American consumers give the thumbs-up to Irish food products

AMERICAN consumers would like to have greater access to Irish food products, according to a new survey by Dublin-based Amárach Research.

Food topped the list of most sought after Irish goods. Some 59% of Americans would like to have easier access to buying Irish food. This compares with 35% who want easier access to confectionery, 33% to jewellery and books, 30% to Irish art, and 25% to antiques. The validity of the result is reinforced by the fact that food was not the core focus of this survey.

Amárach and US-based Irishcentral.com surveyed 2,400 internet users, the overwhelming majority American-born. The full findings will be unveiled at Showcase 2011, a creative craft and design trade fair to be attended by 5,500 retail buyers from Ireland, US, EU, Japan at the RDS Dublin from Sunday to Wednesday, January 23 to 26.