Supporting local communities from the very beginning
East Coast Bakehouse, based in Drogheda County Louth, bakes biscuits for the Irish and export markets. It is Europe’s newest large-scale biscuit manufacturer.
As a new company establishing itself in the community of Drogheda, East Coast is conscious of the important role it can play in supporting the local community. It provides local employment in an area of high unemployment and is beginning to build partnerships with local educational institutions, community organisations and charities. The company has committed to delivering three community targets each year up to 2020.
Assisting food-related charities
The first target was to establish a charitable fund called “The Baker’s Dozen Fund” to assist food related charities. The company has pledged the profits from every 13th biscuit from its East Coast Bakehouse branded range to build the fund. Annual allocations to its nominated charity partners, The Simon Community and GIY (Grow it Yourself), are being made and the company commits to profiling the charities and their programmes on its company website and social media channels.
Giving students valuable experience
The second target focuses on hosting students on work placements, facilitating valuable hands-on experience in areas such as new product development, quality management and food manufacturing. The company continues to develop its internship programme working with local institutions, including Dundalk Institute of Technology.
Supporting local groups
The third community target is to work with local groups and organisations each year. Some activities conducted in 2017 included hosting the Drogheda Young Innovators Awards, along with hosting local schools and community members on site to learn more about biscuit manufacturing. East Coast also launched a partnership with Irish Girl Guides – a national programme to promote entrepreneurship – selling cookies to raise funds for local Girl Guides organisations. With 30,000 packets sold nationwide in 2017, the initiative was continued and further developed in 2018.