Covid Creates Fine Foods Business

Covid 19 has played a role in creating an exciting new food business for two hospitality professionals. Damian Corr and Jenny Campbell established ‘Vera Foods’ after their restaurant management jobs fell victim to the pandemic. The couple are now offering a range of specialist fine foods from Spain on-line and through the Killruddery House Saturday Farmer’s Market.

It all began with a chance meeting on Bray Promenade with Carlos and Bernie Martin. Damian and Jenny chatted about their favourite subject- good food and discovered that they had met kindred spirits. That chat led to further meetings and eventually to Carlos revealing that he is stepping back from his food importing business and planning to live in Spain.

‘The news came as we were at a cross-roads in our careers’ says Damian. ‘Our jobs had fallen victim to the pandemic and we were searching for a new business opportunity. It was a perfect match. We negotiated with Carlos to take over his business and to expand its scale and reach.’

Jenny adds: ‘It was something if a dream come true, as I had a dream of bringing restaurant-quality products to Irish dining tables’

Vera Foods is now offering the Irish public a range of Spanish food products of the highest quality – Alberto’s Gold organic, cold press extra virgin olive oil, award-winning cheeses from Andalucia, chorizo and hams from Salamanca, Serrano and Iberica, very special ’Ugly Delicious’ olives- and much more.

These products are available through the Vera Foods website (www.verafoods.ie) and every Saturday at the Farmer’s Market in Killruddery House, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Damian Corr graduated in hospitality management from DIT College at Cathal Brugha Street. He worked for leading restaurants in many parts of Ireland, including the five-star Hotel Europe in Killarney, before returning to Dublin and spent the next decade as a professional sommelier, restaurant and bar manager at the five-star Merrion Hotel.

Jenny Campbell is also a Dubliner and has held management posts in many high-quality establishments including Dalis’s of Blackrock and, most recently, Whelehan’s award-winning restaurant in Cabinteely.

Damian and Jenny share a love of good food and wine and their dream has always been to share an appreciation of the finest products with Irish food-lovers. Vera Foods has created a unique opportunity for the couple to fulfil that dream.