Food companies urged to print recipes on products to boost sales

Bord Bia is advising food companies that printing recipes on their products will significantly enhance their appeal to consumers.

In the latest edition of its trade publication FoodAlert, Bord Bia also tells food producers that people have become more confident in their own cooking abilities, that the home-dining market will keep growing, and that more consumers are reading the small print for health and nutrition.

Bord Bia retail analyst Peter Duggan said: “The impact of the recession has had a knock-on effect on the food service industry, as the number of consumers who would have eaten out once a week or more has shrunk from 39% in 2007 to 25% in 2011. This is leading to a resurgence in home cooking, as homemakers are using recipes and getting lessons more frequently.