Invest Northern Ireland
Our Friends in the North Jen Guiney, Business Development Executive with Invest Northern Ireland, provides an insight into why Northern Ireland food and drink producers continue to make an impact across the Republic’s retail and foodservice markets.
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Jen Guiney, Business Development Executive, Invest Northern Ireland.
ood and drink manufacturers from Northern Ireland are making increasing inroads into the market in the Republic of Ireland, many of them with the help of Invest Northern Ireland, the region’s business development body. “We offer buyers a comprehensive understanding of the products, capacity and capabilities of around 200 Northern Ireland food and drink producers. We can also pinpoint how our companies can help them to meet their business objectives with outstanding products,” explains Jen Guiney, Business Development Executive, Invest Northern Ireland.
Whilst Great Britain remains the most important destination for sales of Northern Ireland food and drink, with customers purchasing 47% of the total output, the Republic of Ireland remains the biggest export market at 14% (Source: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) report Aug 2017). “The manufacturing capability of our wide network of food and drink manufacturers means that Northern Ireland can satisfy customer needs across many categories, as well as delivering volume requirements,” Jen reveals. “We have already assisted many buyers to identify opportunities in Northern Ireland through a successful programme of networking events, visits to our companies and ‘meet the buyer’ activities.”
Award-Winning Quality In October 2018, some 60 NI food and drink products gained awards at Blas na h’Eireann, including for the first time ever, the overall Supreme Champion. A total of 20 golds were achieved across most product categories, especially meat, dairy, bakery and fish, including smoked salmon. Champion at Blas was Rooney Fish of Kilkeel, Co. Down, a family business which exports its shellfish globally. Rooney won the top award for its superb Millbay Oysters from its own extensive oyster farm in Carlingford Lough. The 2018 Irish Quality Food Awards were also highly successful for NI food companies, with five outright winners.
The Multiple Effect Over the past year, food promotion activity has led to new business for a number of Northern Ireland companies with Aldi. In October 2018, Co. Tyrone-based Cloughbane Farm launched Cloughbane Little Farm, a range of children’s meals, in 67 Aldi stores, with plans to roll out to remaining stores this year. Earlier this year, Prep House Sauces in Crossgar won its first business with Aldi and is now supplying its pepper sauce to 137 stores. Portaferry–based Just Live a Little is now supplying two of its new Granola Trail Mixes, Plant Protein and the Smart Energy, to 130 Aldi stores. “We have already assisted many companies to identify purchasing opportunities in Northern Ireland through a successful programme of marketing activities and many retailers, including Tesco Ireland and Dunnes Stores, now list our food and drink,” Guiney notes.
Lough Neagh eels, one of the many quality products from Northern Ireland that’s proving hugely popular in the Republic of Ireland.
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If you are looking for that innovative product to give you a point of difference coupled with flexibility, quality and consistency, why not make contact with Jen Guiney. T: +44 (0) 7985 111024. E: jen.guiney@investni.com W: BuyNIFood.com.