Irish veneer product manufacturer rebrands and targets strategic growth

The Leitrim-based firm, which employs 20 people, will launch three new products over the next year: Merenda Surface, Merenda Edge and Merenda Touch.

Merenda Surface, the first to be launched in May, is a veneer surfaces and design solutions service to the interior fit-out industry. This will be followed in September by a new e-commerce edgebanding platform – Merenda Edge. The final launch is Merenda Touch, which the company says will be an exciting innovation in wood veneer.

The company’s long-term strategic goals are to capitalise on the opportunities arising within the “exponentially growing” Irish & UK furniture industry and from the coming 4th industrial revolution.

Managing director Ronan Haslette also wants to make Merenda the best-managed family business in Ireland by 2024.

“The COVID pandemic has highlighted our team’s resilience,” said Mr Haslette. “With superb support from Enterprise Ireland throughout the pandemic and indeed before it, I believe Merenda, with our new identity and strategy is ready for the future.”

Martin McVicar, managing director of Combilift, was a special guest at the rebranding launch.

Aidan McKenna, regional director Enterprise Ireland, said indigenous companies like Merenda were the “backbone” of Ireland’s economy and the lifeblood of rural Ireland.