Founded in 2006 by Galway native, Lorraine Heskin, Gourmet Food Parlour began as a small neighbourhood café in Dún Laoghaire, built on a passion for quality food and creating a welcoming space for the local community.
It has since grown into one of Ireland’s leading restaurant and catering groups, generating over €20 million annually, a significant increase from approx. €1 million in its first year.Gourmet Food Parlour currently has 11 restaurants throughout Dublin, Galway and Meath, including recent openings in Ireland’s most iconic department stores, Arnotts and Brown Thomas.
Its thriving catering and events division has been a long-standing pillar of success for the business, with Gourmet Food Parlour being the official nutritional meal partner to Dublin GAA for over a decade, their meals became an essential part of the players training and nutrition regime, fuelling many All-Ireland winning teams.
Gourmet Food Parlour’s ability to diversify its offering while ensuring the quality of its service never wavers is testament to the hard work, resilience and innovation of Lorraine and the whole team, as well as the consistency of customer support that has shaped the business.
Over the last two decades, 7+ million customers have been served at GFP locations nationwide. Many of those customers have been part of Gourmet Food Parlour’s journey from the very beginning, returning time and time again. This customer loyalty became essential to the success of Gourmet Food Parlour and still is to this day.
to date, she said she opened Gourmet Food Parlour with a simple idea, to create a space where people could come together over really good food.
“I don’t think I could have imagined at the time what it would grow into, and in many ways, it has exceeded anything I ever dreamed of. People have always been at the heart of Gourmet Food Parlour, and that’s thanks to our incredible team, our exceptional suppliers and partners and, of course, our loyal customers.
“The journey hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been incredibly rewarding to build something that people keep coming back to and have a genuine appreciation for. I’ve said it before, but I truly believe that our longevity is down to the support from our customers, as well as our ability to meet their needs by staying ahead of the curve, while remaining true to our roots.Running this business has also introduced me to so many incredible people and presented me with some true ‘pinch me’ opportunities like getting to mentor other female entrepreneurs and sharing my perspective on the success and challenges of growing a business in the Irish hospitality industry.If the last 20 years were anything to go by, then I’m sure the next 20 will be filled with unexpected opportunities, excitement and continuing to connect with amazing people.”
From her early days working across food businesses in New York to building a leading Irish brand, Lorraine Heskin’s journey reflects not only the growth of Gourmet Food Parlour, but the changing face of Ireland’s food and hospitality scene. As a female entrepreneur, she has built not just a successful company, but something with real staying power.
To celebrate Gourmet Food Parlours journey so far, the team will be marking the occasion this summer with a series of in-restaurant moments, seasonal specials and small touches designed to give something back to the customers, whose commitment over the years has meant so much to the brand and the people behind it.
Looking ahead, Gourmet Food Parlour is focused on the next phase of growth, expanding its footprint, strengthening its position in catering and partnerships, and continuing to build a more scalable, multi-channel business across Ireland, while staying true to the values that have shaped the business.
From a team of just 10-15 people, the business has grown to over 320 employees today. While its scale has transformed significantly, the core ethos of Gourmet Food Parlour has remained the same; delivering high-quality food in a warm, community-driven environment. As the business has grown, so has its offerings, moving beyond the restaurant floor while staying true to the same values.
Gourmet Food Parlour has expanded significantly into catering, delivery and online ordering, which now accounts for over 25% of total revenue.This growth extended into sport, as supporting teams and athletes across Ireland has always been a constant fixture in Lorraine Heskin’s vision for Gourmet Food Parlour, now the largest sports catering company in Ireland.
Over the years, GFP has fuelled more than 100 sports teams, from grassroots to inter-county level GAA clubs and teams, to soccer teams and Olympic athletes. As a result of their long-standing partnership with Dublin GAA, the business has since become a trusted catering partner to GAA teams nationwide.
Through soccer they have built a close connection with Shamrock Rovers during five league-winning seasons. As a catering partner to the Olympic Federation of Ireland, Gourmet Food Parlour has had the privilege of working with athletes across multiple medal winning Olympic cycles.
Originally offering just 12 dishes, Gourmet Food Parlour has expanded its menu to over 80 seasonal items, serving breakfast brunch, lunch and dinner seven days a week, reflecting evolving consumer tastes and a strong focus on health, nutrition and Irish produce.
Over 20 years, the business has served more than five million dishes and six million coffees, with Irish ingredients at its core. Founder Lorraine Heskin continues to champion local sourcing, working with a strong network of Irish suppliers and partners including Keelings, Gunpowder Irish Gin, Sysco as well as local businesses such as Bretzel Bakery and Clonakilty Pudding, to ensure that the highest quality ingredients remain at the heart of every dish.
Reflecting on this milestone moment and the success of the brand
