Compass Group Ireland, the leading foodservice provider, has agreed an exclusive partnership with Irish Village Markets, which will see IVM’s artisan food vendors bring their eclectic range of cuisines to employees on-site at workplaces in Ireland for the first time.
Since its launch in 2005, IVM has become one of the best-known food market operators in the country, expanding to 12 locations in Dublin, including Mespil Road, Spencer Dock, The Grand Canal and Sandyford Industrial Estate.
IVM specialises in healthy, nutritious, and diverse street food and has close working relationships with over 35 vendors serving a wide range of multicultural cuisines ranging from Spanish, Mexican and Lebanese, to Korean, Brazilian, and Hawaiian.
Now, employees returning to workplaces will be able to enjoy a delicious range of food options served on-site by IVM vendors, such as Meat Mafia BBQ, who source all their beef in Ireland, Jaru’s gourmet Korean soul food, including Kimchi Mandu, pork belly, a wide array of delightful “Banchan” side dishes and homemade sauces, and Shaka Poké’s fresh and flavourful salmon and tuna salads.
Also on the menu will be Kerala Kitchen, the well-known Indian eatery whose owner Lewis Cummings recruits his chefs all the way from Kerala in Southern India for restaurants on Baggot Street and in Stoneybatter.
Kerala uses authentic imported tandoor ovens to create the best dishes, including Rogan Josh, Tikka Masala, Jalfrezi, Paneer and Spinach Curry alongside a wide range of gluten-free vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Deirdre O’Neill, Managing Director of Compass Group Ireland, said:
“Our partnership with Irish Village Markets is the latest step in the reimagining of our business at Compass Group Ireland. The way we work has changed enormously and we are responding to the changing needs of our customers, diversifying our offering, and putting healthy, nutritious, diverse, and flexible food options at the heart of everything we do. The launch of Irish Village Markets at Compass Ireland client sites will give employers a new way to reward and re-energise employees as they return to workplaces. It will also allow us to support local, independent food suppliers and give them a much-needed boost and a unique platform to reach new customers.”
Compass Ireland has introduced a number of new innovations in recent months ahead of its brand relaunch in September.
In addition to the IVM partnership, Compass Ireland has introduced the Feedr cloud canteen and launched its centralised Copper Pan Kitchen, allowing employees to order healthy meals online for delivery every day to wherever they’re working.
Compass Ireland has also become a signatory of Business Ambition for 1.5°C, committing to align its climate targets with the Paris Agreement.
The first foodservice company in Ireland to make such a commitment, Compass Ireland is actively partnering with Irish producers on the ground to introduce sustainable growing practices and source fresh local ingredients wherever possible.
Compass Ireland’s new partnership with Irish Village Markets will allow the Irish-owned street food specialist to broaden its reach in the market, giving its carefully chosen roster of 35-plus leading vendors access to new customers following a difficult 18 months of trading for many in Ireland’s food sector.
Tara Dalton, Co-Founder and Owner of Irish Village Markets, said:
“Our partnership with Compass Group Ireland presents a very exciting opportunity to expand and bring our special brand of street food goodness to more people. We have close working relationships with vendors serving cuisines from all corners of the globe and catering to all tastes. Compass Ireland has shown tremendous vision in imagining this new way to bring delicious food to Irish workplaces, while also supporting IVM and the small Irish vendors we work with, who will now have a completely new trading option.”
