Offbeat Donuts embarks on international expansion with investment from BiaVest

David McKernan and Hilliard Lombard of BiaVest in background, and Sandra O’Casey and Brian O’Casey of Offbeat Donuts.
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Well-loved Irish food brand Offbeat Donuts has partnered with Ireland’s only food-focused investment vehicle BiaVest to support an ambitious growth plan.

With the investment from BiaVest and its co-strategic investor Noel Smith – managing director of Fresh the Good Food Market –  founders Brian and Sandra O’Casey plan to open stores outside Dublin for the first time and are looking to expand internationally to the UK, USA and Middle East.

Offbeats Donuts started in 2016 in Brian and Sandra’s family home. Their mission was to revive the traditional Irish bakery and ‘to make donuts magic’. Offbeat has continued to expand, despite the difficult backdrop for retail during the pandemic, with its most recent store opening at the Blanchardstown Centre in December 2020.

BiaVest was formed by two of Ireland’s leading food executives, Hilliard Lombard and David McKernan. The pair have accumulated more than fifty years’ combined experience, knowledge, and industry success in Ireland and across Europe in the food sector. BiaVest is committed to partnering with high-quality and innovative food brands such as Offbeat Donut,

Brian O’Casey, co-founder, Offbeat Donuts, said:

“I had spent 25 years working in the food and bakery sector in product development and marketing, Sandra in retail and IT. We always had a dream of starting our own business and Offbeat Donuts has been the realisation of that dream. We are very proud of what we have created and delighted with the consumers response. We see this partnership with BiaVest as the next chapter of the Offbeat Donuts story. With BiaVest support we now look forward to opening more stores in both Ireland and internationally to bring our unique, ultra-fresh donuts to a larger audience.”

Hilliard Lombard, CEO of BiaVest said:

“Offbeat represent the best in innovative Irish food brands and is led by two ambitious and passionate founders. We’re looking forward to partnering with them as they embark on an exciting new growth phase which will allow many more customers to experience the Offbeat magic!”.

David McKernan, executive director of Biavest said:

“The growth of Offbeat Donuts over the past five years has been truly impressive. Brianand Sandra have gone head-to-head with international competitors and always succeeded. The Offbeat brand is recognised as the super premium, fresh donut experience in the Irish Market. We’ve admired their progress from afar and couldn’t be happier to now be investing alongside them”.

BiaVest was advised on the investment by Brian McDonald and Rory Butler of Bay Advisory and Alan Ryan of Wallace Corporate Counsel.