About us

Where It All Began

Kinsale bay food company originated in Kinsale in 2010 when it was known as the Blue Haven food company producing Gluten-free food products and selling those food products at the local Farmer’s market and food markets throughout West Cork. In 2014 Jim O’ Mahony purchased that company and with Tommy Doyle founded Kinsale Bay food company here at Little Island. In January 2015 the name Kinsale Bay food company was launched as a brand on shelf in retail and independent food stores throughout Ireland. The company employs 22 dedicated people. We produce a range of Gluten-Free food products, which includes, Soups, Ready meals, Pates, and Chowder. The company was founded on the core principles of producing Gluten Free chilled convenience food with a quality of taste using quality ingredients we have stayed true to those core values. We are an Irish family-owned food producer and will continue to develop, sustain and increase our workforce and range of food products in the future.

Our Brand

We are proud to maintain our connection with our heritage and birthplace in such a historical town as Kinsale, which has for years been the Hub in Ireland for quality tasting food. We produce a gluten-free range of chilled convenience food products working intensively on quality of Taste. Our Brand name is Irish, we are an Irish family-owned food producer, our motto being keep it simple, using quality ingredients and recipes just like our mothers used to do. We will continue to produce a range of traditional Irish-ready meal classics, that are wholesome and nourishing which are produced by our in-house trained cooks and food operatives at our gluten-free kitchens at Little Island Co Cork.

"As I am coeliac myself, I wanted to introduce to the Irish market wholesome and nourishing gluten free food with a quality taste."

Jim O’Mahony, co-Founder

Our Founders

Jim O'Mahony

Founder

I was born and reared in County Sligo on our family dairy and sheep farm where I spent many happy times. My mother always made traditional wholesome food from most of our produce grown on our family farm. This approach has always stuck with me through the years.

I have always had an interest in food and its production. My first job was in production management in the Unigate cheese factory in Wexford. Fortunately for me, that was where I first met my wife, Bernadette. We have two sons and two daughters. From there, I was appointed General Manager of Connacht farmers Co-op from its foundations in 1972. I then went on to manage Golden Vale in Charleville from 1986 until 1996.

When the opportunity presented itself to purchase and further develop a gluten-free food company, I was extremely excited about the prospect. As I am a coeliac sufferer myself, I wanted to introduce to the Irish market wholesome, nourishing, tasty gluten-free food, a gap that existed in the market at that time.

Tommy Doyle

Founder

I’m Tommy Doyle General manager of Kinsale Bay Food Company, and together with owner Jim O’ Mahony in 2014, we founded the company. Our goal was simple. To produce and supply wholesome, nourishing gluten-free food using quality ingredients.

At that time we saw a gap in the marketplace for a range of traditional Irish ready-meal food classics, to cater to mainstream customers and coeliac sufferers. Quality of taste being our key differentiator. Every day, our team of talented cooks and food operatives produce tasty traditional Irish food in our gluten-free kitchens here in Little Island. Our motto Keep it simple. 

We started as an independent family food producer, supplying local retail stores such as Supervalu, Tesco, Dunnes Stores, and independent food stores. We have grown our brand nationally with the help and support of our retail partners and loyal customers and are still an independent family-owned business to this day.

“Our motto - keep it simple just like our mother's do"

Tommy Doyle, co-Founder

Through the years

About us
The Fish Market Site
The company today known as Kinsale Bay Food Company originated on the old fish market site which was part of Long Quay in the 18th century (formally known as Blue Haven Food Company). The old fish market site was home to maritime trade in Kinsale town.
About us
2014
New Ownership
James O'Mahony takes ownership of Blue Haven Food Company. His mission was to introduce to the Irish market gluten-free products that did not sacrifice on taste.
2014
James and Tommy Logo V3
2015
A New Direction
James O'Mahony along with Kerry football legend Tommy Doyle change the brand name to Kinsale Bay Food Company.
2015
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2016
Extending Our Range
2016 saw Kinsale Bay Food Company develop a well-complemented range of pies, pâtés, soups, and chowder.
2016
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2016
Best Bites Distribution Joins
Former employee and new business owner Ger Taylor establishes Best Bites Distribution. This becomes a valuable addition to our distribution network across Ireland.
2016
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2020
More Food For Thought
Kinsale Bay launches two new pies to the Irish market. The Chicken and Kale Pie and The Smokie Fish Pie.
2020