The “Ireland – Origin Green” pavilion at SIAL is placing increased focus on the prepared consumer foods (PCF) category. The category accounts for 30% of the Irish companies exhibiting at SIAL and eight of them are participating for the first time.

While PCF exporters performed well in 2017 at €2.8bn, an increase of 12% on the previous year, the UK accounted for €1.8 bn, or 62% of its value.

In the first seven months of this year, Ireland exported €1.32bn in PCF to Europe with non-UK European markets delivering growth.

In the first seven months of 2018, the value of PCF exports to Denmark have more than tripled compared with 2016 to €24.5m.

Food Fair

SIAL, the International Food Fair in Paris, is described as the biggest business-to-business (B2B) trade event in the world this year.

“While the UK market continues to perform well with an increase in exports again this year, it is prudent to increase our footprint internationally and SIAL gives us an opportunity to do that with 160,000 trade visitors from 110 countries,” said Junior Minister for Agriculture Andrew Doyle.

There will be over 7,000 exhibitors at SIAL, but Bord Bia chair Dan MacSweeney says that the Origin Green programme and Sustainable Assurance Schemes give Ireland an edge that appeals to buyers.

New service

A new “Plan to Grow” service is being developed by Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture in response to Brexit.

It will work with companies across all sectors to identify priority markets for them individually, develop marketing strategies, interrogate market and consumer research trends as well as enhancing brand and product differentiation in association with Bord Bia’s "Thinking House".

The Irish Farmers Journal will be reporting from SIAL. You can stay up to date on the Irish Farmers Journal app or by visiting www.farmersjournal.ie

Read more

Prepared foods centre to provide Brexit buffer