Feature: Bundoran's Sean Gilbride is leading Donegal's digital culinary revolution

Nestled along the coast of Donegal, a Digital culinary revolution is underway, and it's all thanks to Digi Food NPD.

This cutting-edge startup, led by its founder, Sean Gilbride from Bundoran, is redefining how food is conceived and created in the prepared consumer food industry.

With a strong background in food science, a deep understanding of food regulations, and an unwavering commitment to progress, Sean has introduced an innovative digital tool that streamlines the way food companies develop their food products, centralises their recipes and formulations, and food labelling, and champions food innovation as the heartbeat of the industry.

Sean's fascination with the science began in Ballyshannon, inspired by a remarkable science teacher during his days in Secondary school Ray McGough.

(Above: Kinlough native, Sean Gilbride, CEO Digi Food New Product Development (NDP) pictured at his home in Bundoran Photo Thomas Gallagher) 

The roots of this culinary journey trace back to his early years in school, where his fascinating for food science and biotechnology were born.

Sean's path was set but little did he know that these early school lessons would lay the foundation for his future as a food scientist and innovator.

After leaving school, Sean went on to study Food Science and Innovation at the University of Ulster, culminating in an array of Degrees and Master’s degrees in Food Science, legislation and Nutrition.

Before founding Digi Food NPD, Sean worked with renowned companies like Green Isle Foods, Golden Vale, and Kerry Foods.

He collaborated with major industry players, from Starbucks to McDonald's, and engaged with leading retailers across the UK and Ireland.

(Above: Entrepreneur Sean Gilbride, pictured at his home in Bundoran. Photo Thomas Gallagher)

In recent years, Sean transitioned to academia, serving as a lecturer at St. Angela's College in Sligo, where he specialised in Food Innovation and Product Development.

His expertise made him a trusted advisor, especially in navigating the complex worlds of Food Regulations and nutrition-driven food Innovation. He played a crucial role in helping SMEs and startups navigate the intricacies of food legislation, particularly regarding nutrition and health claims on food products.

Digi Food NPD isn't just a business for Sean, it's a passion, an exploration of the remarkable relationship between nutrition and taste.

His cutting-edge platform encapsulates his vision of foods engineered to meet specific nutritional outcomes.

He said: “It's not about merely filling our bellies; it's about nourishing our bodies, providing the best of both worlds, deliciousness and health.

“Using our platform, Food producers can easily create foods that will ultimately help consumers to eat better foods, providing for personalising nutrition to the specific needs of consumers and the wider population.

Food is about more than just nutrients. It's also about memories and emotions.”

Sean's culinary journey is intertwined with his life's experiences. His Mother and Grandmothers loved cooking nutritious healthy, enjoyed through the shared warmth of family dinners.

Sean's has carried these family values through into his own kids, who love his cooking. A father of four, Lauren and Hannah are both studying in University in Northern Ireland, and Caolan and Cian attend school in Bundoran.

Caolan is a keen Athlete who runs for Tir Chonaill in Donegal, and plays football for Realt Na Mara Bundoran. Sean joked, that Caolan has the benefit of his own personnel nutritionist.

Sean's father, Seamus Gilbride, was the local Bus Éireann inspector, overseeing Donegal Town and Ballyshannon until his retirement.

His siblings Ann and Jason are still residing in Bundoran and Kinlough, and his wife, Teresa, hails from a dairy farm in Killygordan, while Sean's life is deeply entwined in Bundoran.

Sean's journey in food science and nutrition has taken him from local roots in Donegal to the global stage. He's worked closely with global giants like Starbucks while also supporting local artisan producers like Island Seafoods in Donegal.

His creations range from functional foods that aid sleep to functional lollipops that provide relief for children's sore throats. Sean's mission is all about leveraging the natural goodness of food to improve people's lives.

(Above: CEO Sean Gilbride speaking about Digi Food NPD Food at St Angela's College in Sligo which this week officially moved from the mantle of a campus of the University of Galway to that of the ATU (Atlantic Technological University)  

The Birth of Digi Food NPD

Recognising a significant challenge within the food industry, Sean saw an opportunity to bring about change.

While other sectors swiftly adopted digital solutions, the food industry seemed to lag, bereft of user-friendly technology for creating new food products. This stark contrast in technological adoption inspired Sean to create Digi Food NPD, a digital platform designed to simplify the process of developing food products, from concept to launch and managing specifications.

Beyond fuelling food innovation and ensuring compliance with food regulations, the platform also serves as a lifeline for smaller and startup companies by efficiently managing their existing formulations, recipes, ingredients, suppliers, and product labelling. It helps them them to navigate complex food legislation and audits.

And Digi Food's inventive approach to food product development hasn't gone unnoticed. The company has received essential support from the Donegal Local Enterprise Office and Enterprise Ireland, as a "High Potential Startup", and regional start-up awards.

Sean extended heartfelt gratitude for the support received from the Donegal Enterprise Office, Enterprise Ireland, and WestBIC and highlighted the remarkable start-up environment in Ireland, which provides a blend of practical and intangible support.

"What's truly remarkable is that food companies of all sizes can now access funding to facilitate their adoption and utilisation of our platform," he said.

Looking ahead, Sean and his team are engaged in a collaboration with researchers at Griffith College Dublin to further enhance the Digi Food NPD platform.

This collaborative effort aims to adapt the platform by incorporating AI tools and features that empower food producers to make more informed decisions, particularly concerning sustainability and their carbon footprint.

As Sean and his team set their sights on the future, they are actively seeking investors who share a strong interest in the food industry. These investors are set to play a pivotal role in propelling Digi Food NPD to new heights, fostering its growth and expanding its influence.

By bringing on investors who possess an in-depth understanding of the complexities and nuances of the food industry, Sean envisions Digi Food NPD becoming not just a local success story but a transformative global force. Sean encapsulates their mission succinctly, saying,

"Our goal was to create a platform that once tried food producers will never want to part with," and that has been our experience to date,” he added.

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It's not just about an innovative platform; it's about Sean Gilbride's journey, his desire to make the world healthier, by reinventing the way food producers create new foods.

It's about the boy who, once captivated by the magic of science, is now changing the way we experience food.

You can check more on his website www.foodNPD.com