CoCo Craft Pizza is a go go during pandemic

Owners, Conor Donnelly and Conor MacCann, have invested decades of hospitality industry experience in order to provide Magherafelt with a new dining experience.

Both men have been friends for over 30 years, meeting as next-door neighbours, and both grew up to work in the food and hospitality industry.

Conor Donnelly followed in his family footsteps owning The Arches Hotel in Magherafelt in the 1970-80’s and subsequently the 4-star Beech Hill Country House Hotel, Londonderry.

And is now starting his own business, CoCo Craft Pizza, along with his friend.

Conor MacCann studied Hospitality Management at Napier University, advancing on to become a chef at restaurant Dorman’s, Neuchatel in Switzerland and Gleneagles Hotel. He trained at Robbie Millar’s Shanks, Scotland and Paul Rankin’s Cayenne as well as Head Chef at Roscoff’s & French Brasserie Bastille and lecturing in Professional Cookery at SRC in Newry & Portadown.

He said: “Two years ago, when Conor D pitched the CoCo concept to me to create a casual and relaxed style restaurant and take away in our hometown, I knew I had to get back in the kitchen. There is nowhere else offering the same high level of artisan pizza and global street food. I wouldn’t have agreed for anyone else or anything less.

“There is so much scope to grow our business over the coming year with plans to introduce a Sunday Lunch, extending opening hours to include lunchtime and creating daily specials unlike anywhere else.”

Opening in April for a collection-only service was never the grand opening both envisioned. But the public demand for collections was strong.

Having created new jobs in Mid-Ulster during a global crisis, CoCo Craft Pizza are also seeking to work with local growers and foragers.

Conor Donnelly explained: “The level of support from the area has been humbling, and we want to return the favour to our customers by offering the best quality food there is to offer. The street food element, which changes weekly, allows us the opportunity to work with seasonal produce with no limitations. It also keeps things interesting for both us as a restaurant and the customers, creating a new dining experience every visit. Pizza is something that never seems to go out fashion and popular with families, which is a key market we want to target. Our pizza is created using quality ingredients, using fior di latte cheese from Toonsbridge Dairy Cork and our meats are sourced from Ispini in Dungannon.

“We’re very proud of the investment we have made in starting the new business and fitting out the property to create a cool and casual environment. This is largely thanks to Hannah McHugh Design and Marcon Fit Out for their exceptional work to get shop ready. Our unique artwork is provided by State of the Arts, Dungannon, a collaboration we hope to continue. Our Social Media accounts and content have been created and managed by Valerie-Lynne Lees, and it’s been invaluable to get such positive feedback from all our CoCo Customers.”

CoCo Craft Pizza have successfully opened its restaurant doors since July alongside their collection service.

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