The Foods of Athenry are seeking an experienced and dynamic GENERAL MANAGER to join our growing team.
The Foods of Athenry is a family-owned business baking clean label ambient bakery products on-site on the family farm in Athenry from original recipes, specifically catering to the area of ‘free-from’ products. We’ve earned a reputation for exceptional quality, reliability, great taste - trusted and innovative.
As we prepare for the next stage of growth and broaden our market reach, we’re seeking a dynamic and experienced General Manager to join our team. The ideal candidate will bring fresh perspective, strong leadership, and a proven ability to drive performance.
Working closely with senior managers across all departments, the General Manager will play a key role in shaping and delivering the company’s strategic goals. This includes championing innovation, operational excellence, and profitability—while staying true to our values of sustainability and quality.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the definition and implement a strategic 3-5 year business development plan.
• Develop and execute that business plan within the vision, mission, and long-term objectives of the Foods of Athenry , ensuring they align with the Board’s guidance and the company’s growth aspirations.
• Monitor and interpret market trends, adapting strategies as needed to maintain a strong competitive position within the global food industry.
• Lead and oversee daily operations, ensuring all business processes align with company goals and meet food industry standards, while collaborating closely with Quality & Production Management.
• Shape and evolve the organisational structure, providing strong leadership, mentorship, and support to cross-functional teams.
• Champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation—empowering employees to contribute meaningfully to the company’s success.
• In conjunction with our in-house Financial Controller , oversee financial and commercialisation, including budgeting, forecasting and reporting, ensuring profitability by tracking success against strategic goals
• Continue to cultivate and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key customers, suppliers, and stakeholders—both within the organisation and throughout the broader food industry.
• Champion a customer-focused culture by driving quality assurance, optimising the customer journey, embracing innovation and technology, and fostering strategic partnerships to continually elevate customer satisfaction
• Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to combat the impact of these on business growth and operations
• Implement regulatory and compliance requirements, particularly those pertinent to the food industry, ensuring the company is protected against legal, financial, and reputational risks.
• Oversee the evaluation of new markets, route to market structure and any country specific regulatory considerations that need to be addressed.
• Champion continuing sustainable growth by aligning profitability with a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

• Proven senior leadership experience with deep knowledge of the food industry and global market dynamics.
• Strong background in strategic planning, finance and commercialisation, and scaling businesses.
• Demonstrated success in leading organisational change and cultural transformation.
• Excellent communicator with strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Experienced in risk management to support long-term business stability.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required.

• Contribute to the definition and implement a strategic 3-5 year business development plan.
• Develop and execute that business plan within the vision, mission, and long-term objectives of the Foods of Athenry , ensuring they align with the Board’s guidance and the company’s growth aspirations.
• Monitor and interpret market trends, adapting strategies as needed to maintain a strong competitive position within the global food industry.
• Lead and oversee daily operations, ensuring all business processes align with company goals and meet food industry standards, while collaborating closely with Quality & Production Management.
• Shape and evolve the organisational structure, providing strong leadership, mentorship, and support to cross-functional teams.
• Champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation—empowering employees to contribute meaningfully to the company’s success.
• In conjunction with our in-house Financial Controller , oversee financial and commercialisation, including budgeting, forecasting and reporting, ensuring profitability by tracking success against strategic goals
• Continue to cultivate and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key customers, suppliers, and stakeholders—both within the organisation and throughout the broader food industry.
• Champion a customer-focused culture by driving quality assurance, optimising the customer journey, embracing innovation and technology, and fostering strategic partnerships to continually elevate customer satisfaction
• Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to combat the impact of these on business growth and operations
• Implement regulatory and compliance requirements, particularly those pertinent to the food industry, ensuring the company is protected against legal, financial, and reputational risks.
• Oversee the evaluation of new markets, route to market structure and any country specific regulatory considerations that need to be addressed.
• Champion continuing sustainable growth by aligning profitability with a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility