Over 150 Irish companies will attend this year's Food & Drink Industry Day, organised by Bord Bia. Participants will be addressed by key food industry and retail figures. Exploring Drivers of Growth presents important new research on consumer and retail trends in Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe. The event will also provide the opportunity for some 230 one-on-one meetings with Bord Bia's overseas market specialists.
The Agri-food sector is Ireland's most important indigenous industry with exports of €7.3bn in 2005. The sector contributes 9% to Ireland's GDP and 8% of employment.
The Food & Drink Industry day, the sixth in as many years takes place at the IMI Conference Centre in Dublin today. The main purpose of the event is to bring together the leading practitioners in the Irish food and drink industry to discuss market place trends from both a trade and consumer perspective.
The keynote speaker will be Mr Richard Brasher, Commercial and Trading Director of Tesco UK. He will address the delegates on Tesco's strategy in UK and overseas markets and will also explain Tesco's supplier requirements highlighting the steps that Irish food and drink companies must take if they wish to become Tesco suppliers. Tesco UK already buys €430m worth of food and drink from Irish suppliers.
The Minister for Agriculture, Ms Mary Coughlan TD, attended Bord Bia's Food & Drink Industry Day. In her address to delegates she stressed the importance of producers keeping abreast of the latest marketplace trends. Bord Bia Chief Executive Mr Aidan Cotter outlined to delegates the range of activities planned by Bord Bia for the coming year.
One of the seminars featured the publication of new research on consumers' shopping habits in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain. Titled Irish Consumer Shopper Study, the research presented by Helen King, Senior Business Analyst, Bord Bia highlighted that Irish consumers attach greater importance to food and health and nutrition considerations. The fresh fruit and vegetables department was the most visited supermarket department for shoppers in all three markets.
Mr John Fanning, Chairman of McConnells delivered a seminar on the importance of building food and drink brands and the value of brands. Mr James O'Donnell, manager of Bord Bia's US office, and Terry Cook, Buying Consultant to Charlton House Catering Services in the UK, spoke about product trends in the US foodservice market and their significance in the UK market. Mr Padraig Brennan, Senior Business Analyst, Bord Bia, delivered some fresh insights on supplying mainland European retailers.
As well as participating in these seminars delegates attended pre-arranged one-on-one meetings with representatives from Bord Bia's network of overseas offices. Some 230 such meetings will take place during the event. With so many senior figures from industry in attendance there was also plenty of networking opportunities on the fringes of the event.
"In the six years since it was first established the Food & Drink Industry Day has become one of the leading events in the industry's calendar. We in Bord Bia are committed to maximising the opportunities available to innovative Irish food and drink companies to expand their businesses both at home and abroad. Events such as this which explore market opportunities and the drivers of growth while allowing companies to network with buyers and each other play a vital role in developing sales and exports of Irish Food and Drink", commented Bord Bia Chief Executive Mr Aidan Cotter.
-ENDS-
For further information contact:
Rosaleen O'Shaughnessy,
Corporate Communications,
Bord Bia
Tel: 01 614 2245