Bord Bia has announced that it will bring premium food buyers from two companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Ireland this year following discussions with the companies in Dubai on the last leg of the trade mission to the Gulf States led by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD.
The announcement was made during an official visit by the Minister and Bord Bia Chief Executive, Tara McCarthy to the outlets in Dubai.
McCarthy said that at the invitation of Bord Bia, food buyers from Spinneys, one of the leading high-end supermarket chains in United Arab Emirates and Fresh Express, a major distributor, will arrive in the next two months to source additional product from Ireland.
Spinneys has over 55 retail outlets across the United Arab Emirates and is a substantial purchaser of Irish food. The top-end store is well known among Irish ex-pats for stocking Irish branded goods such as Clonakilty Pudding, Golden Irish Eggs, Glenisk yoghurts and Keoghs Crisps to mention but a few.
According to Bord Bia, the Spinneys buyers will meet with and visit a number of Irish exporters with the ability to supply meat, seafood and private label products for Spinneys Food.
Bord Bia will also use the opportunity to brief the buyers on Origin Green and specifically the Irish food industry’s sustainability commitments.
In addition, Fresh Express, recognized as the leading food and beverage distributors in the premium food and hospitality business in the Gulf Region, will visit Ireland later this month. The distributor, which currently sells Irish seafood will look to build on its Irish supply base in seafood, dairy and confectionery.
Irish food and drink exports to the Gulf States are estimated to be worth some €250 million, an increase of 26% in the past five years. It is widely regarded as a ‘foodie region’ with an 80-90% import requirement and presents a significant and growing opportunity for Irish food exporters according to Ms McCarthy.
Last week, Bord Bia coordinated Ireland’s largest ever presence at Gulfood, the world’s biggest annual food and hospitality show taking place in Dubai. The Origin Green Ireland pavilions which included some 21 exporters across dairy, meat and consumer food, experienced a significant increase in participation of over 60% on last year with a waiting list in place. It attracted nearly 100,000 food buyers from around the world.
Speaking last week, Bord Bia Chief Executive, Tara McCarthy said, "There is a real, tangible demand for high quality, grass-based, sustainably produced food as it meets the needs of customers and consumers in the affluent markets of the Gulf region. The region is set to become an increasingly important market for Irish food and drink exporters."
She added, "The current market dynamics, including a population expected to exceed 50 million by 2020, will continue to play a significant role in the surge in demand for food and food imports, in particular across the dairy and meat categories."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
