Chefs’ inauguration to strengthen Ireland-France food export ties

Agri-food relations between Ireland and France have been reinforced at a Bord Bia reception for leading French retailers in Paris.

Irish food and drink exports to France totalled €578m in 2012, and have risen by 11% from January to September this year versus the same period last year. Exports rose by 20% from 2009 to 2012.

Yesterday, Bord Bia helped cement these ties by welcoming two new chefs into the prestigious ‘Chef’s Irish Beef Club’, a network of elite chefs which has been a successful tool in promoting the use of Irish beef in restaurants across Europe. The club features numerous Michelin-starred chefs.

At yesterday’s Bord Bia reception hosted by the Irish Ambassador to France, Rory Montgomery, some 25 Irish food and drink exporters to France from meat, dairy, seafood, beverage, and prepared food sectors met with French retailers and the food service industry.

Agriculture minister of state Tom Hayes said: “The exceptional resilience and performance of Ireland’s food and drinks industry has been further enhanced since the inception of Origin Green — an initiative by Bord Bia focusing on sustainability, traceability and transparency in the supply chain.”