Each week on RTÉ Food, we meet one of the nation's hard-working Irish food producers to see how they do what they do so well. This week, we're chatting to Paul Moore at Rebel Chilli.
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Paul Moore and I am the Managing Director of Rebel Chilli. I am 24-years-old and began full-time operations of Rebel Chilli immediately after I finished college. I had grad program offers from my degree (Business Information Systems) from UCC, but I saw the potential in the company and knew I’d regret it if I didn’t risk it and give it a go. We are now stocked in over 300 stores around Ireland, and we are exporting to the UK and Dubai. I sent my first order for export to Dubai on my 24th birthday in January of this year.
What is your food product and how is it made?
At Rebel Chilli, we produce and sell a range of fresh chilli sauces that are bursting with real heat and fantastic flavours for the retail and foodservice sector in Ireland, and beyond. We use only the freshest ingredients when we are making our sauces, so they have totally unique flavours and are incredibly versatile in the kitchen.
We never use any additives or preservatives and all of our products are gluten-free. We make every bottle by hand in Cork, ensuring maximum quality and freshness.
We have five different products in our range. Our Red Sweet Chilli was awarded Gold at the 2014 Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards. We also won Gold, Silver, and Bronze, at the Irish Free From Food Awards in June for our Green Sweet Chilli, Red Sweet Chilli, and Jalapeño & Raspberry. We also have two hot pastes which are fantastic to cook with, the Hot Habanero Relish, and the Chillionaire, the hottest sauce in the country.
When and how did you first come up with the idea for the product?
My brother and I started making chilli sauce when I was in college. We both loved hot and spicy food but could never find any high-quality chilli sauce so we started making our own in our mother’s kitchen and began selling it at the local farmers market in Cork.
Soon, I saw that there were many people like us who wanted delicious and fresh sauce for their food, and Rebel Chilli was born. I went full-time with the business when I finished college, which was just under two and a half years ago.
Who buys your products?
A wide audience because they can be used in so many ways. Our main customers would be young families who cook a lot and have an interest in Irish produce. We also appeal to young professionals who know that they can get really good flavours in our sauces and use them in their own food when they're on the go. Our range is fresh and natural so our customers vary from food lovers, home cooks, heat aficionados, and health conscious people who do not want to sacrifice flavour in their diet. Everyone needs a little Rebel Chilli in their life!
Where do you source your ingredients?
We source the majority of our ingredients from Keeling’s in Cork. They import peppers and chillies especially for us from the Netherlands, Spain, and Uganda. We know we are always getting the highest quality ingredients from Keeling’s, and have developed a good relationship with them as a result.
Does your product carry the guaranteed Irish label?
They do not, as most of our ingredients come from abroad as they cannot be grown in Ireland. Whilst we make everything in Ireland, we don’t have enough sun to grow all the chillies that we need!
Other than your own, what’s your favourite product?
A product that I really got to like recently was the gin from Blackwater Distillery. I was never really into gin but the flavour from theirs is incredible, and I love their branding too.
What is your view on ‘organic’ produce?
Some of the peppers we use are organic. In fact, I visited one of the greenhouses that grow some of the peppers that we use, in the Netherlands in September. It is the largest in the world and they grow over 16 million peppers every year.
Many food producers are very passionate about their products – have you a message you would like to share with your customers?
We’re incredibly passionate about our brand and our products, and this is reflected in the quality of what we make. We want our customers to know that every time they buy one of our sauces, they are getting the best ones on the market. We’ve grown from a small farmer’s market table selling sauce to exporting to the UK and Dubai, and none of this would have been achieved without the support of customers, which we are so appreciative of. We’re growing all of the time and are so excited for the future, and what we can achieve with the help of all of the followers of Rebel Chilli.
What would your death row meal be (aside from your own products!)?
A rib-eye steak from O’Mahonys Butchers in the English Market. And some creamy mash.
Where can people buy your food and find you online?
Dunnes Stores nationwide and selected Supervalu stores in Munster. Our product is available in independent food stores like McCambridges, Fallon & Byrne, Joyce’s, Bradleys, Morton’s, and Donnybrook Fair, and they can all be found at www.rebelchilli.com.
If you would like your Irish food product or company to feature here, we'd love to hear from you: e-mail at rtelifestyle@rte.ie or on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook!
