Donegal Preserves

Dibbles is run by Roisin Jenkins, and is as far north in Donegal as you can get. Filligans is run by Philip and Sarah Moss. Both companies produce the most scintillating preserves, with Dibbles concentrating on savoury relishes and dressings, whilst Filligans also produce excellent jams and marmalades along with relishes. Both companies’ foods have signature style, fab flavours, and true originality.

And, remarkably, both small companies send their foods out from the wilderness to the metropolitan centres: you will find Dibbles in all the supermarket chains, you will find Filligans under various labels, including its own, in places like Avoca Handweavers and in smart Gourmet Ireland hampers.

But what is equally important as the benchmark quality is that they work and create employment right at the periphery, where conventional wisdom says that such things cannot work. But, taste these foods just once, and you will want them again and again. These are prototype companies, indeed, let’s call them archetype food producers for the future.Dibbles (Port na Blagh, Co Donegal, Tel: (074) 36655, roisin@dibbles.ie, dibbles.ie)

Filligans (Glenties, Co Donegal, Tel: (075) 51628, moss@gofree.indigo.ie)