Coffee, chocolate and TV for Ann on Ireland AM

A successful Cavan businesswoman was among those to speak on breakfast TV this morning ahead of National Women's Enterprise Day next week.

Ann Rudden, the successful business woman behind Áine Handmade Chocolate, appeared on Virgin Media's IrelandAM shortly after 8:30am this morning, Friday, October 7.

She revealed how it was her dream to run a chocolate business from the age of just nine years.

The Stradone woman got the opportunity on live national TV to talk about her business and being a female entrepreneur.

You can watch the interview here

Ann was chosen by Local Enterprise Offices as a ‘Leading Light’ representing Cavan for this year’s National Women’s Enterprise Day.

It will be celebrated by thousands of women all over Ireland next Thursday, October 13. The Cavan Celebration will be held in the Farnham Estate Golf & Spa Resort on Thursday evening from 6.15pm and is being organised by LEO Cavan and Cavan Business Women’s Club

Marcella Rudden, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Cavan said: “The theme for National Women’s Enterprise Day 2022 is ‘Our Future, Our Way. This annual event aims to celebrate the successes of female entrepreneurs and inspire female start-ups. There are 16 major events planned nationally, including our own Cavan event.

"All are welcome to join us on the evening, from female entrepreneurs with a business idea, to start-ups to those in well-established businesses. It will be a great networking opportunity and celebration of women in business.”

The Cavan event for National Women’s Enterprise Day is being organised by Cavan Business Women’s Club and will include a panel discussion with three leading female entrepreneurs including Ann Rudden, founder and Managing Director, Aine Handmade Chocolate; Tara Walker, owner of East Coast Cookery School, Author & TV Chef on Virgin Media’s IrelandAM and Aisling Kirwan, Co-Founder, Positive Carbon, a company that provides businesses with food waste monitoring technology to allow them to cut their food waste and save thousands on food bills.

More information on National Women’s Enterprise Day and the Cavan event can be found by visiting LEO Cavan’s website www.localenterprise.ie/Cavan/

Established in 1999, Áine's Chocolate had its origins in Ann's mother's kitchen in Stradone where she was busy from a young child creating recipes.

Today Ann is a Master Chocolatier, with a passion for her art, and has over 30 years’ experience in the premium hand-made chocolate industry, where she has earned a reputation for quality, innovation and reliability.

Áine’s Chocolate is a premium product which is supplied into all the major multiples including Dunnes Stores, Aldi, Lidl and SuperValu.

International sales are also achieved for Ann through multiple sales channels and include markets as far afield as Dubai and Russia.

See www.chocolates.ie