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Flahavan's Timeline
- All
- Heritage
- Brand
- Sustainability
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1785
Since 1785
Heritage
The first connection to the mill can be traced back to Thomas Dunn, the great, great, great grandfather of John Flahavan. -
1890
What's in a name
Heritage
Ellen Dunn (grand daughter of Thomas Dunn) married Tom Flahavan in the 1840’s. Their son Edward Flahavan, born 1850, took over the running of the mill and is the namesake over the door today. -
1900s
Kilmacthomas
Heritage
Kilmacthomas prospered in the 1900’s and a lot of families were employed by the mill. -
1905
The Family House
Heritage
Mary, Edward Flahavan and friends outside the family house that still stands today. -
1905
Greenway in days gone by
Sustainability
Now, a section of the Waterford Greenway, the railway beside Flahavan's was an important link in the supply chain from the late 1800’s to the 1960’s. -
1910
Kilmacthomas Woollen Mills
Heritage
Originally a woollen mill to provide employment during the famine, it was later bought by Flahavan’s and adapted as a warehouse until it was sold in 2000. -
1920s
Sustainable since the start
Sustainability
The river Mahon was used as a means to power the mill since it was first founded. -
1935
Progress Oats
Brand
The two young sons of Edward Flahavan, James and Tom, made a progressive change in the milling process and began flaking/rolling the oat which decreased cooking time from 20min to 5min. They launched the first Flahavan’s brand, Progress Porridge Oats, selling it locally. -
1945
Flahavan’s in technicolour
Brand
Progress Porridge Oatlets with a new bright colouring in 1945. -
1947
New Beginnings
Heritage
A rebuild of the factory was undertaken and the brothers James and Tom reconstructed the new factory responding to developments in the grain business. -
1956
Nourishment & Economy
Brand
A Hand drawn draft advertisement from the 1950’s. -
1950s
The Flahavan’s Way
Brand
Progress Oatlets Pack got a new look in the 1950’s. -
1961
Start each day the best way
Brand
An advert from a school annual. -
1962
As seen on Television
Brand
Flahavan’s shot their first television ad and the phrase ‘as seen on TV’ was included on the pack to give the brand glamour and authenticity. -
1970s
The sixth generation
Heritage
James Flahavan’s sons John and Edward (Ned) Flahavan, 6th generation, joined the company and gradually took over the reins. -
1980
John & Mary Flahavan
Heritage
John Flahavan marries Mary Hoynes in 1980. They now have six children. Two of them, Annie and James now work full time in the company. -
1985
Oats so Steamy
Sustainability
The mill uses lot of steam in the milling and cooking process. Seeking to find a more sustainable source of fuel, Ned Flahavan investigated the possibilities of using oat husks, and in 1985 Flahavan’s installed the first oat husk powered boiler. -
1987
James ‘Buddy’ Flahavan
Heritage
James ‘Buddy’ Flahavan, father of John Flahavan with grandson Johnny Flahavan at the launch for ‘Wheat ‘n’ Bran’. -
1990
In the finest tradition
Brand
A calendar piece featuring a sketch of the traditional mill stones used at the time. -
1991
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1997
Progress Progressions
Brand
After roughly 30 years of the same design, our progress range rebranded to appeal to the changing consumer profile. -
1998
Flahavan’s goes tropical
Brand
Our first granola product launched called ‘Crunchy Oats’. Flahavan’s relaunch an Original Granola in 2014. -
1999
The progress evolution
Brand
Flahavan’s relaunched their Progress Oatlets line - accounting for 95% of sales. -
1999
New Horizons
Heritage
Flahavan’s sold the agri division of their business to Brett Brothers. This reduces the size of the business but means there is complete focus on consumer foods. In this year, John Flahavan takes on full ownership of the company. -
2000
Recipes by Mary Flahavan
Heritage
Mary Flahavan has played an integral role to the new product development journey in Flahavan’s. She created some of the recipes on shelf today from their kitchen. Check out Mary’s legendary Porridge Bread » -
2003
Flahavan’s UK launch
Brand
Flahavan’s Irish Oats were launched in the UK. The Flahavan’s well known red, white and green colours indicated Italian origins when researched in the UK so the packaging was redesigned using a more muted colour palette. -
2004
Selected for you, naturally
Brand
Flahavan’s launches an Organic Oats product in the Irish market. -
2004
Oatstanding Innovation
Brand
Flahavan’s develops and launches the innovative Quick Oats microwavable porridge. The product was first launched in Tesco UK and then launched in the Irish market. -
2008
High five for Hi8
Brand
Flahavan’s launched a no added sugar Muesli called Hi8. Did you know: The 8 stands for the eight different grains fruits and seeds contained in the muesli. -
2008
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2011
Flahavan’s Goes Stateside
Brand
Flahavan’s, with the support of Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland, launched in the US with three packaged oatmeal products Steel Cut Oats, Quick to Cook Steel Cut Oats and Rolled Oats. -
2013
Flahavan’s goes East
Brand
Flahavan’s sales in South Korea have performed particularly well due to a government initiative which encourages the consumption of higher fibre cereals. Oats have double the fibre of white rice, making it a popular choice to improve the health of the nation. -
2015
Clean Energy
Sustainability
The wind turbine is installed on John Flahavan’s fields – we self-generate over 70% of our own energy -
2016
Stay Unflappable
Brand
Flahavan’s relaunch their flapjack range which now consists of 5 varieties Original, Choc Chip, Cranberry & Orange, Lemon & Poppyseed, and Dark Choc & Orange -
2017
Origin Green
Sustainability
John Flahavan with the Sustainable Energy Achievement award. Members of Bord Bia’s Origin Green since 2012. -
2018
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2019
Locally grown, locally produced
Sustainability
All our conventional oats are sourced within a 100km radius of the mill. -
2019
Trusted for 200 years
Heritage
In its 7th generation, the Flahavan's family continues to mill oats just like their ancestors did in the very same spot. -
2020
The next generation
Heritage
As John Flahavan says, he is only a custodian of Flahavan’s, making sure he passes on the business in better condition to the generations to come. -
2020
Oat Drink Launch
Brand
Flahavan's enters a new category with its new range of Oat Drinks