Digital Hero awards gives Bonny Bó welcome grant boost for new website
An innovative approach to selling milk on a Westmeath family farm has netted a grant of €2,000 for Eimear Nally in Clonbonny.
Eimear, who operates a dairy farm with her husband, Francis and family, was the winner of the Small Business/Start-up category of the Digital Heroes of Rural Ireland award from the RISE Foundation.
The funding is to be invested in the development of a website and an enhanced social media presence for a milk vending business set up on the family farm called Bonny Bó.
Bonny Bó has been selling milk directly to the public since May of this year from two vending machines on the Nally farm, and such has been the success of the business that it has now moved to a more accessible location at Creggan, on the outskirts of Athlone.
The new location for the vending machines is just opposite Michael Moore Car Sales on the old Dublin Road approach into Athlone at Creggan (Eircode: N37 W2X2) and Eimear Nally says the business has been “going from strength to strength since the move” as the milk vending machines are now much more accessible to customers.
“When we started Bonny Bó earlier in the year we installed the two vending machines in Clonbonny, but we knew it wouldn't be a long-term proposition to ask our customers to come all the way out here to get their milk, which is why to decided to relocate to somewhere more accessible,” explains Eimear.
Having already been granted funding of €1,000 from the Rise Community Fund earlier this year, Eimear Nally says they are “absolutely delighted” to have received a second grant of €2,000 which she says will be used to fund a website to promote Bonny Bó, which they don't currently have.
As well as selling freshly pasteurised milk directly to the public, Bonny Bó also sells eight flavoured milks, namely strawberry, chocolate, creme egg, vanilla, salted caramel, mint, banana and chocolate orange. As if that isn't offering enough choice to their loyal customers, Bonny Bó milk will shortly become available in two new flavours specifically geared towards the Christmas market.
“We will have mince pie and chocolate pudding flavours available in the run-up to Christmas,” says Eimear, “and we will also have reusable glass bottles with a special Christmas design.”
The full range of flavours will be available on the Bonny Bó trade stand at Athlone Christmas market from December 14 to 17 inclusive, and customers can select their choice of milk from the vending machines at Creggan seven days a week from 9am to 8pm. Customers can pay by either cash or card at the two vending machine, while a honesty box method of payment is being used for customers who wish to add a syrup to their milk.
Eimear and Francis Nally, who have three children, Aaron, Mia and Killian, are very grateful for the huge support they have received for the Bonny Bó business so far, and are encouraging people to continue to “shop local” and support local businesses insofar as this is possible.
The Rise Community Fund, which is operated by the Rise Foundation and supported by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is aimed at empowering local businesses, community groups, farms and social enterprises to enhance their digital strategy.