Denis Lynn, founder and chairman of Finnebrogue Artisan has sadly passed away


May 4, 2021

The board, fellow investors and staff at Bia Analytical are sad to hear the news that Co Down businessman Denis Lynn has tragically passed away following an accident at his home on the Finnebrogue estate on Sunday evening.

Denis Lynn was a renowned Northern Irish businessman. He was the founder and chairman of Finnebrogue Artisan, the UK’s leading artisan food producer.

Leading all of Finnebrogue’s commercial activity, Denis started by selling pizzas and pies out of a van before realising that to be successful he needed to maximise volume and margin. In discovering a new French fry, he became the largest customer of Lord Chips in Europe and used the money he made to buy the Finnebrogue estate in Downpatrick in 1991.

During the 1990s he was a beef farmer and then a deer farmer. He established Finnebrogue as the largest farmer and processor of deer in the UK, supplying Michelin star restaurants, top supermarkets and celebrity chefs, increasing the company’s turnover to nearly £100 million by opening three new factories around 2015 and 2018.

The Institute of Directors appointed him the UK’s most creative director of the year in 2018. The once meat-led producer launched the largest plant-based food factory in Europe in 2020 to make 15 products for its meat-free Naked range.

His company released a statement following his passing.

“Our thoughts are with Denis’s wife Christine, his children Kerry, Clare, Tara and Ciara and the entire family at this incredibly difficult time. Denis was an innovator and a visionary with an infectious passion for delivering positive change for the planet and its people. He leaves behind an extraordinary list of achievements.

Denis also leaves behind Finnebrogue and a vision for its future. Finnebrogue was his creation. It now falls on all of us – the Finnebrogue family – to continue his outstanding work.

The board of directors has met today. Non-executive director David Manning has been appointed interim-Chairman with immediate effect. Non-executive director Colin Walsh has been appointed interim deputy-chairman. The senior management team will lead the business on a day-to-day basis.

We have set up an email account, RememberingDenis@finnebrogue.com, for you to send your memories and condolences, which we will compile and publish in due course.

Denis was our founder, leader and inspiration. We will best honour his memory by invoking his passion for making food the best it can possibly be, without being bound by the way it’s always been done – and by trying every day to make the world a better
place.”

Denis leaves behind an extraordinary list of achievements. He also leaves behind Finnebrogue and a vision for its future. Finnebrogue was his creation. It now falls on all of us – the Finnebrogue family – to continue his outstanding work.”

Denis leaves his wife Christine and daughters Kerry, Clare, Tara and Ciara. Our thoughts are with the family and company at this difficult time.

Further information

Sales: Email: sales@bia-analytical.com Telephone: +44 (0)2871 879 737
Press: Lauren Fleming, Marketing and Administration Officer: Email: lauren.fleming@bia-analytical.com

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