Kate’s Kitchen Futureproofs Its Foodie Empire with SIRO LightPulse 1Gb Fibre from Fastcom
- Fastcom Broadband
- Jun 12
- 4 min read
From Counter to Cloud: How a Beloved Sligo Store is Powering Ahead with Full Fibre Connectivity
Just off the Wild Atlantic Way in the heart of Sligo Town, Kate’s Kitchen is more than a food shop, it’s a celebration of everything local, delicious and beautifully curated. Run by sisters Kate, Beth, and Jane O’Hara, this gourmet grocer and café has grown into a thriving independent business that’s as much about experience as it is about produce.
With shelves stocked with artisan foods, fine wines, bespoke hampers, and luxury cosmetics, and a menu of fresh homemade lunches/dinners and takeaway coffees, it’s easy to see why Kate’s Kitchen is a favourite for locals and visitors alike. What’s less visible to customers, however, is the technology humming beneath the surface, and how it’s helped this small business thrive in a digital world.
To stay ahead of customer expectations and manage growing online operations, the O’Hara sisters recently upgraded to SIRO LightPulse 1Gb fibre broadband, delivered by Fastcom. This new, next-generation product offers 1Gb download and a boosted 250Mb upload speed, specifically designed for modern Irish businesses. And for Kate’s Kitchen, the results have been transformative.
The Evolution of an Independent Retailer
Since taking over the shop in 2008, the sisters have grown Kate’s Kitchen into a flagship independent retailer with a strong online presence and a loyal customer base. From Saturday bake pre-orders to nationwide hamper delivery, the team now operates across multiple digital touchpoints, requiring seamless coordination between:
In-store card payment terminals and till systems
E-commerce platforms and stock control
Social media marketing and content creation
Cloud-based order fulfilment and supplier systems
Hosted VOIP phone services for customer queries and vendor calls
When their previous broadband connection began struggling to keep up, they knew it was time for something faster, smarter, and ready for what’s next.
The Challenge: A Digital Backbone That Couldn’t Keep Up
While Kate’s Kitchen has always been known for its warmth and in-person service, its operations increasingly depend on digital infrastructure. Their existing broadband setup, adequate in earlier years, was not sufficient as the business expanded.
During busy lunch hours, payment terminals would lag, Wi-Fi would drop, and uploading new product images or videos to their online shop or social media could take far too long. Their VOIP phone service, which depends entirely on broadband stability, also suffered from occasional delays.
The growing demand placed on their connection, especially upload-heavy tasks like processing online orders, updating web platforms, syncing cloud-based stock systems, and making VOIP calls, was quickly outpacing their connection’s capabilities.
The Solution: SIRO LightPulse 1Gb with 250Mb Upload – Installed by Fastcom
Fastcom recommended a futureproof solution designed specifically for modern Irish businesses: SIRO LightPulse 1Gb broadband. Installed over SIRO’s 100% fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, this service is built on the ESB electrical infrastructure, eliminating copper entirely and ensuring a direct fibre path to Kate’s Kitchen.
But what really set the new service apart was its enhanced upload speed: 250Mb.
Why Upload Speed Matters
In today’s connected world, upload performance is just as important as download speed, especially for businesses like Kate’s Kitchen that:
Upload high-quality images and videos for marketing
Operate e-commerce and cloud platforms
Use VOIP phone systems for customer service
Regularly send files, sync data, and back up systems online
With 250Mb upload speed, these tasks now run seamlessly, without lag or disruption even during peak trading times.
Fastcom completed the installation quickly and with minimal interruption to trading, delivering a stable, business-grade broadband connection with a superior Service Level Agreement and expert local support.
The Results: Fast Speeds, Fresh Focus
Since switching to SIRO LightPulse 1Gb with Fastcom, Kate’s Kitchen has seen measurable improvements across every area of their business:
Instant card payments and faster till response times
Crystal-clear VOIP phone calls with no dropouts
Real-time cloud syncing of stock and supplier systems
Rapid uploads to social media and e-commerce platforms
Reliable in-store Wi-Fi for staff and vendors
The capacity to scale online sales, delivery logistics and marketing with ease
Whether it’s a customer placing a last-minute gift order, a staff member uploading Instagram stories from the café counter, or a VOIP call with a supplier, everything is now running more smoothly.
A Word from the Owners
“We are a family-run store with a love of great food and great service and behind the scenes, tech is a huge part of making that happen. With Fastcom’s SIRO LightPulse connection, everything runs faster. Uploading product photos is instant, our phone service is crystal clear, and customers get quicker service at the tills. It’s really taken the pressure off day-to-day.” - Kate, Beth & Jane O’Hara- Kates Kitchen
“Kate’s Kitchen is the heartbeat of independent retail in Sligo, warm, driven, and deeply connected to their community. We are delighted to support their growth with our new SIRO LightPulse 1Gb service. It’s a broadband solution that truly matches the pace and passion of their business.”- Lorraine Gribbons – Managing Director, Fastcom
Conclusion: A Store Rooted in Local, Powered by Fibre
Kate’s Kitchen is proof that digital transformation doesn’t have to mean losing your personal touch. It’s about enabling small businesses to deliver the best of themselves, online and offline, with the speed, reliability, and tools they need to thrive.
With SIRO LightPulse 1Gb broadband from Fastcom, Kate’s Kitchen has not only solved its connectivity challenges, it’s prepared itself for the next chapter of growth.
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