#017: The Bottom Line- Kilkenny Food Strategy, EU Trade Commissioner, new jobs announcement & Carlow Chamber Business Award Winners

During the week Entegro a Kilkenny based company announced the opening of a new fibre network design centre of excellence in the city and announced another 50 new jobs for Kilkenny. We spoke with Jim Doyle, Managing Director of Entegro on the jobs announcement as well as how he got started in the business. EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan was at the launch of the new Entegro Fibre Network Centre of Excellence in Danville Business Park during the week and John Purcell spoke with him about the importance of broadband for the economic development of the region, his appointment as EU Trade Commissioner, and Brexit. Culinary Tourism is an ever growing business category and the success of the Savour Festival itself with thousands of people thronging the streets to sample all sorts of food offerings, testament to the economic dividends that come with quality food based events.  John Purcell caught up with Rebecca MacKenzie the President and CEO of the Culinary Tourism Alliance who had come all the way from Canada to talk to people in Kilkenny about developing the food tourism offering of the city and county. Also this week, we hear from Leslie Codd, Managing Director of Codd Mushrooms about winning the overall Business of the Year award at this year’s Carlow Chamber Awards, he talks about how the business started out, challenges within the business, and future plans. Produced by Deirdre Dromey. To contact the show, email [email protected]