Swanlinbar Mushrooms was established in 1988 as growers of quality mushrooms. The family-run business produces approximately 17,000kg of mushrooms per week which they supply exclusively to Monaghan Mushrooms.
Founder and managing director Danny Malanaphy started out with five small tunnels in Swanlinbar, Co. Cavan producing 6,000kg of mushrooms per week. Five years ago, he effectively trebled production and followed this by investing in a new biomass facility and boiler, which has cut his energy costs significantly and has ensured his mushrooms are grown in an eco-friendly environment.
Danny, who hails from just over the border in Kinawley, Co. Fermanagh, runs the company along with his wife Margaret and son Adrian. Swanlinbar Mushrooms employs 23 staff, many of who have been on the books for 10 years or more. The mushrooms, of which there are many varieties, are grown in seven large tunnels which are filled with 50 tonnes of compost per week. The compost comes from Carbury Compost in Derrinturn, Carbury, Co. Kildare.
After harvesting, the mushrooms are supplied to Monaghan Mushrooms in Tyholland, Co. Monaghan. Monaghan Mushrooms is one of the world’s largest mushroom companies, employing 3,000 staff and supplying a full range of top-quality fresh mushrooms to leading national and international retailers in Ireland, the UK, Canada and USA.
Monaghan Mushrooms was founded in 1981 by local entrepreneur Ronnie Wilson who saw an opportunity to process canned and jarred mushrooms for European markets. In 1986, the company entered the fresh mushroom market, packing hand-picked mushrooms especially for the UK market. As Monaghan Mushrooms grew and its reputation for fantastic quality products spread, other mushroom growers began supplying it, with one of these being Swanlinbar Mushrooms.
Monaghan Mushrooms’ products are found in the fridges of nine million households across Ireland and the UK, so there’s a good chance you’ve eaten mushrooms which originated from Danny Malanaphy’s farm in Swanlinbar!
Swanlinbar Mushrooms is a member of Commercial Mushrooms Producers (CMP), which representing 90 per cent of Irish mushroom production and growers, and is one of Europe’s leading horticultural producer organisations. CMP’s business is focused on developing a quality, sustainable and competitive industry in this country. They have a passion for excellence and determination to achieve a sustainable future for those involved with the Irish mushroom industry. They also offer technical advice and assistance, packaging, training and on-farm investment.
“We availed of on-farm investment through CMP which allowed us to build a biomass shed and boiler,” Danny explains.
“We also avail of all CMP courses, including train the trainer, first aid and disease control workshops, which make our farm more efficient. In addition, we source all our packaging from CMP who buy in large volumes. They have helped us to identify a much bigger market for our mushrooms.”
In 2010, Danny made significant changes to his on-farm heating infrastructure in a concerted effort to reduce his farm running costs. Having looked at several companies, he chose EcoTwo Ltd – a firm specialising in designing renewable energy solutions to the mushroom sector – to fit a state-of-the-art woodchip boiler.
Since its installation, Danny has cut his energy bills by a third.
“The work was carried out under the on-farm investment scheme and with oil prices continuing to rise, the solution has already paid for itself,” he says.
“I chose biomass over other solutions like heat-pumps because it breaks the link with mainstream fuel permanently. I did not like the idea of moving from the uncertainty of oil prices to the uncertainty of electricity prices which fuel heat pumps.
“At the time of installation, I was spending approximately €37,000 on oil – which would translate to about €60,000 at today’s prices. I am now paying approximately €11,000 per annum on woodchip.
“What’s really interesting is that woodchip has only increased by about three per cent in price since I installed the unit and oil has shot up to nearly €900 per 1,000 litres. The increase in wood chip is mainly linked to a rise in transportation costs. Breaking the link to oil was a key decision for me and one that I am very happy to have made.”
He adds: “We are now a wholly eco-friendly company. We even recycle the rainwater which we collect from the roofs for washing out the tunnels.”
Having worked hard to make his company the success it is today, Danny is hoping Swanlinbar Mushrooms will continue its growth and be around for a long time to come.
“At the start of the 1990s, there were 500 mushroom growers in Ireland. That figure is now down to 83 or 84,” he notes.
“We survived and prospered because our product is top quality and because we moved with the times in terms of growing methods and equipment. We have also placed a big emphasis on hygiene and cleanliness.
“There is always something to worry about in this business, but the outlook appears to be good for mushroom growers with production and consumption on the rise. Mushrooms are a healthy and versatile vegetable which are a staple food in this country. While our peak season is from September to May, we are kept busy all-year round and that’s a good complaint to have.”
Swanlinbar Mushrooms
Drumcondra,
Swanlinbar,
Co Cavan.
Telephone / Fax: 049 9521128
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 2 No 5, October 2014
