Research activity is something that can deliver real jobs, based on the experience of Connemara Seafoods.
Research is vital to sustain revenue growth and maintain a competitive advantage, says the company’s managing director Andy Mulloy.
“The company track record on R&D projects is very solid and, for the last fiscal year, a substantial percentage of turnover was as a result of those R&D activities and has created 18 full-time sustainable jobs over the last four years.”
The family owned business is based in the Clew Bay area of Co Mayo and has 50 years of experience in seafood cultivation, processing and exporting.
It exports 100 per cent of its production, reaching global markets in Asia and Europe. It processes a range of value added seafood ready-meal products, Mulloy says.
It employs more than 50 people and it has a dedicated research group. “It is a functional team within the company,” he says, with staff added as needed depending on what is involved.
When it comes to R&D, Mulloy likes to use a small “R” and a capital “D” when talking about Connemara Seafoods.
“Research can be something a university does “but the focus is on developing something tangible at the end”, he says.
“I like it to be market pulled, ideas collected by sales staff in the field bringing back ideas to the management team here. It is all based on the big ‘D’ and small ‘R’.”
He views R&D as a "core activity within any firm" but acknowledges that research "by its nature is risky and consumes scarce resources". This makes the grant aid provided by Enterprise Ireland very important to the company.
DICK AHLSTROM
