
Anne Marie Feighery
Innovator
Feighery farm
Ireland
Economic
Farming
Remote rural areas
The innovation journey
Raised on a tillage and vegetable farm located in Co. Offaly, Anne Marie Feighery’s close connection to agriculture stems from her upbringing. Despite pursuing a science degree at university and then venturing into the equine industry, she never lost touch with her family’s farm. While her father and two brothers managed the Feighery Farm together, Anne Marie remained actively engaged, even as her education and career led her away from home.
During the 1990s, the Feighery farm shifted its focus towards vegetables, prompting Anne Marie’s father and brothers to establish local farmers’ markets as an additional source of income. Eager to contribute, Anne Marie played a key role in setting up one of these markets in Westmeath, allowing her to maintain a strong connection to the farm despite her other work commitments.
The concept for Anne Marie’s business took root in 2018. Her father read an article discussing the potential benefits of beetroot juice in reducing blood pressure. This provided a key inspiration. When Anne Marie attempted to find some beetroot juice for her father, she noticed a significant gap in the market. A lack of Irish-grown beetroot juice was available, most products were imported from countries like Germany and England. Anne Marie reached out to the Teagasc Food Research Centre to gain their insights about this gap in the market and its viability as a business idea. The beetroot crop on the farm was then increased. The farm enterprise expanded and developed to produce Irish Beetroot Juice.
The innovation impact
Anne Marie is now fully employed in the farm business. Feighery’s Farm as a result has increased the volume of Beetroot grown on the farm and created an innovative new brand. The beetroot is grown and cultivated pesticide-free and taps into a gap in the health food market.
A range of sales outlets are used by the business. Feighery’s Farm provides Irish beetroot juice to the local area and wider market by attending farmers’ markets and selling through a range of retailers. Feighery’s Farm now provides Irish Beetroot Juice nationwide through a range of retailers and also offers its juice for sale online.