Top retail buyers to attend conference

Dublin: Some 165 buyers from all of the major European retail chains, whose combined buying power for beef is over e4 billion, will be among the 350 invited guests of Bord Bia at a major conference in Dublin on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh, who will officially open the Second European Meat Forum, said yesterday that producer prices remain at their highest level for four years.

This reflected strong demand in Britain and also across continental Europe, where the consumption of beef is continuing to rise.