merrion street

Taoiseach Enda Kenny today officially opened The Jelly Bean Factory’s new confectionary manufacturing facility in Dublin, a state-of-the-art production line, which will create 25 new jobs and nearly double the company’s manufacturing footprint from 55,000 sq. ft. to over 90,000 sq. ft. The new production facility will produce a new range of gourmet Belgian chocolate coated jelly beans.

Speaking at the launch this morning, the Taoiseach said,

Ireland's economy recovery is being led by exporting Irish companies just like the Jelly Bean Factory. With Irish food and drink exports at an all-time high, I am delighted to see indigenous companies continuing to increase their global footprint. The Jelly Bean Factory is one of Ireland’s success stories, exporting 97% of its product to over 55 countries worldwide and contributing to Ireland’s growing global reputation as a provider of high quality food and drink products. I welcome the new investment in this facility which underlines the confidence of the company in Ireland and of the expertise of its workforce.

The confectionery market in Europe is worth €43.7 billion. In 1988, company founders, father and son Peter and Richard Cullen, identified a niche in the European confectionery market for a gourmet jelly bean brand. Today, Aran Candy Ltd, trading as The Jelly Bean Factory, is the biggest producer of high quality gourmet jelly beans in Europe.

Currently employing 55 full time staff, the company has annual turnover of €11 million, with offices in the US, UK and the Middle East.

The Jellybean Factory was featured in a MerrionStreet.ie video. You can watch it here.