Keogh's Crisps last year used around nine million potatoes to make it a record sales year for the crisp maker.
That is according to CEO of Keogh’s Crisps, Tom Keogh who said the company is set to top last year’s record revenues in the current year as sales continue to rise.
Mr Keogh confirmed that the north county Dublin based farm family-owned business is to extend the company’s plant’s production capacity by 50% in response to the surge in demand.
He said he hopes the extension to production capacity will be 'live’ by September and will lead initially to the creation of an additional 10 to 12 jobs.
"We have just passed the 100 mark in terms of numbers employed which is fantastic," he added.
The firm enjoyed the record sales year for the 12 months to the end of March 2021 thanks to "massive growth" in the firm’s 125g share bag sales during the Covid-19 hit year.
"Our export business and airline business vanished overnight due to Covid-19 but the Irish consumer really supported Irish brands during the pandemic and we are still enjoying that increase in popularity today," Mr Keogh said.
He said in the current financial year to the end of March the firm’s export market and airline business has made a very strong recovery after Covid-19 shutdowns.
Mr Keogh said that exports currently account for 25% of all sales "and I see that growing to 33% over the next couple of years".
Keogh’s supplies crisps to Emirates Airlines and Mr Keogh said their airline business is now almost back to pre-pandemic levels which he didn’t forecast.
Keogh’s Crisps also supply the likes of Waitrose in the UK, Costco in the US and supermarket chain, Spinneys in Dubai.
Mr Keogh was commenting on new accounts for Keoghs Crisps Ltd which show that profits during the pandemic hit 12 months to the end of March 2021 increased by 14% to €113,408.
At the end of March 2021, the firm was sitting on accumulated profits of €1.34 million while cash funds totalled €849,772.
The profit for fiscal 2021 takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of €545,647.
Mr Keogh described last year's profits as 'modest’ and said in the current year due to rising costs "we are not forecasting an increase in profit, it anything it may be a decline".
He said transport costs are rising.
"The price of a container going into America has increased from €3,000 to €7,500 - €8,000 - €9,000 in space of last nine months," he said,
Due to the high costs of exporting to far flung locations, Mr Keogh said they are doubling down on efforts on export markets close to home like the UK and Europe.
Mr Keogh said that today Keogh’s has 11% of the crisp market here and "is the only Irish owned brand at mass market level".
Mr Keogh revealed that Keogh’s is aiming to launch in April a Cashel Blue cheese and caramelised onion flavoured crisp.
He said that ‘Cheese and Onion’ remains the best selling Keogh’s flavoured crisp here.
Mr Keogh said that each market has their own favourite Keogh’s crisp.
Last year, Keogh’s launched a Truffle and Irish Butter flavour for a limited period and the flavour is available only at the firm’s online store today.
However, Mr Keogh revealed that the Truffle and Irish Butter flavour is the brand’s best selling crisp flavour in the US overtaking Salt n Vinegar and Cheese and Onion.
Mr Keogh said that the brand’s popcorn range outsells the company’s crisps in the Middle East.
Hesaid that the firm has a new popcorn production line in place to keep up with demand.
