Irish artisan food start-ups get €1m in sales at UK Food and Drink Expo

Ten Cork-based artisan food and drink producers have generated an estimated €1m in sales leads at the Food and Drink Expo 2016 at the NEC Birmingham, England.

The food startups attended the three-day UK event as part of the Taste Cork regional export programme, supported by Cork County Council, Cork City Council and the Local Enterprise Offices in Cork.

Tim Lucey, Cork County Council chief executive, said: “We hope that by building a strong regional brand, Cork’s reputation as a centre of excellence for food and drink continues to grow, supporting sustainable employment in communities throughout the region.”

Mayor of County Cork, Cllr John Paul O’Shea, met with Northern Ireland Food representatives to discuss cross-border synergies and potential joint programme initiatives.

He also met with Food & Drink Wales to discuss the upcoming Joint Food & Drink Cluster Initiative between Cork County and Wales.