Tipp FM Interview
25 July 2018
Regional Irish radio station Tipp FM launched a brand-new online series under the Life and Style category titled “The Quick Cuppa Interview Series” by interviewing Margaret Valette O’Connor, then Managing Director of Quigley’s Cafe Bakery, Deli. The local station, known to “celebrate what is local, in every way, every day”, calls the series “a quick chat with various celebrities and personalities in the county and nationally, getting to get to know them over a coffee, teasing out what makes them tick and have a little fun!”. The host, Fran Curry, was delighted to have one of the show’s sponsors’ MD for a quick chat especially when Margaret brought along some of the famous chain’s baked goodies.
Building on its humble beginnings, Margaret spearheaded the nationwide growth of Quigley’s, taking it from a 5th generation mom and pop bakery to a fully scalable business empire. When she and her then-husband took over the business, Margaret adapted quickly, rolling up her sleeves and taking on the role of leading Marketing, Recruitment, Customer Service, PR, working her way up as the business expanded its reach.
At the show’s pilot episode, Margaret aptly starts the conversation with the bakery’s cuppas, a product that has been given great focus and care by the brand by continuously developing their coffee blends and training serving staff to barista standards.
Listeners also discover how each product maintains the same quality in any branch, no matter where in Ireland, as Margaret discusses the brand’s centralised food facility based in Nenagh, Tipperary.
The bakery is more than cakes and pastries as savoury and filling meals are also served such as quiches, soups, pastas and the famous shepherd’s pie.
Upon taking the helm, the business’ expansion started with wholesaling, developing the café side of the business, then onto building more stores, beginning with the second branch in Limerick, one of Ireland’s major cities.
Their Cruises Street branch in Limerick was the birth of a new era for Quigley’s, being ahead of its time by fully developing the café culture as we know today. With the location allowing for a higher footfall and exposure, the brand has gone beyond selling a product by selling a nice, relaxing café experience.
With growth comes new challenges and this included customers’ developing taste, seeking new and exciting flavours, as well as higher quality products. Margaret credits one of her sons, who aside from having a certificate in Ballymaloe Cookery School, has extensive culinary exposure, in helping develop new products.
When asked by the host where Quigley’s is headed, Margaret says that their strategy is taking opportunities as they come while also considering distribution and financial aspects. She says that their motto has always been “Do as much as we are comfortable with”, and that they never went outside their boundaries.
Fran suggests the brand’s success is largely due to their careful decision-making to which Margaret agrees. The host also admires Margaret’s management of maintaining a great work-life balance. She credits the great support she has around her including her children and the Local Enterprise Board that have allowed her to focus on self-care saying that, “To be great in business, you have to work on yourself, because if you’re not good to yourself, then you’re no good to your family and you’re no good to your business.”.