Company background:
Small but Mighty Endurance Foods is a local business based in Derry, Northern Ireland. After several years of researching and making natural foods to fuel their own longer runs and cycles, Small but Mighty was born in April 2022. Their mission is to produce premium fresh handmade protein balls, endurance foods and nut butter that are made with high quality natural ingredients, including dates, nuts, seeds, and plant protein that are not only nutritious but taste great too.
Challenge:
Small But Mighty Foods wanted to create an all-natural protein bar that rivalled the mainstream options that are currently available in the market. The protein bar needed to have a high protein content and be plant based with no additives, preservatives and refined sugar-free.
Solution:
To assist and make their idea a reality, Small But Mighty Endurance Foods contacted the NWRC Foodovation Centre team who supported them through the InnovateUs programme which is funded by Department for the Economy.
NWRC Beverage Technical Consultant, Linda McClean provided 60 hours of upskilling support in recipe development, Nutritional values, legal labelling & calculating possible health claims, packaging sourcing, Organoleptic shelf life set up- advice regarding which microorganisms to test, Ingredient sourcing and cost price calculation file.
Impact:
The company was able to successfully develop an all-natural and plant-based protein bar that will rival competitors on the market.
Carol Doherty, Owner of Small But Mighty Endurance Foods described the benefits of working with NWRC’s Foodovation Centre via the Department for the Economy InnovateUs Programme:
‘’I had the pleasure to work with Linda at the Foodovation Centre. She had the knowledge and expertise on both food production and the legal labelling required to be ready for selling in local shops. Foodovation was a great help to get the protein bars to market and with the correct labelling information.’’
