Chip Chip Hooray! Romayo’s to partner with Bord Bia Quality Assured potato growers, Flynns in local sourcing initiative

(L-R) Potato Grower, Laurence Flynn, Dario and Dominic Macari, Romayo’s and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Pippa Hacket announced a Bord Bia pilot project which will see 21 Romayo’s chip-shops across Dublin feature signage calling out their local, Quality Assured, potato suppliers, Paud Flynn & Sons. The announcement came ahead of Bord Bia’s National Potato Day which takes place this Friday, 7th October.  

This National Potato Day, Bord Bia is encouraging Irish people to enjoy freshly cut chips, wedges and fries made from locally grown potatoes 
 #LocalChips #NationalPotatoDay 

 
Whether they are baked, air-fried or deep-fried, Bord Bia is encouraging consumers to ensure that the potatoes they enjoy – at home or from the chip-shop - are locally grown this National Potato Day (Friday October 7th). Starting this week, Romayo’s, the Italian-Irish chain of 21 traditional chip-shops around Dublin will engage in a pilot project to display the Bord Bia Quality mark to call out their local, Quality Assured, potato suppliers, Paud Flynn & Sons, who have been farming in North Co Dublin for over 100 years. 

Bord Bia research has shown that 2 in 3 Irish people assume (incorrectly) that the potatoes used to make the majority of chipper chips come from Ireland, when in fact, the vast majority of chipping potatoes are imported into Ireland each year. Bord Bia, Teagasc, IFA and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the last few years have joined forces to increase the volume of home-grown potatoes being produced by Irish growers for sale in Irish chip shops. 

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett said, “Sourcing local produce supports Irish farmers. This is a really successful local partnership where we see two families – the Macaris and the Flynns – demonstrate a best-in-practice collaboration to make locally grown produce more accessible to Irish people. It is encouraging to see Bord Bia seeking to create similar supply chain arrangements between local chippers and local potato producers.” 

Dominic Macari of Romayo’s said, “Our family emigrated from Italy to Ireland in the 1950’s and we are proud to see the third generation of Macari’s continue to operate the Romayo’s family-run chain of chippers. Sourcing our potatoes locally from the Flynns, a proud North County Dublin family makes a lot of sense for us.  More and more consumers want to know where their food comes from, and we are proud to shout about the fact that our chips are the tastiest possible and made from 100% locally grown potatoes in season. Distance wise, most of Flynn's potato fields are about 40 minutes’ drive away from most of Romayo’s chip shops. Could any food suppliers be more local?” 

Lorcan Bourke, Fresh Produce and Potato Manager, Bord Bia said, “Having chips, wedges or fries is always a real treat. We are delighted to see Romayo’s proudly display the Bord Bia Quality mark and signage featuring potato grower Larry Flynn across all of their chip-shops from this week. The partnership is proof that Irish growers can grow chipping potatoes of equal and excellent quality to traditional imports. Our research indicates that consumers would prefer freshly cut,chipper' chips from locally grown potatoes with their characteristic crispy outside and fluffy inside.   
This National Potato Day, we are encouraging consumers to ask about the country of origin of the potatoes used to cook the chips they consume from their local chipper and at home. The more consumers become aware of the origin of the potatoes used to make their chips, the greater the market opportunity for Irish potato growers.”   

National Potato Day 2022 

As part of this year’s National Potato Day celebrations, Bord Bia is highlighting to consumers the value for money that potatoes offer to feed family and friends. As part of this year’s campaign tips and recipe inspiration will be shared to encourage people to cook locally grown, freshly cut chips, wedges, and fries at home. The National Potato Day campaign will also demonstrate that delicious freshly cut chips from field to fork only takes three simple steps: Clean; Cut; Cook!​  

For recipe inspiration and tips and advice on cooking locally grown freshly cut chips at home visit www.bordbia.ie/potatoes or follow @BordBia on social media.