Location: Kilkee, Co Clare and Croom, Co. Limerick
Pat Talty comes from Kilkee, Co.Clare and Matt Costelloe hails from Croom, Co.Limerick. Their business idea that consumers would ditch milk cartons in favour of refilling containers and using milk vending machines is certainly novel for Ireland. Pat and Matt formed a limited company together after they secured the distribution rights to the Italian manufactured Latteria Milk Vending machines. Purchasing fresh milk through vending machines is common on the continent, with over 1,200 such machines in Italy. The question is, would Irish Farmers and consumers buy into it.
So what was the challenge for the Mentors. Well, Pat and Matt’s was a new partnership formed around them both having the same idea at the same time. The first job was to clarify roles and set out a strategy for winning both farmers and consumers. With a novel idea, the concept needed to be proven in a small number of locations. Issues relating to safe supply chain, regulations and any pitfalls needed to be ironed out. A comprehensive package and roadmap to make it easy for the farmer to get involved needed to be developed with realistic projections. But would it all work out ! Make sure you tune in for this one !
