Fourteen artisan Irish food and drink companies are participating at the UK market's leading trade event for specialty food and drink this weekend. Bord Bia is organising and coordinating the Irish presence at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair in London, an annual event which attracts over 600 exhibitors and 8,000 international trade visitors. The Ireland stand will showcase a wide selection of artisan products ranging from bakery, confectionary, dairy, healthy eating snacks and seafood.
Speaking about the event Michelle Butler, Manager, Bord Bia London, commented "Ireland's increased presence at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair is an acknowledgement of the importance of the UK market. The UK is Ireland's largest export market and following a 6% increase in the value of exports in 2011, it now accounts for 41%, or €3.66 billion, of total Irish food and drink exports. A number of Irish companies will be showcasing at the event for the first time including Truly Irish, Keoghs Crisps, Algaran, Wild Irish Sea Veg and Danucci."
Catherine Fulvio, Ballyknocken House and Cookery School, will also travel to London on Tuesday, 4th September to help promote Ireland's stand and entertain the trade show visitors by cooking up some delicious dishing using her favourite Irish produce.
Over the past few weeks, Bord Bia has carried out an extensive buyer canvassing campaign aimed at attracting targeted food buyers, distributors and food service operators to meet with the Irish food companies.
14 Irish companies exhibiting on the Bord Bia Ireland stand 613-615:
- Algaran
- Burren Smokehouse
- Chia Bia
- Clonakilty
- Cooleeney Farm
- Ferdia Fine Foods
- Green Pastures
- The Jelly Bean Factory
- Keough's Crisps
- Kinsale Gourmet
- Largo Foods
- Pandora Bell
- Spanish Seapoint
- Tea Time Express
- Truly Irish Country Foods
3 Additional Irish companies will also be exhibiting at different stands:
- Kinsale Gourmet – Stand 139
- Alternative Pizza Company – Stand 051
- Highbank Orchards – Stand 928