For Alan and Valerie Kingston, staying true to their roots is at the heart of Glenilen’s success. What began as a family-run kitchen operation in West Cork has grown into one of Ireland’s leading yogurt brands with 70 people employed locally.
Since setting up in 1997, the company has grown and adapted to customer needs, leaning on government support along the way. Market and customer research grants from Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia were pivotal to the business, with insights helping shape everything from branding to product development.
Support from Enterprise Ireland helped the Kingstons invest in a new production facility in 2008 — a vital alternative to bank financing.
Having both grown up on farms, sustainability is always top of mind for the Cork couple. From reusing glass jars to harvesting rainwater, they simply do what comes naturally. But it goes further than that. Through grants and training they’ve been able to invest in recyclable packaging, solar energy, and LED lights — cutting costs, and carbon emissions.