Hannah and Rachel Dare standing outside their business, Organico, with their recent awards

We’ve had lots of exciting news lately at Organico! Awards and a funding scheme have come through for us in the last two months, and we want to fill you in on all the details!

Where it all started

When Hannah and Rachel’s dad, Alan, opened Organico over 25 years ago, he had a great vision for the future. At the time, foods like natural yoghurt and raw apple cider vinegar were exotic in West Cork, and there was no guarantee of a customer base for them. But Alan believed that a health food shop would thrive once the people in the Bantry area were given access to a range of ‘counterculture’ foods and remedies. How right he was.

See Hannah’s account of Organico through the ages in her blog post: 25 Years and Counting! The Story of Organico.

Our path to the present

What started as a small health food shop with an impressive but limited stock has evolved, under Hannah and Rachel’s direction, into a busy wholefoods cafe, a real bread bakery, and a fully-stocked shop complete with a Zero-Waste Refill Station.

There was no way that Alan or Caroline (Hannah and Rachel’s mother, responsible for starting the bakery) could have foreseen how the internet would shape the future of business in Ireland. But they set the precedent of jumping into a new endeavour with an adventurous spirit, and believing in the vision of a better future.

With this can-do attitude, Hannah and Rachel launched Organico’s online shop a few years ago. The online platform allows the sisters to share their ethos—to live a healthier, happier, and tastier life by shopping for high-quality, ethically-produced products—with the entire country.

What lies ahead

To support their efforts, Organico was recently awarded funding from Enterprise Ireland as part of an Online Retail Scheme. Organico is one of 29 retailers across the country to receive the funding this year, and one of 40 retailers total who are benefiting from the scheme. The scheme grants successful applicants funds ranging from €10,000 to €25,000 to help them remain competitive in a constantly changing business environment.

The Online Retail Scheme will help Hannah and Rachel to enhance their online offering and reach a wider customer base. Furthermore, it’s a testament to the resilience of Alan’s original vision, and the dedication of Hannah and Rachel as they guide Organico from strength to strength.

More to celebrate

Hannah and Rachel Dare of Organico with the recipients of this year's Junior Chamber Internation Cork Friendly Business Awards

But the recent successes don’t stop there! In August of this year, Organico received an award for eco-friendliness from Junior Chamber International (JCI) Cork as part of the Friendly Business Awards. For these awards, a member of the public nominates the business, then a mystery shopper from JCI visits the business to determine its merit.

JCI Cork is the local sector of an international organisation focused on providing development opportunities to the community. The Friendly Business Awards recognise and encourage the small to medium local businesses that excel in providing customer service and improving the community.

Hannah and Rachel Dare of Organico receiving an award at Vitality Exp

In September, Organico was awarded Best in Digital Marketing by Better Retailing Magazine and Health Stores Ireland. Hannah and Rachel were presented the award during a ceremony at this year’s Vitality Expo in Dublin, Ireland’s largest natural health and wellbeing show that brings together experts in health and nutrition during two days of talks, demonstrations, and exhibitions open to the public.

We can’t thank you enough

Of course, none of this would be possible without your support. Hannah and Rachel have always considered the Organico community, both in West Cork and online, the heartbeat of the business. It’s the community that makes the achievements possible, and fills the journey with purpose and joy.