Northern Ireland's Green fingers pointing way to greater success in healthier snacks

The small company, a successful producer of healthy granolas and energy balls for leading retailers including Marks and Spencer throughout the UK, and Lidl is set to introduce a new range of delicious snacks soon to grow its developing business here and in the Republic of Ireland.

Owned by entrepreneurial husband and wife team Zsolt and Andrea Bohar, Green Fingers, a Food NI member company. plans to launch the new snacks under a sister brand, which according to Zsolt, will offer “better snacking made simple”.

The new range, he continues, will contain exclusively natural ingredients, will be plant-based and gluten-free, high in fibre and will be free from additives. They will be “no nonsense – just delicious, feel-good snacks”.

“This is only the beginning. Many more exciting steps are on the way,” adds Zsolt.

The progressive business has already pitched the new snacks to leading German discount grocer Aldi Ireland.

Salted date caramel energy ball snack from Green Fingers Family have long been on sale in selected Marks and Spencer (M&S) upmarket food halls in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Originally from Hungary, the couple has won widespread acclaim and a host of taste awards for their unique snack balls and natural granolas that are also made without additives, preservatives and processed sugars.

Zsolt continues: “We were thrilled to have won this immensely important business with M&S Food.

“The new snack range being finalised for launch in April will be extremely important as we seek to achieve our strategic targets of growth in 2026, especially in our three key markets of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. Our slightly longer-term ambition is to expand into key export markets.”

Everything produced by Green Fingers Family is handmade in small batches and packed in clean packaging that’s also environmentally friendly. The family business has also gained UK Great Taste, Blas na hEireann and Irish Quality awards for its energy balls and granola.

The company, in addition, gained a Silver Level Innovator Award from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the commitment to eco-friendly packaging.

The quality, creativity and outstanding taste of all its products have also won important business from Odaois Foods in Dublin, one of Ireland’s leading food distributors. Odaois has listed the company’s protein energy balls.

“In addition, we are directly supplying local independent food stores and farm shops across Northern Ireland, as well as selling online via our e-commerce website,” continues Zsolt, a father of three.

Based outside the Co Antrim town, Green Fingers is pursuing a vision of “a world where delicious food experiences seamlessly intertwine with environmental sustainability”.

“We have been responding positively to environmental concerns now growing in the local food industry by embracing innovative, eco-friendly practices in all our production and packaging, supporting moves to create a healthier planet,” he explains. “We both care deeply about our environment. It was a challenge, in particular, to find plastic-free packaging alternatives that were airtight to keep the granolas fresh.”

This focus on sustainability led to Green Fingers being named joint winner of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association Environmental Sustainability Award in 2022, celebrating the company’s commitment to efforts in using environmental friendly, compostable packaging for its premium granola.

The company’s focus on natural and nutritious foods is also in line with many recommendations of the recently launched Northern Ireland Food Strategy Framework and Action Plan.

Resident in Larne for over 20 years, the couple’s decision to start a small enterprise was influenced by Andrea’s wish to take charge of her own health and wellbeing.

Encouraged by Zsolt, she started growing vegetables on a small plot of land at their home.

Andrea adds: “My journey began with a deep-rooted love for sustainable living. For over a decade, I nurtured my passion for home grown, homemade food, but it was the challenges of motherhood and my own health crisis that transformed my vision into a mission. My journey led me to create healthy snacks for my family using only natural, nutrient-rich ingredients. We’ve carried this dedication into the business.

“I sought holistic healing through food, mindset and lifestyle changes. Today, Green Fingers Family produces granolas, energy balls snacks lovingly crafted to nourish the body and protect the planet. My philosophy is simple: What’s good for us should also be good for the Earth,” explains Andrea