Here is Lauren's profile of Lily O Brien Chocolates founder Mary Ann O Brien
Mary Ann O Brien - Lily O Briens chocolates
Background
Mary Ann was born in Tipperary.
She has one child named Lily and another who passed away after 18months
called Jack.
She is also the co-founder of the ‘Jack and Jill’ foundation with her
husband Jonathan Irwin, as well as ‘Lily O’Brien’s chocolates’
How she started her business.
When Mary was over in Africa she explored the hotel and found out what
she loved doing. Cooking! For the 2weeks she was over there she helped (in her
bikini) the owner’s daughter cook these chocolates in the small business she
ran there.
When she arrived home she decided she would try and make the chocolates
and sell them at her local hairdresser to see if she would get a positive
feedback, and she did.
In 1992 Mary O’Brien had started up her business in her own kitchen in
Newbridge, Co. Kildare and made her living from it
Mary tried to sell her chocolates at her
local Superquinn and to her surprise she got an offer of a contract to sell her
chocolates at the store! Mary leaped at this offer and set up her own business
and borrowed money off the bank to help her do this.
Name of business
She run’s the successful Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates.
It is called Lily O’Brien after her daughter because Lily was born when
Mary started up her business.
How many people do they employ?
Lily O’Brien employs over 100people and they make over 55-60tonnes per
week!
Did she get help?
No, Mary Ann O’Brien started up her own business from at home. Starting
to sell them at a hairdressers, venturing on to her local Superquinn and then
it became a €16million-a year company, selling all over Europe including little
travel boxes being sold on airplanes!
