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The report was launched by Dr Justin Craig, one of the world’s leading experts on family-run businesses, in Fingal County Council Chamber, Swords, Co Dublin, on Wednesday.
Seven food businesses out of a total of 12 family businesses were featured in the report, a sign of this industry’s prevalence in north county Dublin.
The report, entitled Lessons in Resilience and Success: A Snapshot of Multigenerational Family Businesses in Fingal, Dublin, was commissioned by Fingal County Council and completed by a research team with the DCU Centre for Family Business over the course of one year.
The food businesses interviewed for the report were Keelings, Donnelly Fruit and Veg, Wrights of Howth, Country Crest, Rockabill Seafood, Dorans on the Pier and Keogh’s, all of which are based in Fingal in north and north-west Dublin.
Findings
The main finding of the report was that family businesses should start planning as early as possible for the next generation to take over.
It found that while succession can be a source of anxiety or uncertainty for some family firms, often there was no documented plan to follow.
“Any firm aiming to be multi-generational should be encouraged to afford due consideration to any future family involvement, especially as it is never too premature to plan for next generation involvement,” the report recommended.
It also recommended that protocols be put in place in the event of death or illness to a key family member.
One of the other key findings was that family businesses are very resilient, with many of the business participants persisting during the recent economic succession and showing signs of growth as part of the nationwide recovery.
Food businesses
Of all the businesses featured in the study, third generation fruit and vegetable growers Keelings employs the largest number of staff, with some 2,282 employees. It also has the largest group turnover at more than €100m.
David Keeling, who leads the retail side of the company, says the key to success is that the company is run on the basis of what is good for the business.
“That’s the key to success as well as having a lot of very good people,” he said.
Next up is Donnelly Fruit and Veg with a staff of 330 and a group turnover of €80m to €100m. It is also a third-generation company.
Ciaran Donnelly, managing director of the company, says his attitude would very much be one of stewardship.
“I never saw it as my own. It was something handed to me to look after and continue on to the next generation.”
It’s all about long-term strategy. A company that doesn’t have a focus or goal is lost.
The next family food business with the highest number of employees is vegetable grower and packer Country Crest, which is controlled by the Hoey family and employs 235 people.
“It’s all about long-term strategy,” says Michael Hoey, managing director. “A company that doesn’t have a focus or goal is lost.”
Agriculture and Fingal
The importance of agriculture to the Fingal area cannot be underestimated. It is one of the area’s most important sectors, with the 600 farmers in the region estimated to produce 14.5% of national potato output, 47% of field vegetables output and 37% of protected fruit, vegetables and nursery plants.
Moreover, Fingal’s horticulture sector is estimated to contribute in excess of €320m to national farm output.
Fingal county has the second lowest unemployment rate in the country and the highest labour force participation rate at 68.4%, according to 2011 CSO Census.
The full report can be accessed from the DCU Centre for Family Business website here.
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