Keelings is a major produce grower and distributor operating at St Margaret's, north of Dublin, Ireland.^[2]

The Keeling family began growing fruit in 1926 and the business continues to be operated by the Keeling family.^[2][3]

The brand specialises in strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, with growing capacity for 100 million strawberries annually.^[4]

History

Keelings is Ireland’s largest fruit and vegetable distributor.^[5] Keelings is a 100% family-owned business^[6] and has been producing fruit and salads on its farms in North Dublin since the 1930's.^[7][8] Caroline Keeling is the CEO,^[9][10] a part of the 3rd generation of Keelings to run the family business, having taken over from her father in 2006 as CEO^[11] after working her way up the ranks from when she first joined the business in 1994 as technical manager.^[12][13] Since 2006, the company has expanded to include 5 divisions (Keelings Retail, Keelings Farm Fresh, Keelings Market, Keelings International and Keelings Solutions) with operations in the UK, Europe and Asia.^[14]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland the company gained widespread controversy over its decision to hire seasonal workers from Bulgaria and elsewhere in Eastern Europe during the government-mandated lockdown. The company indicated that it had problems recruiting sufficient pickers locally, and that the skilled workers flown in would start work only after the required self-isolation period was completed.^[15][16][17]

References