Doing The Business

Holly Dalton’s secret sauce: How lockdown led one chef to start her own food business

The Conbini range is inspired by the concept of yōshoku, which refers to a style of Western-influenced cooking in Japan

After fifteen years as a chef, Holly Dalton has launched Conbini, her own sauce range. Picture: Fergal Phillips

The business of sauces and condiments in Ireland is booming. Chefs and savvy food entrepreneurs have tapped into the Irish love of adding a dollop to every meal, and one of the latest success stories is Holly Dalton’s Conbini Condiments, a range of Japanese-inspired sauces.

Dalton has enjoyed a successful career as a chef, amassing almost 15 years of experience, and had just started a new executive chef role when the pandemic hit. She suddenly ...