Irish steak beats competition from seven countries in German test

HEREFORD beef from Ireland came out on top of a recent steak test carried out in Germany by a well known food magazine.

Steaks from eight major beef producing countries were tasted by an expert panel. The judges evaluated the samples on flavour, tenderness and texture, as well as their visual appearance.

Irish Hereford prime rib-eye steak was chosen as the clear winner, ahead of the anticipated favourite, New Zealand Wagyu beef, which sells for up to €150/kg at retail.

Other competitors included Argentinean Angus steak, Angus fillet from USA, Florentine steak from Italy, Charolais fillet from France, Bison from USA and locally-produced German Simmental beef.

The prize-winning meat was supplied by AIBP’s plant in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.

It was supplied through its customer, Otto Gourmet, a import firm in north-east Germany selling to high-end restaurants and consumers.

AIBP has a long tradition of working with farmers and customers to supply quality beef for European and worldwide markets.

The success in the steak test comes as a boost to Bord Bia’s promotional efforts in Germany.

Total beef consumption there has increased by 5% over the last 12 months at the expense of pork.

But this has been driven primarily by increased mince (beef-pork mix) consumption which was up 16.4% to May this year.

Bord Bia says this suggests that cheaper menu options are being chosen while eating out and increased value meals are being cooked at home.

Irish beef in Germany competes directly on price with South American beef (Argentinean) at the more premium end.

Discounted price, often coupled with an increase in supply, can lock Irish product out of the market for short periods.

Irish beef exports to Germany in 2008 were valued at €16.3 million, an increase of 65% compared to 2007.

Beef consumption in the country is low relative to other European markets.