Behind the Brand – Blanco Niño

After opening his Mexican restaurant in Dublin in 2010, Phil Martin encountered the challenge of sourcing high-quality, authentic Mexican tortillas on this side of the globe. Inspired by this frustration he embarked on a trip to Mexico in 2013 to delve deeper into the traditional tortilla-making techniques. This journey led him to establish Blanco Niño, a Traditional Mexican Tortilleria, in Clonmel in 2015. Since its inception, Blanco Niño has flourished, specialising in traditionally crafted corn tortillas, tortilla chips, and they have just recently launched salsas in the Irish market. Their products are sold to discerning restaurants, hotels, and retail outlets in Ireland and beyond.

Business expansion has been fuelled by the enthusiasm, dedication and unwavering commitment of Phil and the team he has built around him. All care deeply about doing things the right way; making products of the highest quality, respecting tradition, supporting local and championing sustainable practices. Blanco Niño uses only non-GMO corn, supports small local producers in Mexico and is committed to regenerative farming principles.

Ger – Operations Director

Ger Sweetman is Operations Director at Blanco Niño, based at the company’s factory in Clonmel. Since joining in the summer of 2022, Ger has overseen and led the dramatic growth of production in line with business expansion. Along with thirty people working at the plant, he leads on the challenges to ensure the highest quality standards are met and production is as efficient as possible while staying true to the business’s values.

Blanco Niño’s approach to how they make their products is at the very core of the business. Their facility is a truly unique operation on this side of the Atlantic, combining traditional and slow cooking practices with operational and manufacturing excellence, this goes hand-in-hand with Blanco Niño being upgraded to the highest standard of BRC certification, AA+.

Outside of work, Ger spends time with his family and is a keen sportsman. Ger is a supporter of Wexford GAA and has won 3 adult county finals with his GAA club. He also coaches kids hurling and football.

Emma – National Account Manager, Ireland

Emma Keating, Senior National Account Manager, is a one-woman dynamo! Single-handedly responsible for sales across Ireland, she knows store managers and food service operators personally and is always willing to go above and beyond to provide them with the best possible service. Friendly and chatty, people say she is never lost for words! She is hardworking and full of energy, dividing her time between driving sales of Blanco Niño products across Ireland and taking care of her young family.

As with all the Blanco Niño Team, Emma is extremely passionate about Food and sustainability. This was the key reason for her joining the team.

Emma is part of a highly dedicated and energetic sales team. She along with Jake Libson, George Blakey and Sales Director James Howie have driven sales of Blanco Niño products across sixteen markets. Thanks to their efforts, Blanco Niño products are now available in premium supermarkets and restaurants all over the world.

Margarida – Creative Lead

Margarida Madeira, a Portuguese animator and illustrator, is the talent behind Blanco Niño’s beautiful and unique packaging designs. As well as being aesthetically beautiful, Blanco Niño packaging is fully recyclable, the only brand in the crisps and tortilla chips category to be so.

As Creative Lead, Margarida is also responsible for the design of all the advertising activities and artwork that comes from the brand. She has had an incredible career, publishing a comic book and creating several award-winning short films, you can check them out at https://margaridamadeira.com/. Margarida is based in Lisbon where she lives with her partner and seven-month-old baby, Amelia.

Never known to rest on their laurels, the team at Blanco Niño are constantly innovating, and we are told there are more exciting new product launches on the way! Keep an eye out at www.blanconino.com.