Page 34 - Our Wexford

BEAN & GOOSE CHOCOLATE

Sisters Karen and Natalie after learning how to temper Wexford has one of the biggest
Keane established Bean and chocolate from French chocolatier overwintering populations of birds
Goose Chocolate in 2014. Benoit Lorge. Starting as a small in Europe, including the bean
concern they began selling their goose.
When they first started they
made their incredible handmade products on Saturday mornings In 2015 Bean and Goose was
chocolates in the kitchen of their at Glasnevin Market, Dublin; accepted on the Foodworks
home in Wexford. Their first the sisters tried out various program, a Bord Bia, Enterprise
creations of small batch single- combinations and sought customer Ireland and Teagasc-backed
origin bars and truffles were made opinion on the results. accelerator programme. In 2016
on marble slabs using traditional salary support from the Local
techniques. They have grown to be a CURRENTLY EMPLOYING Enterprise Office in Wexford
team of chocolatiers with equipment allowed Bean and Goose to take
in order to meet demand. SIX PEOPLE, INCLUDING on a full-time chocolatier, they

Each creation is to the highest KAREN AND HER received Competitive Start Up
Funding from Enterprise Ireland
standard and their unusual-but- SISTER NATALIE, WHO and are working towards High
delicious flavour combinations Potential Start Up Funding.
really set them apart. The chocolate ARE JOINT FOUNDERS,
is made using complex, rich BEAN & GOOSE IS NOW The next step for the Keane sisters
flavours of single origin paired with is to launch their online store.
flavours that reflect and celebrate MAKING PLANS TO Karen and Natalie aspire to create
the Irish seasons. DEVELOP EXPORTS a global Irish brand that can retain
The company has over 70 its integrity and roots whilst scaling
up. “As we grow, we would be
customers: a mix of independent mindful of emulating companies
retailers, design spaces, hotels, In 2014, they asked a design that have fantastic corporate
and cafés in Ireland and Northern company, Designgoat, to work with culture. It is the key to help turn
Ireland, including Avoca, Brown them on their packaging. Design a company vision into reality.
ABOVE: Thomas, Shannon Airport & is a very important layer to their Companies like Zappos or Whole
Karen & Natalie Teeling Whiskey. They also provide story. They work in collaboration
tempering gifting services and host chocolate with designers, illustrators, food Foods have passionate, engaged,
chocolate and active cultures that are on
making workshops for corporate producers and other brands to bring display for the world to see.
clients. different elements to their products,
in terms of packaging, design or “Our top performing bar is a
Employing six people, including
Karen and her sister Natalie, who flavour inspiration. dark chocolate from Ecuador,
are joint founders, Bean & Goose The chocolate bars are made in 70% paired with roasted spiced
is making plans to develop product moulds, these have the topography hazelnuts and Wexford honey, and
for export. of ‘Last Tree Farm’ as the pattern, our most popular truffle is Irish sea
a link back to the Wexford home salt caramel,” says Natalie.
They set out to do something www.beanandgoose.ie
different with chocolate, inspired of Bean and Goose. Even their
name Bean and Goose has a story.

34 OUR WEXFORD