Keelings
Irish produce-grower and distributor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Keelings is a major produce grower and distributor operating at St. Margaret's, County Dublin, Ireland.[2]
| |
| Company type | Unlimited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Produce |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Headquarters | North of Dublin , Ireland |
Area served | Ireland |
| Products | Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, apples, pineapples, peppers[1] |
| Owner | Joe Keeling |
| Website | keelings |
The Keeling family began growing fruit in 1926 and the business continues to be operated by the Keeling family.[2][3]
The brand specialises in strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, with growing capacity for 100 million strawberries annually.[4]
History
Keelings is Ireland's largest fruit and vegetable distributor.[5] Keelings is a 100% family-owned business[6] and has been producing fruit and salads on its farms in North Dublin since the 1930s.[7][8] Caroline Keeling is the CEO,[9][10] a part of the 3rd generation of Keelings to run the family business, having taken over from her father in 2006 as CEO[11] after working her way up the ranks from when she first joined the business in 1994 as technical manager.[12][6] Since 2006, the company has expanded to include 5 divisions (Keelings Retail, Keelings Farm Fresh, Keelings Market, Keelings International and Keelings Solutions) with operations in the UK, Europe and Asia.[13]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland the company gained widespread controversy over its decision to hire seasonal workers from Bulgaria and elsewhere in Eastern Europe during the government-mandated lockdown. The company indicated that it had problems recruiting sufficient pickers locally, and that the skilled workers flown in would start work only after the required self-isolation period was completed.[14][15][16]