Bord Bia to host 'speed dating'-style event for food companies

Bord Bia has brought over 540 of the world's top food buyers to "speed date" with Irish producers in Dublin today.

Bord Bia has brought more than 540 of the world's top food buyers to "speed date" with Irish producers in Dublin today.

A total of 184 Irish food and drink suppliers will spend 25 minutes with buyers from markets including the US, the Middle East and China, in the hope of winning new business.

Around 5,000 of the meetings will take place at the Convention Centre across the course of the day.

Bord Bia Chairman Michael Carey said that he is confident the "matchmaking" will be a great boost to farmers and producers.

"There will be 184 Irish food and drink companies presenting to them, meeting with them, like a 'speed dating' arrangement, every 25 minutes," he said.

"Business will be written today, but much more importantly, the relationships that are built, the connections that are made, will provide a platform for growth in this industry for the next couple of years."