Hassetts Bakers & Confectioners
Membership Status:
Approved until 31 May 2023
Sector:
Confectionery/Snacks
About the company
Hassetts Bakery was founded on the principle of making great-tasting treats and snacks using only the finest quality ingredients that are free from artificial colourings and preservatives. The business was influenced by founder Michael Hassetts' time working across Europe, as a trained chef in the early 1980s. On returning to Ireland, Michael started his bakery based in Douglas, Cork in 1984. Nearly 40 years later, this family-run business has grown to offer a wide range of products, including artisan bread and confectionery, such as cakes, desserts, biscuits, crackers, granolas, chocolates, and ice creams. Continuing to grow and develop, Hassetts now have shops in the English Market, Douglas Court and Blackpool Shopping Centre. The company holds many awards, including Blas na hEireann, Great Taste, Artisan Business of the Year, and Best Cork Export Business.
Key Sustainability Commitments
Spotlight Target Area: Energy
Hassetts became a member of Origin Green in 2018, committing to a five year sustainability plan to 2022. Operations Manager, Georgina Wolsztynski, leads its sustainability team across the business with the support of her colleagues Rose O' Kelly and Sarah O'Connor. In 2021, energy use at the company fell by 26% on a per unit basis (kWh/t) for a cumulative reduction of 30.5% since 2018, a major accomplishment. A 2021 preliminary energy audit identified six new possible areas for energy savings at Hassetts over the coming years and those projects have been added to the companies planned initiatives for 2022, highlighting the company's commitment to continuous sustainable improvements.Exemplary Performance Target Areas
Minimum Origin Green Targets Required Annually = 5
Spotlight Target Area: Health and Nutrition
Hassetts became a member of Origin Green in 2018 committing to a five year sustainability plan to 2022. Operations Manager Georgina Wolsztynski leads their sustainability performance across the business with the support of her colleagues Rose O’ Kelly and Sarah O’Connor who manage Health and Nutrition and Social Sustainability targets. Throughout the period of the plan, Hassetts looks to focus on health and nutrition to increase their production of savoury snacks and develop new healthy option products and reformulate existing lines.
Within the plan, Hassetts Bakery has set ambitious health and nutrition targets one of which is to reduce sugar content in their cookie range by 40%, from currently 31.4 grams per 100 grams to 18.9 grams per 100 grams in 2022. Working towards this goal, the company embarked on a research and development project, working with Food Institute at University College Cork, focusing on finding ways to reduce sugar levels without compromising the taste of their high quality products.
Commitment to Developing Healthier Products
In 2019, they achieved exemplary performance scores against their health and nutrition targets as they achieved a reduction in sugar content (g/100g biscuit) in their cookie and short bread biscuit of 48% from the 2017 through reformulation.
They also accelerated their health R&D programme and created 3 new cracker lines with recipes low in sugar and fat. Going forward, Hassetts bakery have made a commitment to develop products that will benefit the health and nutrition of our society.
“We are delighted to be an Origin Green Gold Member, we are working hard to achieve all our goals in our sustainability plan and look forward to future partnerships with Origin Green.”
Michael Hassett, MD
