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Food companies here are beating the recession by growing sales outside Northern Ireland, Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has said.

The Minister was speaking at the annual UFU Farmhouse Business Breakfast, which she described as "a celebration of an industry that is at the very core of Northern Ireland's economy and one that never fails to deliver on quality and eating experience."

One of Italy's leading retail chains will be represented in a group of meat buyers from Milan and Bologna hosted by Invest Northern Ireland from 24-26 January. Senior buyers from seven companies are scheduled to explore opportunities to source beef and lamb from Northern Ireland suppliers.

Around £800,000 of new business in Great Britain has been generated for six smaller food and drink firms from an agreement between Invest Northern Ireland and Nicco Foods, a leading European sales and marketing operation.

Award winning products from Northern Ireland will be showcased on Stand M130 at the BBC Good Food Show, 25-29 November, at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

Top buyers from the US, Britain and Greece were introduced to over 70 local food and drink companies at a series of events hosted by Invest Northern Ireland in Belfast last week. The objective of the events was to help the companies access markets outside Northern Ireland, early indications strongly suggest that multi-million pounds worth of business has been secured in North America.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has commended 27 local companies after they scooped a total of 56 gold awards in the UK Great Taste Awards.

Glen Tender, the award winning beef company from Gilford, is being assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to grow sales in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Invest Northern Ireland and Jenny Bristow, one of Northern Ireland's leading good food ambassador's, recently teamed up in a unique promotion of local food and drink to customers of Donnybrook Fair, Dublin's gourmet retailer.

Sainsbury Scotland has listed a range of luxury pies developed by TV celebrity chef Paul Rankin for Millar Savoury Foods in Northern Ireland.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster announced a multi million pound investment by The Brunch Box Sandwich Company, which will create 41 new jobs.
The Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) backed company produces a wide range of high quality ???food to go' products, including pre-packed sandwiches, rolls, wraps, salads, scones, paninis and ready meals for retail and food service customers.