First a county, next a country.

And after that?

Well, the world beckons.

And the world includes the United States

A new agri-food business, Rucksnacks, launched by 30-year-old farmer Colm Connolly less than six months ago, has been declared County Monaghan’s Best Start-Up Business for 2016, this in the Monaghan final of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur awards.

“We at Rucksnacks, are delighted to have been named Monaghan’s Best Start-Up for 2016,” said Connolly.

“We have enjoyed a very successful launch in July and have been very busy ever since filling orders for selected SuperValu stores in Monaghan and Cavan, and online via our website with orders from Ireland, the UK and all across Europe.

“Winning Best Start-Up is hugely encouraging less than six months after launching our business and adds to our momentum as we continue to grow as a quality, Irish food business,” Connolly said.

“We are targeting new markets and hoping to enter the American market in late 2017 which would be really exciting for us.

“(It) would be brilliant to have our Irish snack available in the USA,” Connolly added.

Rucksnacks, is a one hundred percent dried Irish beef snack developed by Connolly when he returned to Ireland from overseas and found himself frustrated by what he viewed as a lack of healthy snack options.

The hundred percent dried grass-fed Irish beef has no added sugar, gluten or allergens.

A fifth generation farmer, Connolly recognized the potential to develop an agri-food business to complement his family’s beef farm outside Clones, County Monaghan.

Named Monaghan’s Best Young Entrepreneur in 2015, and now winning the Best Start-Up Business, Rucksnacks, Connolly has also won a Blas na hEireann (Irish Food Awards) Best UCC Packaging Innovation Award for 2016.

Rucksnacks, according to a release, will now proceed to the regional finals of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) Competition.

The national competition is open to entrepreneurs aged 18 -35 years across three categories of Best Business Idea, Best Start-up Business, and Best Established Business.

More at www.rucksnacks.com

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This article first appeared in the Irish Echo. For more, visit their website here.