Feeding frenzy as 5,000 buyers spend €30m savouring haute cuisine
The three-day event attracted more than 5,000 key national buyers and more than 250 exhibitors from Ireland and abroad, who showcased a wide variety of products.
These ranged from gluten free meals and exotic meats to organic spices and luxury handmade chocolates and from hand-made gourmet pork products and farmhouse cheese to fresh fruit smoothies and vodka and berry liqueurs.
West Cork cheese maker, Jeffa Gill, Durrus, yesterday scooped three international awards for her farmhouse cheese.
She won the overall supreme award, Irish Farmhouse Cheese Maker of the year and the gold medal in the speciality soft and semi-cheese without additives class.
A family run business, Durrus Farmhouse Cheese, has been in operation since 1979 and at last year’s event, it became the first ever to win both an overall farmhouse cheese award in addition to the highest accolade of overall supreme winner.
Over 200 cheeses were bored, cut or sliced by the judges this year and awards were presented across 17 competition classes.
Food Minister Brendan Smith, who officially opened the event, said the agri-food sector in Ireland employs 1-in-10 of the workforce, contributes €17 billion to the economy in sales and €7.5bn in exports.
Over 700 food and drinks companies employing 50,000 people are located countrywide.
The purchases of local raw materials made by these companies and the 60,000 people employed in distribution and other services embed wealth in the economy, he added.
“When the family gets together for dinner now, it is increasingly likely to be eating out at a restaurant. Three out of four people regularly eat out, and this figure is increasing all the time,” he said.
Mr Smith said the food and drink sector has to be prepared to change with the times, and exhibitions at SHOP 2006 are not only welcome but also necessary.
