College/University, Qualifications and Dates
Are you currently committed to this project full time or part time? If currently employed, please state company name and sector.
What is your role in this food project and what skills/ experience make you the right person to ensure its success?
Have you participated in any other entrepreneur support Programmes? If yes, please state name of programme, location and dates.
Please state any other mentors, advisors or influencers related to the business.
Should be Empty:

FOOD WORKS APPLICATION FORM

ENTREPRENEUR/ TEAM SKILL SET

BACKGROUND FOR PRODUCT AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION

BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO THE MARKET OPPORTUNITY

COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITY

Notes

ENTREPRENEUR/ TEAM SKILL SET

ENTREPRENEUR/ TEAM SKILL SET

ENTREPRENEUR/ TEAM SKILL SET