Northern Ireland beef marketed by EBLEX in France and Belgium
Sales of Northern Ireland beef and lamb in Europe are to be boosted by two new export marketing initiatives. The initiatives for the red meat industry are part of a Boosting Business campaign launched by Invest Northern Ireland, the organisation which is responsible for marketing beef and lamb in international markets.
The new export support for the industry was announced by Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster at the ANUGA food exhibition in Cologne, where three of the region's biggest meat companies, Dunbia, Foyle Food Group and Linden Food showed products in theNorthern Ireland Naturally pavilion (Hall 6 D40 - 49). A total of 26 Northern Ireland food and drink companies visited ANUGA.
The initiatives are:
The appointment of EBLEX, the main beef and lamb marketing operation in Britain, to assist in exporting Northern Ireland red meat products in France and Belgium and to represent the interests of Northern Ireland in these markets.
A Memorandum of Understanding to share exhibition stand resources and knowledge with Quality Meat Scotland in respect of key export markets.
The two measures are designed to encourage and assist the red meat industry, which already contributes around £1 billion annually to the Northern Ireland economy, to increase sales in key European markets including France and Belgium.
The strategically important agreements build on the work of Invest NI in hosting visits by major European meat retailers and wholesalers to Northern Ireland and in organising delegations from local companies to these crucially important markets.
The industry has an impressive track record in developing sales with top retailers in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. In addition, companies have gained a foothold in European markets such as France, Italy, Spain and Denmark. I am convinced that there is substantial scope to expand sales in these and other European markets and want to ensure that there is effective support available for them.
EBLEX has vast experience and has enjoyed great success in marketing British beef and lamb abroad, and the agreement with the organisation will enable Northern Ireland companies to benefit from its marketing expertise and extensive network of contacts among European retailers and wholesalers.
They will also be able to save money in overseas markets by sharing joint resources with Quality Meat Scotland.
Minister Foster said: "The food and drink industry has immense potential particularly in terms of sales outside Northern Ireland. Around two thirds of this industry's annual sales of £3.7 billion are currently sold outside Northern Ireland.
"My department and Invest NI are working in tandem to support the industry's continuing growth in terms of overall sales, exports, innovation and employment through assistance in key activities such as new product development, state-of-the-art processes and international marketing."
Twenty six Northern Ireland companies are participating at ANUGA 2011 (10th -17th October)
Companies on Invest NI's Northern Ireland Naturally stand at Anuga, Cologne
Dunbia - beef, lamb and pork
Foyle Food Group - beef and lamb
Linden Foods- beef, lamb and veal
Northern Ireland companies exhibiting independently
ABP- beef and lamb (on parent company stand)
Dale Farm - dairy products including butter and cheese
Kestrel Foods - dried fruits and nut snacks
Moy Park/Marfrig- fresh, frozen and prepared poultry products
Triple 8 Protein- poultry products
Vion - ham and gammon (on parent company stand)
Northern Ireland companies visiting on an Invest NI delegation
ABP- beef and lamb
Boozeberries - berry liqueurs
C&J Meats- beef
Cottage Catering - desserts
Crawford Hides- hides and lambskins
Dale Farm- dairy products
Eurostock Foods- beef and lamb products
Evron Foods- bread products
Flynn's Fine Foods- cooked meats
Fine Food Kitchen- deli products
Greenfields - dairy products
Hewitt Meats- beef and lamb
Linden Foods- beef, lamb and veal
K Hughes- mushrooms
McColgan - savoury pies and quiches
MacNeice Fruit- apple products
Mash Direct- convenience foods including mashed potatoes and vegetables
O'Doherty's Fine Foods- speciality meats including Fermanagh Black Bacon and Fermanagh Black Corned Beef and Fermanagh Black Bacon Pork Pies
Pure Roast Coffee- ground coffee and coffee pods
WG Buchanan- soup ingredients, cereals and nuts
Wafer Enterprises- ice cream cones and wafers
White's- porridge oats and toasted oats