Building for the future
Like the rest of the world, Northern Ireland has endured a difficult period, but there have been positives to build on. FFD speaks to Michelle Charrington, business development director at economic development agency Invest Northern Ireland, about how the food & drink sector has fared, the challenges it faces and how it will emerge from the pandemic to grow further
cultural identity. The region’s produce has proven award-winning status, the result of many years of success in schemes such as Great Taste, UK and Irish Quality Food Awards, Blas na hÉireann Awards and most recently the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards. The link between food and tourism is also stronger than ever and winning Best Food Destination at the International Travel & Tourism Awards in 2018 was a welcome accolade. There may be further scope to develop ‘brand NI’ but, in the meantime, a diverse range of independent brands from producers of all shapes and sizes bring warmth and personality to the industry.
What’s the state of play with Northern Irish food & drink? The Northern Ireland food & drink sector is worth £5.2bn and represents 24% of Northern Ireland’s total external sales. It directly employs 23,400 people and supports some 25,000 farms spread across Northern Ireland’s rural economy. Overall, the sector has grown by over a third in the last decade, significantly increasing sales to mainland Britain and to international markets. Across the UK, SMEs represent 96% of the food & drink manufacturing sector, and Northern Ireland is aligned with this. The industry is made up of around 300 food & drink businesses with a turnover greater than £250,000, 66 of which have a turnover of more than £10m. Just over 50% of total gross turnover comes from the top 10 companies. Family-owned businesses still feature heavily (examples include Irwin’s Bakery, Mash Direct and Morelli’s Ice Cream), resulting in an industry that is flexible,
What are the USPs of the country’s food & drink? Northern Irish food & drink is characterised by a unique blend of tradition and innovation. The quality of NI beef, dairy and bakery products, for example, is well known. Invest NI’s ‘Pure Natural Quality’ strapline summarises the goodness of Northern Ireland’s produce, which emanates from our rich pastures and sustainably managed farms. The highest quality ingredients deliver the finest natural products, often created using traditional production techniques, unchanged for generations Abernethy’s range of hand-churned artisan butters is a prime example. Alongside this, companies such as Finnebrogue and Hughes Mushrooms have emerged as powerful innovators in the meat-free category. Finnebrogue was first to market with nitrate-free bacon and boasts a designated vegan facility dedicated to maximising opportunity in the burgeoning plant-based sector. Hughes,
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authentic and straightforward in its dealings. What do you think the perception is of the country’s food offer outside of Northern Ireland? Awareness of Northern Ireland as a foodproducing region is gradually increasing among consumers, but in a B2B context, it is much more established. In terms of business reach, some 22% of sales are derived from the home market, 51% from GB, 15% from the Republic of Ireland, 9% from the EU and 3% from international markets. Among larger businesses, volume sales are heavily reliant on strong trading relationships with major UK multiple retailers. Look more closely, though, and there is a wealth of smaller businesses successfully supplying independent speciality retailers and foodservice operators in GB and beyond. Food & drink is central to Northern Ireland’s
FOOD & DRINK FROM NORTHERN IRELAND 2021
A SUPPLEMENT TO FINE FOOD DIGEST