Outstanding flavours, safety & provenance from NI at Alimentaria 2014 Stand P58

Award-winning flavours and fresh ideas are being showcased at Alimentaria 2014 in Barcelona by Northern Ireland companies with a rich heritage in creating and producing quality, innovative and safe food and drink.

A group of eight companies is showing a broad range of new and established food and drink products on the Northern Ireland Naturally stand (P58) during the three-day event.

The showcase has been organised by Invest Northern Ireland, the region's business development agency. Invest NI is included within the Great Britain pavilion at the show.

Among the Northern Ireland foods on show are products from three companies already with business in Spain - Irwin's Bakery and Grace's Traditional Irish Biscuits, the latter recently signed a contract to supply El Corte Ingles, one of Europe's most respected retailers with shortbread and oatmeal biscuits.

White's Porridge Oats supplies SuperCor, the supermarket division of El Corte Ingles with porridge and toasted oat granola. James Doherty Meats supplies traditional Irish pork sausages to Casa Westfalia, Madrid.

Northern Ireland companies, in addition, supply food to supermarkets including Carrefour, Mercadona, Consum and Eroski as well as discounters Lidl and Aldi.

The participating companies represent Northern Ireland's £4.5 billion food and drink industry; the region's most dynamic manufacturer and one sharply focused on growing international sales.

As a result, food and drink is among Northern Ireland's biggest and most successful exporters. The industry employs around 100,000 people across the extensive supply chain and benefits from highly efficient logistics and transportation services.

Food and drink from Northern Ireland is now sought by and shipped regularly to discerning customers from the US to China and Japan and Sweden to Australia.

The group at Alimentaria includes several companies which have won prestigious Great Taste Awards from the quality conscious UK Guild of Fine Food over the past eight years. Northern Ireland, companies for instance, have claimed two Supreme Champion Awards in the Great Taste Awards in the past three years. Nine food products from Northern Ireland were also listed in the Top 50 Foods in 2013.

The success of the industry is the result of the dedication of companies to innovative food and drink products that meet the specific requirements of individual retailers and foodservice organisations in the global marketplace for consistently high quality and original food. The companies have vast experience in developing fresh flavours for global customers.

They also benefit from the expert assistance from the most sophisticated food science and technical support network in Europe. In addition, Northern Ireland is a globally recognised centre of expertise in food safety.

This safety expertise is provided readily to companies by the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University, Belfast, which also advises the UK Government.

Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade Director, said: "Our participation in major food and drink events such as Alimentaria in Barcelona reflects the industry's successful strategic focus on international business.

"Food and drink is among our most successful industries and has immense potential for faster growth in international markets. Alimentaria is recognised by the major international operators in food and drink manufacturing, distribution and trade and is among an extensive programme of activities organised by Invest NI to promote international sales. It provides a great platform for our companies."

Companies on the Northern Ireland Naturally stand (P58) at Alimentaria 2014:

Blackthorn Foods - gourmet fudge and fondues

Cloughbane Farm Foods - meat, poultry and pies

Grace's Traditional Irish Biscuits - Irish shortbread and oatmeal biscuits

Irwin's Bakery - Traditional Irish breads and cakes

James Doherty Meats - Irish pork sausages

Mash Direct - convenience potato and vegetable meals

McWhinney's - Irish pork sausages

White's Speedicook - porridge oats and toasted granola