Following three days of visits to over 100 Irish farms, factories and food producers nationwide, almost 400 international food buyers from all around the world will gather in the Convention Centre Dublin today (Thursday 26th March) for Bord Bia’s Marketplace 2015 event. The international buyers, and 150 Irish food and drink buyers and foodservice operators, will meet with 185 Irish food and drink companies, ranging in size and profile from small enterprises to multinationals, during 5,093 pre-scheduled ‘speed-dating’ style meetings taking place throughout the day. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD will open the event and the Minister of State Tom Hayes TD will also attend.
In addition to a strong representation of UK and European buyers, 106 Asian buyers have travelled to attend the event, compared to just 14 in 2012 when Bord Bia last held a Marketplace event. Meanwhile, 38 buyers from the Middle East will attend; 24 from North America; 15 from Africa and 12 from Russia. According to Bord Bia, there was a significant shift in the destinations for Irish exports in 2014 with international markets showing renewed growth, reflected in a 16% increase in trade to stand at €3 billion or 29% of Ireland’s total food and drink exports.
This shift in market destination was marked by increases in the value of exports to Asia to reach €901 million (+49%) as well as significant increases to North America (€738million, +16%), the Middle East (€353 million, +21%) and Africa (€609 million, +4%). Within this, China recorded a further increase of almost 40% to reach approximately €547 million. China is now Ireland’s second largest export market for dairy, compared to 13th in 2008.
In addition to the overseas buyers, there will be a strong representation of domestic buyers present including Aldi, Dunnes, Lidl, Musgraves, Tesco Ireland,; Asda-Walmart and Nisa Retail from Northern Ireland and independent retailers such as Avoca and Donnybrook Fair will also participate. Meanwhile, almost 90 representatives from the island of Ireland foodservice industry will be attending including Aramark, Compass Group Ireland and Sodexo Contract Caterers, Dalata Hotel Group, Applegreen & Topaz Forecourts and Insomnia coffee chain. Buyers from all national foodservice distribution partners will also be in attendance, from Pallas Foods to Musgrave Wholesale Partners to Brakes Ireland, Henderson and Lynas Foodservice.
Marketplace 2015 by Numbers:
- 12 months planning by Bord Bia
- 381 international buyers from 34 countries travelled to Ireland to attend Marketplace 2015
- 152 Irish food buyers and foodservice operators will also attend
- 185 Irish food and drink companies
- 5,093 meetings have been pre-scheduled and more will take place on the day
- Over 100 site visits were carried out earlier this week with more planned for Friday and Saturday
Bord Bia is targeting at least €30 million worth of new business today, however the real value and potential is in building over 500 new trade relationships for the Irish food and drink industry. In 2014, Irish food and drink exports were valued at €10.5 billion with exports destined for 175 markets around the world.