‘Significant’ US market share aim for Irish beef

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said he is very confident that Irish beef will secure a significant slice of the US market, after his meetings this week with several US meat distributors.

“The ABP announcement of its €15m beef collaboration with Sysco is hopefully the first of many such deals”.

To mark the re-entry of Irish beef to the US market after 15 years, he hosted a prestigious launch event in New York which featured top international chefs and was attended by many key US meat buyers and food writers.

Mr Coveney said it was “the perfect event at which to market Irish beef to premium buyers, distributors and opinion formers.”

“We’re benefitting from the endorsement of some of the best Michelin star chefs whose commitment to Irish beef gives it a prestige unparalleled elsewhere.”

His officials and the US authorities have approved two Irish beef plants to commence for exports. Other Irish plants are going through the approval process.

Ireland is the first EU member state to access the US beef import market, which was worth €4.2 billion in 2014 (nearly two times Ireland’s total beef exports).

ABP Food Group is the first European company to agree a supply deal, expected to commence in March. It will supply beef to Sysco Metro New York and Sysco Boston.

Sysco specialises in food distribution to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities. The deal was facilitated by Irish-based Pallas Foods, a Sysco Corporation subsidiary.

Leading Irish beef companies, and Bord Bia, took part in this week’s US launch, which included the new www.irishbeefusa.com  website for US consumers.

It features farmers Ben Colchester, Urlingford, Co Kilkenny; Denis and John Large, also of Urlingford; Ivor and Joe Deverell, Tullamore, Co Offaly; Ben and Elaine Ryall, Watergrasshill, Co Cork; David Johnson, Redcross, Co Wicklow; and Marcus and Leeann Wallace, Castlefinn, Co Donegal.