When Jayne and Conor Grimes heard Spoonful Botanical announced as Best Established Small Business at the Louth Business Awards, they both said the same thing: “It was amazing.”
“Moments like that make you stop and appreciate how far you’ve come,” Jayne told us. “For us and for the whole team, it really means a lot.”
How It All Started
Their story didn’t begin in a factory or with a business plan. It started on the other side of the world. After spending almost two years in Australia and New Zealand, the couple travelled across Asia and were struck by how locals used herbs and spices in their purest forms.
Around the same time, Conor’s grandmother, Theresa, was struggling with her joint health.
“That’s what inspired us,” Conor said. “We brought home the ingredients, prepared them the way we’d seen abroad, and the results were incredible.”
Word spread fast. “Before long we had over a thousand people taking it regularly. That’s when we knew we had something special.”
Building Something Real
Spoonful Botanical uses whole roots of fourteen different herbs and spices, fermented with golden raisins for twenty one days. It’s a slow, traditional process, but it’s the heart of the product.
“The fermentation is what makes it so unique,” Jayne explained. “It boosts the good bacteria and keeps the ingredients in their most natural form.”
One of their biggest early challenges was proving scientifically why the product worked. “People were telling us it helped them so much, but as a small business we had no scientific data,” Conor said. “Partnering with Fitz Scientific, ALS Global, Bord Bia and Teagasc was a massive turning point.”
Family, Work and Life in Louth
Running a fast-growing business while raising their daughter Izzy is no small feat.
“It’s definitely a juggling act,” Jayne laughed. “Some days are mad busy, but we make sure there’s always time for family. Early mornings with Izzy, walks between meetings, dinners together… we make it work.”
They credit their team and families for keeping things running smoothly. “We wouldn’t manage without them,” Conor added.
Conor also continues to play with Louth GAA, something he says keeps him grounded. “The focus and discipline from sport really help with the business side too.”
Pinch-Me Moments
There have been a few. Seeing their jars on shelves nationwide was one. But the big one? “Being featured on RTÉ Nationwide during Covid,” Jayne said. “The response was unbelievable. It came at a time when so many small businesses were struggling, and it gave us a huge lift.”
Looking Ahead
The couple have plenty of plans. Expansion into the UK market. New product variations. More scientific research. And always the same focus on quality and honesty that built the brand in the first place. “We want to keep innovating while staying true to what makes the product special,” Conor said.
Their advice for new entrepreneurs? “Trust each other, stay patient and listen to your customers,” Jayne said. “And don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
As for celebrating the award? “We’ll take a weekend away…whenever life gives us a chance,” Jayne laughed.
What’s clear is this: Spoonful Botanical isn’t slowing down. It’s a Louth-grown business with heart, science, and serious momentum, and Jayne and Conor are only getting started.
A small idea stirred around a kitchen table has become something powerful. And from the way this couple talk, work and dream… the best chapters are still ahead.
