Bord Bia and Google to train food firms on maximising online sales
Burren Smokehouse, Ballymaloe Foods, Barry’s Tea, Kerry Foods and Glanbia are among the 21 food companies in the seven-month ‘Digital Food Hub’ programme. Training will be delivered by Google experts at its European headquarters in Dublin.
Bord Bia chief executive Aidan Cotter said: “Irish food and drink companies with the capability to collect, understand, and leverage specific consumer information using digital technology will be best positioned to deliver value added benefits to shoppers.
“This, coupled with a multi-channel online presence, in the form of a proactive and comprehensive digital strategy, will create the optimum shopper experience and provide increased purchasing opportunities.”
Bord Bia’s ‘Tomorrow’s Shopper’ research has found that 94% of Irish consumers have purchased goods online. By 2015, 90% of consumers in Ireland will own a smartphone; tablet ownership is set to reach 50%. Before buying, some 82% of survey respondents had completed pre-purchase research.
A Bord Bia survey identified support, advice, education and training to develop online trade as a significant objective.
European online sales are set to double to €323bn by 2018. Irish online sales are expected to account for €11.5bn of that total figure.
