Speciality food sector worth €450m

THE local speciality food sector in Ireland is worth in the region of €450 million and growing at an estimated rate of 17% to 20% annually, it was revealed at the opening of IFEX19, the international food, drink and hospitality exhibition at the RDS in Dublin yesterday.

More than 300 companies from the island of Ireland, the rest of Europe and from as far away as Australia are showcasing a wide range of products to an anticipated national and international audience of 9,000 at the three-day event. However, in a bid to showcase the particular products of Irish speciality food companies to buyers from home and abroad, county enterprise boards in association with Bord Bia brought together over 60 producers under one stand.

Businesses from Roscommon, Waterford, Carlow, Wicklow, Wexford, Limerick and Dublin are taking part in the display on the Bord Bia stand in the heart of the exhibition. They included producers of cakes, cheeses, gourmet-style pizzas, savoury sauces and confectionery. Seminars were also held for participating businesses to demonstrate how to make the most out of the exhibition and how effectively to market their service at a trade fair.

Muiris Kennedy, director of client services with Bord Bia, said the aim was to focus on regional foods from Ireland. While speciality food companies from Cork had dominated the sector, the message was spreading to the rest of the country.

Mr Kennedy said there was a lot of interest in the sector with buyers anxious to see where the innovation is taking place.

Food Minister Brendan Smith, who officially opened the exhibition, said IFEX 19 presents a great opportunity to launch new products and generate and rekindle business contacts.

Among exhibitors from abroad is Food from Britain (FFB), recognising that Britain exported £1.7bn sterling worth of food and drink to Ireland last year.