Biddo’s Street Food has become one of Drogheda’s most exciting homegrown success stories, built on pride, graft and a deep belief in what this town can be. For founder Adam Murray, the idea first sparked on a J1 in San Francisco surrounded by fresh Mexican food every morning. “Back then Drogheda had none. It stayed with me. I knew I wanted to bring something different home.”
After finishing a graduate programme, that spark became a mission. “Drogheda is everything to me. My whole goal is to leave where I’m from better than when I found it.” Biddo’s was never about filling a gap in the market. It was about giving Drogheda something new, something it didn’t have, and building it with the town at the centre of every decision.
Since opening, Biddo’s hasn’t just joined Drogheda’s evolving food scene, it has shaped it. “Before we set up there was only one other Mexican place. Now there are loads. People travel from Dublin, Newry, Dundalk and Ardee because they’ve seen us online. I think we’re helping drive the food industry here in a really unique way.” The business has become a destination, proof of what happens when creativity meets community and is broadcast through smart, consistent social media.
Community, Creativity and the People Who Shaped Him
For Adam, building the business in Drogheda wasn’t just the obvious choice, it was the only one that made sense. “My whole life happens here. I know what the town needs. If I set up in Dublin, it wouldn’t be my people.” His passion for improving Drogheda shows up in everything he does, from highlighting local issues to offering solutions, ideas and hands-on involvement. “I won’t just point out what’s wrong. I’ll suggest solutions and get involved. I want to be part of the process.”
The work ethic behind Biddo’s comes from years of watching family businesses in action. “My parents have had their business here forever. They could have moved abroad but stayed loyal to the town. That inspires me.” He also admires local entrepreneurs stepping up in their own way. “Jamie Duffy from JD Studio inspires me. My auntie Sandra and uncle Declan have been in business over thirty years with Globe Travel. They’ve pivoted through recessions and the shift to online booking and are still one of the biggest travel agents in Ireland. Their service is everything.”
When it comes to local collaborations, he has his eye on Five Good Things. “They do brilliant community events. Things that bring people together. If businesses don’t do that, footfall dies off. We need more of it.” And when he’s not behind the counter, his go-to local bite? The Mandarin on the Rathmullen Road. “Trevor and the team are brilliant. I’ve never had a bad meal there. Hospitality ten out of ten.”
Behind the Scenes, the Work and the Why
Despite the buzz, Adam is clear that running a food trailer is far from easy. “People think we’re only open a few hours. Our beef slow cooks for fifteen hours every day. We prep longer than we’re open. Catering gigs can be ten to fifteen hours of work before we even serve.” But he wouldn’t trade it. “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but the hard days make me better. It beats living for the weekend.”
If there’s one thing that sets Biddo’s apart, it’s authenticity. “Whoever meets me gets the real me. The person online is the same as the person behind the counter.” That honesty has fuelled the business. “Everything about this business has been shown online. The highs, the lows, the tyre blowing out on the way to open, the menu changes, the suppliers. People have followed the full journey.”
Creativity comes naturally. “My mind is always racing. I want to do things other places don’t. That’s why we have duck on the menu, our own Mango Habanero sauce and new ideas all the time.” And that same energy powers his content. “Every day brings a new story. I just pick up the camera and talk.”
For Adam, giving back is as important as growing. Biddo’s has run Easter egg hunts with over two thousand euro in vouchers and has more community events planned. “I want to show there are people here who want to improve the town. I want to be at the forefront of that.”
He finishes with the advice he wishes more people heard. “Fear is a mile wide but only an inch deep. You’re never the best when you start. But if you don’t start, you’ll never get anywhere. You only get one life. Give it a go. The only time you’re defeated is if you never start.”
