Leitrim Bakery Selected for National FBD ‘Fuelling Business Dreams’ Campaign
Jinny’s Bakery and Tea Rooms is selected for the ‘Fuelling Business Dreams’ campaign
The Drumshanbo-based artisan bakery, founded by Sinead and Pascal Gillard, has been selected as one of just 14 businesses nationwide to take part in FBD Insurance’s 2026 Fuelling Business Dreams campaign — a prestigious initiative celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses across Ireland.
Now in its third year, the ‘Fuelling Business Dreams’ campaign was open to small businesses across Ireland, with 14 participants chosen by an independent panel of judges from a highly competitive field of almost 600 entrants.
FBD’s campaign will share each business’s story — highlighting the milestones that have shaped their journey, celebrating their achievements, and showcasing the goals they are working towards.
As part of the campaign, Jinny’s has received a marketing and advertising package worth €25,000, including a professional photoshoot, a tailored advertising campaign, regional billboard, newspaper and radio advertising, digital advertising targeting local customers, national coverage in The Irish Independent Weekend magazine, and in-branch advertising through the local FBD branch network.
From 16 Loaves to a National Brand Jinny’s story began in 2003 when Sinead Gillard, having returned to her native Drumshanbo from Australia in 1998 to help run her family’s restaurant and self-catering business, began baking breads and cakes for the restaurant kitchen.
Encouraged by customers’ enthusiasm and prompted by a friend’s suggestion, she tentatively approached local shops with her bread — branding it under her childhood nickname ‘Jinny’, “just in case it didn’t go according to plan.”
It did. Jinny’s sold a modest 16 loaves in its first week, but the phone soon started ringing with shops asking for more. Sinead’s husband Pascal, who holds a Food Science background and previously ran the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association, joined the business in 2007. Together, they have built Jinny’s into a team of eight people, producing thousands of loaves every week.
“We started off so small and took a risk, and I’m so glad we did,” said Sinead.
Award-Winning Growth Today, Jinny’s supplies major hospitality brands including Supermac’s, as well as five-star hotels such as The Morrison Hotel, Kilronan Castle, Lough Rynn, the Sheraton and the Hodson Bay Hotel. Their range of breads, mixes and granola has been listed with major national retailers, and the business has recently supplied both Aldi and Lidl with bread, brownie and scone mixes.
The quality of their products has been recognised with an impressive array of awards over the years, including the Bridgestone Best in Ireland Guide (2007–2025), multiple Great Taste Awards, Irish Quality Food Awards gold medals, Blas na hÉireann awards, and Good Food Ireland ‘Best in Ireland’ recognition.
The business has also come full circle in a fitting way: the family kitchen and restaurant where Sinead first began baking her bread has been transformed into Jinny’s Tearooms, a warmly regarded café on the shores of Acres Lake overlooking the Blueway, serving fresh bakes alongside produce from their own polytunnels.
It too has been recognised by The Restaurants Association of Ireland, winning Best Café in Leitrim on two occasions. With a dream of their products “being baked around the world”, the Gillards are also focused on growing their online store, where customers anywhere in Ireland can order fresh breads and cakes, or bake Jinny’s at home using their range of mixes.