The Lion’s Den annual competition is an exciting opportunity for budding food and beverage
brands. Running since 2016, the Lion’s Den competition organised by Bradley: The Brand
Agency took place in partnership this year with Dublin Food Chain and the four Local Enterprise
Offices in the Dublin region. Five finalists were selected to pitch their products to an expert food
and beverage judging panel in front of an audience in the Talbot Hotel in Stillorgan, Dublin on
25th September.
The Lion’s Den Award went to Gary in Goats Oats. Gary and his team produce overnight
oats in a variety of flavours, bringing convenience and a health conscious option to the market
for breakfast and other meal options.
Goats Oats will receive €6,000 worth of agency spend (including €1,000 for digital ad spend)
from Bradley: The Brand Agency, organisers of the Lion's Den event.
Commenting on the return of the Lion’s Den event and this year’s winners Andrew Bradley,
Managing Director of Bradley: The Brand Agency, said: “We are looking forward to working
with Gary at Goats Oats, helping them to elevate their brand to national and maybe even
international audiences. We will guide them with our services across strategy, planning,
creative, advertising spend and evaluation along with insights and mentoring throughout the
process. Supporting SMEs and owner managed businesses is at the heart of what we do, both
at Bradley: The Brand Agency and as part of our Lion’s Den offering.”
Speaking on behalf of the Local Enterprise Offices, Lisa Brown (Acting Head of Enterprise in
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown) said: “The 4 Local Enterprise Offices in the Dublin region are
delighted to support this competition. Food is a very important sector for the Local Enterprise
Offices, and the Lions Den Competition is a great way to recognise new emerging producers.
Today’s winner is yet another example of some of the innovation taking place in Dublin’s food
and drink sector.”
Congratulating the winner, James Burke Network Manager of Dublin Food Chain said “ It is
great to see new and innovative producers emerging which is a pattern we now see in Dublin
annually. Dublin is now the largest region in Ireland where most new food and drink producers
emerge annually. Some of these sell directly to consumers, and others supply retailers and
foodservice operators”.
Gary Clarkin from GOATS OATS was over the moon with the win saying: “It’s lovely to be
recognised and tell the story to everyone. All the feedback today was great from the contestants
and also everyone in the audience. And just to see the positivity around.”
Judges for the event included Mary Morrisey; in charge of the Prepared Consumer Food and
Client Engagement sector within Bord Bia, Laura Mc Carthy; founder of Drink Botanicals
Ireland and previous finalist of Lion’s Den (2018) and Santina Kennedy; Food Consultant
working with Irish food and drinks businesses.
More details about the event can be found on www.lionsden.ie
