Irish bite into German food fair

IRISH confectionery companies participated on the Bord Bia co-ordinated Ireland The food Island pavilion at the three-day ISM International Sweets and Biscuits Fair, which concluded in Cologne, Germany, yesterday.

ISM is a premier exhibition trade fair for the confectionery industry in Germany and internationally. Suppliers from more than 70 countries worldwide presented their products at the event. More than 30,000 trade buyers attended.

Seven Irish companies displayed a range of their products, including hand-made chocolates, chewing gum, preserves, sugar confectionery and potato snacks.

Ireland is one of the largest exporters of food and drink in the EU. These were worth in excess of €6.8 billion last year.

Bord Bia trade marketing specialist Niamh MacHale said participation at ISM presented an ideal opportunity to showcase Ireland’s confectionery capability to a trade audience focused exclusively on this sector.

All the main players in Ireland’s confectionery industry attended. The vigour of these companies was reflected in their innovative range of both new and traditional products.

Produced in state-of-the-art plants, these ranged from novelty products for children right through to luxury handmade chocolates for the adult gift market, she said.

Irish companies which exhibited at ISM included Fruitfield Foods, the Gleeson Group, the Irish Chocolate Company, Largo Foods, Lily O’Briens, Oatfield and Zed Gum.