What’s it like to be a Lion’s Den Judge?

Lion’s Den is more than just a competition. It has been a space for some of Dublin’s industry professionals to connect with some of the most exciting food and beverage businesses over the last seven years. This year was a whole new structure to the Lion’s Den event. We worked with Dublin Food Chain to build this event. Profiling our panel of food professionals, in collaboration with the four Dublin Local Enterprise Offices (LEO). 

Our Lions

Our judges included Mary Morrissey – Prepared Consumer Food and Client Engagement sector within Bord Bia, Santina Kennedy – Food Consultant, and Laura McCarthy – founder of Drink Botanicals Ireland and former finalist of Lion’s Den 2018. With stiff competition at hand, they had the difficult job of deciding who would take home the €6,000 Lion’s Den 2024 prize.

Designed to spotlight Dublin’s emerging food and beverage brands, the competition brings together ambitious entrepreneurs, game-changing startups and forward-thinking producers, all competing for the opportunity to win a €6,000 prize. This year, we attracted food and beverage industry leaders from all corners of Dublin, fostering valuable connections and engagement throughout the event.

What’s it like being a judge?

We heard from our judges after the event – the most exciting part of being a judge for Lion’s Den? Santina – shared a powerful message about the importance of moving at your own pace, no matter how slowly. You can move like a snail—slowly but steadily. So long as it’s in the right direction, you’re on track. From her experiences with volunteering and being a part of Wicklow Naturally, she emphasised that what you give, you get back. It’s about putting your manifestation into action by pursuing your goals, being brave, and stepping outside your comfort zone. Santina reminds us all that in a tight-knit community, every contribution matters and can create a ripple effect of positive change.

Our chair of the judging panel, Mary Morrissey, found the event to be an energising experience, seeing the “next wave of food and drink companies that are coming through in Ireland” and understanding the drive behind it has been inspiring. For Mary, the key takeaway for aspiring entrepreneurs is clear: focus on delivering real value to consumers. It’s not just about creating a great product, but about understanding how it solves problems and improves lives. By seeking advice from industry veterans and continually refining your offer, these entrepreneurs can carve out a lasting space in the competitive Irish food and drink market.

For Laura, it was a “full circle moment” being a finalist of Lion’s Den 2018, to being a judge at Lion’s Den 2024 six years later. Laura shared her journey of starting out as a 20-something selling to punters in Redmonds of Ranelagh, and how she has expanded her brand from Ireland to the UK, the US, and most recently Dubai. Emphasising the importance of building a strong team, she advised to “hire slow and fire fast,” trusting her gut instinct when making decisions. For Laura, success is about following your intuition and creating something that resonates beyond borders. Sharing her experience meant that our finalists can see success in making it to the final of Lion’s Den. 

Looking Ahead

As Lion’s Den continues to grow, it maintains the goal of championing innovation. Not only this, but also strengthening the community within Dublin’s food and beverage sector. This year’s competition proved once again that with the right support, mentorship, and a platform like Lion’s Den, the next generation of food and beverage producers are poised to make their mark on Dublin’s sector of this industry.

Lion’s Den 2024 was more than just a competition; it is an elevation of Dublin’s food and drink startups. It’s a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit that makes Dublin’s food scene so exciting. We can’t wait to see what’s next for our finalists and winner. We’re sure to see how they will shape the future of food and drink in Dublin.

Are you thinking about taking part in next year’s Lion’s Den? Stay tuned for updates and opportunities!

More to Come!

The calibre of applications was high as ever, this year. It’s clear to see that Dublin’s food and beverage industry is alive and well, getting stronger year by year. We’re already looking forward to Lion’s Den 2025! Keep up to date on www.lionsden.ie or @lionsdenevent_ on Instagram, and with Bradley across Instagram and Linkedin for more