Twenty three Irish seafood exporters will travel to Brussels this week to exhibit on Bord Bia’s stand at European Seafood Exposition (ESE), the world’s largest seafood fair taking place from April 23rd – 25th. ESE, regarded as the most important trade event for the Irish seafood industry, attracts international buyers from over 140 countries and features stands from in excess of 1,600 exhibitors. The event provides an opportunity for Ireland’s seafood exporters to identify new customers, meet existing clients and launch new products.
Exports
In 2012, the value of Irish seafood exports, which account for approximately 45% of the total annual output from the sector, were estimated at €501 million, representing an increase of 20% on the previous year figures. Almost 70% of exports are sold within the EU, led by France and closely followed by the UK. Irish seafood exporters, in conjunction with Bord Bia, are continually working to diversify and broaden exports. Since 2009, Bord Bia has coordinated thirty five trade visits to Ireland aimed at international buyers, which resulted in increased exports to China, Japan, Eastern Europe and other European markets, particularly benefiting the Irish shellfish and salmon sectors. International and emerging markets including Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt and Russia are also among the current importers of Irish fish species such as mackerel, herring and blue whiting.
To support the industry’s market diversification strategy, Bord Bia also conducted trade research in over 10 new export markets which has assisted the Irish industry to gain a better understanding of existing and emerging seafood consumer trends.
New Product Launches
The Irish exhibitors at ESE are using the event to promote and launch a number of new products. Emerald Mussels, which specialize in Blue Mussel Cultivation*, will launch a new range of Organic Irish Seabed Mussels, the first seabed cultured mussels worldwide* to be classified as Organic by the EU and to carry the EU Organic Logo. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Shellfish De La Mer, based in West Cork, will be sampling its new line of live oysters, lobster, urchins, and periwinkles along with fresh brown crab, claws, scallops, and prawns. In addition, the company will launch a new multilingual website and online shop (www.shellfishirelandshop.com).
Meanwhile, Glenmar Shellfish, a Cork based company exporting for over 30 years, plans to promote its recently launched factory for live shellfish and premium seafood. The new factory facilities will be used to pack live razors, scallops, oysters and prawns for the Asian markets. Irish Fish Canners, a family run business based County Donegal, will introduce a new range of Herring and Mackerel products in a variety of oils, brines and sauces while first time exhibitors Keohane Seafoods and Goatsbridge Trout, Kilkenny plan to launch new products at the show including fresh and frozen pre-packed skin filmed seafood and trout caviar.
The Irish exhibitors (listed below) represent the full spectrum of species available from Ireland including shellfish, whitefish, pelagics and finfish in a range of formats including live, chilled, canned, frozen and smoked.
ESE is an important part of Bord Bia’s trade exhibition calendar for the Irish seafood sector which includes participation at additional targeted trade shows including Conxemar, Spain; Biofach, Germany; and Chinese Fisheries Show, Dalian. In addition, client seafood companies are also invited to participate in a full range of cross sectoral shows coordinated by Bord Bia each year including The Specialty and Fine Food Show which takes place in London; MDD, a Paris based Private Food Label Exhibition; SIRHA, the World Hospitality and Food Service Event, which takes place in Lyon and SIAL China, Asia’s leading Food and Beverage Exhibition.
ESE 2013 – Irish Food Companies:
1. Atlanfish Ltd
Malin Road
Carndonagh
Co. Donegal
www.cashelmara.ie
2. CKI
Kilmore Quay
Wexford
www.cki.ie
3. Connemara Seafoods
Seafood House
Kilmeena
Westport
Co. Mayo
www.connemaraseafoods.com
4. Emerald Mussels
Raheen Industrial Estate
Westport
Co. Mayo
5. Errigal Fish Co.
Meenaneary,
Carrick,
County Donegal
www.errigalseafood.com
6. Gallagher Bros
Killybegs
Co. Donegal
7. Glenmar Shellfish
Main Street
Union Hall
Co. Cork
www.irishprawns.com
8. Goatsbridge Trout Farm
Thomastown
Co Kilkenny
www.goatsbridgetrout.ie
9. Irish Fish Canners
Meenmore
Dungloe
Co. Donegal
www.irishfishcanners.ie
10. Irish Organic Salmon Company
Marine Harvest Ireland
Ballylar PO
Rinmore
Fanad
Co. Donegal
www.theorganicsalmoncompany.com
11. Irish Seafood Producers Group (ISPG)
Kilkerin
Connemara
Co. Galway
www.ispg.ie
12. Kenmare Select
Kilmurry, Kenmare
Co. Kerry
www.kenmare-select.com
13. Keohane Seafoods
Unit 28 Kinsale Road Industrial Estate
Kinsale Road
Cork City
14. Killybegs Seafood
Conlin Road
Killybegs
Co. Donegal
www.killybegsseafoods.com
15. Kush Shellfish
O’Shea House
New Road, Kenmare
Co. Kerry.
www.kush.ie
16. Murphy’s Irish Seafood
Gearhies, Bantry
Co. Cork
www.fastnetmussels.com
17. Norfish
The Glebe,
Killybegs
Co. Donegal
www.norfishltd.com
18. O Cathain Iasc Teo
The Quay
Dingle
Co. Kerry
19. Premier Fish
Stoneyhill Industrial Estate
Killybegs
Co. Donegal
20. Rockabill
Stephenstown Industrial Estate
Balbriggan
Co. Dublin
www.rockabill.ie
21. Sean Ward Fish Exports
Roshine Road
Killybegs
Co. Donegal
www.wardfish.com
22. Shellfish De La Mer
Dinish Island
Castletownbere
Co. Cork.
www.shellfishireland.com
23. Sofrimar Ltd
Kilmore Quay
Co. Wexford
www.sofrimar.ie
Terms and Definitions:
* Blue Mussel Cultivation refers to the farming of mussels in Ireland. Blue mussel is the species we produce in Ireland.
** Seabed Cultured Mussels refers to the method of bottom farming in the mussel sector. In Ireland, mussels are produced in two ways; either rope mussels (mussels grown on ropes) or bottom/seabed mussels.