The Johnson family began roasting coffee in Ireland in 1913.
A liquid coffee essence with chicory and added sugar was manufactured and sold in bottle form under the brand name IREL (IRELand). This product has been used in households across Ireland ever since.
During the sugar rationed war years it was an ideal hot drink as it was pre sweetened. After World War II demand fell as it was seen as a war time product and the nation's trend moved to a pure ground coffee. Irel followed this trend and a ground coffee was produced, sold in a tin and available in both the food service and grocery sectors.
Today, Irel is still roasted in Lisburn by fourth generation Johnson family. Only 100% Arabica coffees are used and coffee is roasted and packed in modern form fill packaging equipment.
