Networking event to address challenges in food sector

FOR anybody involved in the food industry, a major event being held in Cork tonight is certainly not one to miss.

Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Simon Coveney will join some of the country’s top food industry experts at the Rochestown Park Hotel for a special “Networking and Knowledge” evening to mark the final Cork Food Forum event of 2011.

Funded and managed by the four Cork county and city enterprise boards, it is aimed at small and medium -sized firms involved in Cork’s food industry.

It is envisaged the event will further participants’ knowledge in relation to the opportunities and challenges currently facing the Irish food sector.

Guest speakers include Pauline Browne from Musgrave’s, Ella McSweeney of RTÉ’s Ear to the Ground and Tadhg O’Donovan from Glenilen Farm.

Deirdre O’Mahony, West Cork Enterprise Board assistant chief executive, said she was delighted to have an excellent line-up of speakers “who would offer a superb insight into emerging opportunities and challenges within the sector”.

Seán O’Sullivan, chief executive of the South Cork Enterprise Board, said an advanced food development programme which the boards had developed would enable food entrepreneurs from across the county to participate in trade events and meet with retail buyers.

“We’re now preparing to offer a 2012 programme so the Cork Food Forum provides the perfect occasion for emerging food businesses to meet with the 2011 group and discover what products they’ve developed during the programme,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

Mr Coveney will officially launch the new Cork Food Finder directory, a publication which aims to boost sales of local produce.