Popularity of Irish food in the United States has never been higher

Americans, even non-Irish ones, can’t get enough of items such as butter, chocolate and cheese made in Ireland

By

MOLLY MULDOON,

Irish Voice Reporter

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Kerrygold Cashel Blue cheese - American's can't get enough of Ireland's great Irish produce

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“We are the only Irish chocolate store to put down roots in the U.S.,” says Cathal Queally, the owner of New York’s Lily O'Brien’s Chocolate Café.

“The first year was tough,” he admits. Opening up a relatively unknown company in the in the middle of a recession in New York City posed obvious challenges.

“No one really knew who Lily was. She could be somebody from Brooklyn,” Queally pointed out. “We tried to educate the customers.”

Over the past three years business has picked up significantly, as brand recognition increases.

“Within our immediate surroundings, all the office workers have become huge fans of the café,” Queally said.

“Christmas is the busiest time of the year for chocolates.”

Corporate gifting is a huge element also. “It’s great to see American businesses gifting Irish chocolates,” Queally said.

Just blocks from both Times Square and Grand Central Station, the café is located in a well-known tourist district. Serving a wide variety of chocolates, the café also sells Irish favorites such as oatmeal and Irish tea.

“The café is a lot busier during the summer, when a lot more people are coming to Bryant Park,” says Queally.

Appealing to a wide range of customers, Queally says the company’s Irish identity is an advantage.

“We don’t have any shamrocks or harps at the store to reflect that we are Irish, but definitely Irish and Irish Americans love to come here because we are Irish,” Queally added.

While chocolate remains a small segment within the export market, Coyle reflects that brands such as Lily O’Brien’s have established a good foothold in the U.S.

“It all goes back to the land,” Coyle says. “It is a quality source of ingredients. It’s real food made by real people.”

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