Blathnaid Bergin
Owner and founder of The Business of Food
My mission is simple – ‘to help those starting a business to get it right and those already in business to make the top and bottom line better”.
Blathnaid grew up in a family business, known as a General Merchants. Her family were all things to all people in the local community. This included the groceries, telecoms, correspondence, social life – pub; afterlife – undertaking; travel- service station; agricultural – fertilizer, grain, wool, etc and much more.
Having grown up steeped in business, the desire to be self-employed was in the blood. Self-employed from the age of 29 having graduated from the world renowned Shannon College of Hotel Management and worked in the hotel industry for a number of years, before setting up her own catering business and cookery school.
Totally enthralled by entrepreneurs, she has worked as an advisor to all sectors of the hospitality industry since 1991. It was this experience and ongoing involvement in the industry which prompted her to set up The Business of Food in 2010. She has devised unique courses for the business side of food and acts as consultant to many hospitality businesses – both start-ups (a speciality) and ongoing operations.
Blathnaid has been the Business Lecturer to the Ballymaloe Cookery School on their world- renowned Certificate Course for the past 20 years and is Food and Beverage Operations Trainer on the Licensed Vintners Association Diploma in Bar Management. Blathnaid is also a keynote speaker at her Alma Mater, Shannon College of Hotel Management.
Her quest for knowledge is ongoing having completed a Masters in Hospitality Management, and many Diplomas in Training and Adult Education, Mediation and Conflict Intervention, Mindfulness Based Interventions and Lean Six Sigma (Green and Yellow Belt).
The courses – many of which are now online include the signature Business of Food Course (Online – 80 hours), Growing your Business; Business of Catering; Adding Food to your Pub – delivered in association with the Vintners Federation of Ireland; Train the Trainer and Bespoke courses designed for individual clients with specific needs. The National Organic Training Skillnet (NOTS) has been and continues to be supportive of The Business of Food Courses providing part funding for participants who are eligible.
Career and Education to Date: Download PDF