Keogh's Crisps agrees largest overseas distribution deal with US firm
Keogh's Crisps has commenced its largest ever overseas distribution deal with its artisan crisps now available at Publix's 1,400 retail outlets in south-eastern United States.
The north Dublin agri-firm's products became available on the shelves of the US retailer last week and it comes only weeks after Keogh's Crisps ULC lodged plans with Fingal Co Council for a new production facility as it plans to increase production by 50% by 2028.
The managing Director of Keogh's Crisps ULC, Tom Keogh, said that Keogh's is on course to have record revenues in 2026 surpassing the firm's previous best year in 2021, which he said, was driven by people's increased snacking during the Covid pandemic.
On the Publix deal, Mr Keogh said that the company tendered for the supply "and we won a listing".
He said that the contract involves Keogh's supplying Cheese and Onion, Lightly Salted, Salt and Vinegar, Truffle and Irish Butter flavoured crisps to Publix.
Publix is the largest employee-owned grocery chain in the US and has its outlets in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky.
Last year, Publix recorded revenues of $62.7 billion. Mr Keogh would not be drawn on how much the Publix deal is worth to Keogh’s Crisps but stated that the US is the firm's largest export market now.
Mr Keogh said that the Publix contract is building on Keogh's US business mainly situated in the north east of the US.
Mr Keogh said that the most popular flavour in the United States is 'Truffle and Irish Butter' while in Ireland it remains 'Cheese and Onion'.
Mr Keogh said that he has been in talks with Canadian distributors "but no deal is done as yet".
He said the main challenge facing the business currently is "the potato supply due to the dry Summer".
"We may need to slow our growth in line with potato availability in Ireland" during the current season, he cautioned.
The Publix deal follows Keogh's Crisps ULC lodging plans with Fingal County Council for a new production facility at Westpalstown, 1km north of Oldtown village.
The proposed development comprises the construction of an agribusiness production, processing, packaging and storage facility with associated office accommodation on a 19.5 acre site.
The main facility will extend to approximately 9,829 square metre and a planning report by Hughes Planning Development Consultants (HPDC) with the application states that last year Keogh's Crisps used around nine million potatoes and is set to surpass that this year.
Currently, the business accounts for 14% of Irish crisp sales and exports account for 40%of the company's sales to 22 different countries.
The report states that there are currently 160 people employed by the company, but with plans to expand production by 50% to meet the growing demand for their products a further 50 will be required by 2027.
The report states that a deal with Emirates Airlines was signed after a blind sampling of 15 different crisp brands and is expected to result in one million bags of crisps being served on board annually.
The planning report states that "the Keogh family and brand are deeply rooted in Westpalstown, and it is essential that the company can expand their operations there at the heart of the family farm to allow for a seamless transition for its products from farm to consumer".
The report states that the Keogh family and brand have become synonymous with north County Dublin and their continued success will only benefit the area through job creation.
"The company is flying the flag for Irish-grown and produced products globally, and is a company that is born and bred in Fingal," the report said.
The firm was only established in 2011 and the HPDC report states that this was a natural progression for the Keogh family, who have been farming the lands in Westpalstown for over 200 years.
A decision is due by Fingal Co Council next month.