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Milk soaps and microgreens – a smorgasbord of companies at Local Enterprise Village

Over 30 small businesses from across the country will get an opportunity promote themselves the Local Enterprise Village at this year’s National Ploughing Championships (the Ploughing).
North county Dublin company, Milk Bath, is one of 30 small businesses to feature at the Local Enterprise Village at the National Ploughing Championships.

Among them are several milk-based companies that are using this nutritious food for skincare; a vertical hydroponic farm that grows a large variety of microgreens and edible flowers; and snacks made from brewers‘ spent grain!
The Local Enterprise Village is just one of a number of initiatives that Local Enterprise Offices run to foster entrepreneurship across the country. These local-authority offices are funded by the Government through Enterprise Ireland. Some of the highlights of this year’s village include:

  • North county Dublin company, Milk Bath, which creates handcrafted products from sustainably sourced Irish ingredients including cow’s milk and organic Irish oats;
  • Bó Bar Soap, a handmade product that uses whole milk from the company’s award-winning, family-run dairy farm in south Kilkenny;
  • Esker Fields, which also creates a range of natural skincare products on a family dairy farm in Co. Louth;
  • Born Again Bites, which are handcrafted, high-in-fibre snacks that are made with brewers’ spent grain, and promote a circular food economy; and
  • Bowfield Farm, which is a vertical hydroponic farm based in Co. Laois that grows a large variety of microgreens and edible flowers.

Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Neale Richmond, said: “For these small businesses, many only in their early years, to get a chance to have a stand at the Ploughing Championships is a significant milestone for them. The opportunity to meet with thousands of people at the Local Enterprise Village is going to be great boost to their business. I’m looking forward to getting down to the village myself and meeting them all in person and sampling all the great products and services on show.”
Head of Economic Development & Enterprise Local Enterprise Office (Carlow), Kieran Comerford said: “For our small businesses this is a huge opportunity to engage with thousands of prospective customers every day and this could have a significant impact on their business. We have been working with them all across the summer on their products, marketing and merchandising for the event so they can maximise this amazing opportunity.
"The Local Enterprise Village is just one of a number of initiatives that the Local Enterprise Offices run, to foster entrepreneurship across the country. Others include Local Enterprise Week, the National Enterprise Awards, the Student Enterprise Programme, National Women’s Enterprise Day and Local Enterprise Showcase."

View other Ploughing 2023 news