Bord Bia and 19 Irish seafood companies are participating at the world's largest seafood trade fair, Seafood Expo Global (SEG), taking place in Brussels this week. Each year, SEG attracts over 26,000 influential food buyers and suppliers from over 140 countries around the world. The Irish exhibitors represent the full spectrum of species available from Ireland including shellfish, whitefish, pelagic and finfish in a range of formats including live, chilled, canned, frozen and smoked. (A full list of exhibitors is provided below).
In 2015, Irish seafood was exported to over 70 markets worldwide, with a total value of €570 million, an increase of 77% since 2009. While the EU, namely France, Spain, UK, Italy and Germany, continues to be Ireland's key export destination, accounting for over 55% of total exports, over 20% of seafood exports are now destined for African countries. Prospects for export growth in 2016 remain broadly positive with companies focusing their new market development efforts in Asia and the United States.
Bord Bia's pavilion at Seafood Expo Global is a key element of its annual seafood trade promotional programme which is focused on developing new market opportunities for the Irish seafood sector. The programme includes an Irish presence at a number of significant seafood trade shows throughout the year including Conxemar in Spain, Biofach in Germany and the Chinese Fisheries Show in Qingdao. Speaking in advance of the event, Karen Devereux, Bord Bia's seafood sector manager, said, “These international trade events remain a critical business development platform for Irish exporters. Our presence offers Irish companies the opportunity to identify new customers, connect with existing clients, launch new products, broaden their export reach, and learn about trends and innovations influencing the industry. From farmed salmon, mussels and oysters, to managed wild fisheries, the show also provides us with an opportunity to showcase the breadth of the industry and communicate the sector's sustainability commitments under Origin Green."
Global Showcase for Irish Products
Three of the Irish exhibitors will use their presence at Seafood Expo Global to launch new products to a targeted global trade audience. Green Isle Foods will launch Donegal Catch “Creations”, a new range of premium, freshly frozen fish where each fillet is individually wrapped in a microwaveable pouch. This product range will target young shoppers looking for quick and healthy meal solutions and is designed to eradicate the preconceptions around fish when it comes to smell, preparation, touch and cooking. In addition, Keohane Seafoods, based in Bantry Bay, will launch their healthy range of ready meals for children using an innovative steam cooking methodology, while Dublin's Rockabill Seafood plan to launch three new products at the show, namely live blue lobster, live brown crab and cooked frozen brown crab.
Event organisers will present the prestigious Priz d'Elite industry award for new and innovative seafood products. Ireland has a strong track record in this regard, as last year the Prix d'Elite special award for Seafood Product Line was awarded to Rockabill and iASC for their Something Fishy range of seafood culinary butters.
The companies representing Ireland under Bord Bia's Origin Green stand at Seafood Expo Global include:
- Atlanfish
- Connemara Seafoods
- Emerald Mussels
- Errigal Bay
- Gallagher Brothers
- Green Isle Foods
- Irish Seafood Producers Group
- Keohane Seafoods
- Killybegs Seafoods
- Kush Seafarms
- Hannigan's Live Irish Shellfish
- Marine Harvest
- Norfish
- O'Cathain Iasc
- Premier Fish
- Rockabill
- Shellfish De La Mer
- Sofrimar
- Ward Fish
Learn more about the companies in Bord Bia's show guide.