The highly anticipated Lion’s Den competition is back for its sixth year, organised by Bradley: The Brand Agency in partnership with the four Local Enterprise Offices in the Dublin region. The event promises an exciting opportunity for budding and established food and beverage brands in Dublin. This year, there will be prizes under two categories: The Start-Up Award, for brands trading up to two years, and the Excellence Award, for brands trading from two to five years.

This year’s prizes include two €5,000 Digital Marketing Packages provided by Bradley: The Brand Agency, a leading name in brand development for Irish SMEs and family-owned businesses. Applications are now open online at www.lionsden.ie, welcoming Dublin food and beverage producers to apply until the closing date Monday 9th October 2023. Shortlisted candidates will have the chance to pitch their food or beverage product live on stage, to a judging panel of industry experts, referred to as “Lions”, as well as the event attendees at the Producer Showcase. The highly anticipated expo will take place on Thursday 26th October 2023 at the Crowne Plaza in Blanchardstown, Dublin, hosted by Dublin Food Chain.

Andrew Bradley, Managing Director of Bradley: The Brand Agency, expressed his enthusiasm for nurturing new businesses and innovations within the food and beverage sector. He emphasises the agency’s commitment to supporting SMEs and owner-managed businesses and encourages start-up producers from across the capital to seize this opportunity. “Our core mission revolves around championing SMEs and owner-operated enterprises. In this spirit, we extend a warm invitation to aspiring food and beverage entrepreneurs in Dublin to submit their applications online at www.lionsden.ie. This year’s prize encompasses two €5,000 digital marketing packages. Our team will support the overall winner with digital strategy, planning, creative, advertising spend and evaluation along with digital insights and mentoring throughout the process. We hope to forge a community of Lions Den alumni, a business network catering to all former and future participants.”

James Burke, Network Manager at Dublin Food Chain, organising the Producer Showcase commented on this event stating “This producer showcase stands as a testament to the exceptional Dublin food and drink producers who exhibit and the retailers and distributors who attend. Through this event, producers will have the chance to present their offerings to potential buyers. We extend a warm welcome to the Lion’s Den event and the brands that will take part. Our impressive lineup of around 30 Dublin producers, all poised to exhibit their products, will be sure to enhance their network with the presence of the exciting entrepreneurship event”.

Interested food or beverage start-up producers are encouraged to submit their applications online at www.lionsden.ie. To be eligible to apply to Lion’s Den, applicants must be owner-led businesses in Dublin with a viable food or beverage-related product. Applicants must demonstrate evidence of sales volumes and stockists and be available to present in person on stage at Lion’s Den on Thursday 26th October 2023, taking place at the Dublin Food Chain Producer Showcase at the Crowne Plaza in Blanchardstown, Dublin. For more information see www.lionsden.ie