Irish eating habits ‘changing’
Speaking at the opening in Dublin of IFEX, the country’s biggest food and drink exhibition, Food Minister Noel Treacy said people eat out more often and also buy a range of snack foods to eat on the go.
The demand for ready-to-cook, ready-to-eat foods is a barometer of the changing lifestyle patterns, the minister said.
“The one constant is that food safety and quality remain top of the menu and I have confidence that our indigenous food industry is equipped to cater for these requirements,” Mr Treacy added.
He also welcomed introduction of the IFEX Irish Farmhouse Cheesemaker of the Year award.
He said Irish farmhouse cheeses have become a big success story in the last few years with more than 100 varieties on the market.
However, IFEX chairman Bill Hodges said Irish consumers could be more supportive of farmhouse cheeses.
He said: “Production of Irish farmhouse cheese is only 1,000 tonnes per year at present. There is huge scope to increase sales if shoppers were more discriminating.
“If we can substitute some farmhouse cheeses for just a fraction of the 18,000 tonnes of cheese imported annually then the industry would grow and prosper.”
Mr Hodges said sales of local cheeses are set to increase by 25% this year, but this is from a small base.
“Shops, supermarkets and delis could also play a role in supporting farmhouse cheeses by displaying and promoting them better than they do at present,” he said.
More than 300 homes and firms are taking part in the three-day showcase of the €16bn Irish food and drink industry, which comprises 700 companies, employs 47,000 people and exports €7bn worth of products to more than 130 countries.
The exhibition also features national pavilions from Spain, Germany, Britain and Poland.
