A love affair begins
It all began in Galway University back in 1990
First meeting as teenagers, Fintan and Michelle flew to Australia after their studies. It was there they fell madly in love with the concept of casual dining.
They returned home with a strong desire to set up their own food business and no money. But the seed was planted.
For a time, they followed their career paths, Michelle as a solicitor and Fintan as a chemist. And in 2001, a few months before their wedding day, Fintan and Michelle set up a food stall at the market in Limerick.
A stall that still opens to this day every Saturday.
Gourmet Tart Co. Bakery is born
Growing organically since 2001
Encouraged by customers, Fintan and Michelle decide to dedicate themselves full-time to the business.
Leasing a bakery in Galway City with no formal training in business or in food, they very much had to figure it all out along the way.
They gathered and grew a great bakery team, many of whom have stayed working alongside Fintan and Michelle for over a decade.
Together, they built a business and a brand rooted in the local community. Today, they are proud to supply their own alma mater with their signature products.
Family-owned, community-focused
We put in the time, so you don’t have to
As a family, we value our connection with our loyal customer base. And we maintain this connection by working in the business every day.
Our bakery is open 24 hours per day, running on 3 shifts. Our shops are open 12 hours per day, 7 days per week.
We don’t just fill boxes. From our jams to our snack pots and homemade granola, the pink and white is a sure sign we produced it in our very own bakery.
The Gourmet Tart Co. Family
Always Here If You Need Us
Fintan works full-time in the bakery, trialling and testing to expand our range. He is constantly striving to maintain the quality of our products so we can keep delivering them at a fair price.
Michelle leads the sales team and and takes care of the business side of the bakery. She conducts every interview personally and curates every hamper, too.
Mary also works in our Salthill café, while Bridget works as a barista in our Raven Terrace store. John is studying business and wouldn’t be caught dead working in Gourmet Tart. And Sylvester serves across our shops and now mans that market stall that started it all over 20 years ago.
From our family to yours
With your help, we have evolved over the years
“We are very grateful to have had the opportunities and the health to have built the business and raised our family in Galway with the support of all of our team and our customers.
It is a privilege to have been part of so many lives, and we are delighted to play a part in the everyday routine of so many people.”
— Michelle
