The Finnebrogue founder, who started out selling pizzas and pies out of a little white van and farming before moving onto chips, went on to become one of Northern Ireland's leading food producers and a major supermarket supplier.
"Denis was an innovator and a visionary with an infectious passion for delivering positive change for the planet and its people. He leaves behind an extraordinary list of achievements. "The board of directors has met today. Non-executive director David Manning has been appointed interim-Chairman with immediate effect. Non-executive director Colin Walsh has been appointed interim deputy-chairman."We have set up an email account, RememberingDenis@finnebrogue.com, for you to send your memories and condolences, which we will compile and publish in due course.
Others have taken to social media to pay their respects to the once farmer, who evolved his business to include meat alternatives.