NI Small Business Loan Fund makes £4.3 million available to Co Antrim businesses.
Tom & Ollie (Tomato and Olive) was established in 2014 by friends Seamus Mullan, Hugh Cushnan, and Fergal McGrainne from Broughshane. The business has its roots in local artisan and farmers' markets across Northern Ireland, with a regular stall at the weekly St George’s Market in Belfast. Tom & Ollie is a SALSA-approved artisan producer of pesto, tapenades, hummus, and sun-dried tomatoes along with specialising in cheese and charcuterie.
In 2017, the team undertook extensive R&D and product development work, aimed at expanding their wholesale & retail offering. This resulted in new ranges for the retail and foodservice sector and the business has acquired high-profile customers including Aldi Ireland, Lidl, Sheridan Cheesemongers & Pallas Foods. To support this ongoing growth and associated working capital requirements, in 2020 Tom & Ollie accessed £45,000 from the Northern Ireland Small Business Loan Fund.
Fergal Green from Tom & Ollie said:
“The NISBLF team recognised our ambitions for the business and coupled with our previous success and robust business plan, could see how accessing working capital would support our growth. The finance helped allow us to realise those ambitions. We now manufacture over 65 lines in Belfast. Recent business developments include a new online delivery service with over 300 market-fresh products available for next day delivery in Ireland.”
“The NISBLF team recognised our ambitions for the business and coupled with our previous success and robust business plan, could see how accessing working capital would support our growth. The finance helped allow us to realise those ambitions. We now manufacture over 65 lines in Belfast. Recent business developments include a new online delivery service with over 300 market-fresh products available for next day delivery in Ireland.”
