Bord Bia has hosted a trade breakfast today at the Bord Bia Bloom event in the Phoenix Park in Dublin to promote the Food Village where 80 food and drink companies are exhibiting.
The state agency said over 250 retail and food service buyers, with a combined buying power of €20 billion, attended the event.
Among the buyers were some of Ireland’s largest retailers including Musgrave, Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Lidl, Aldi and M&S alongside specialist retailers such as Donnybrook Fair and Fallon and Byrne.
Prominent buyers in the Irish food service sector include Dalata Hotel Group, Freshly Chopped food chain, forecourt operators Circle K and Applegreen, and business caterers Aramark, Compass and Sodexo.
National foodservice distributors, Sysco, Musgrave Wholesale Partners and BWG Foodservice were also in attendance.
In Association with
Tara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Bia, commented: “Over the last two years, face-to-face business networking opportunities have been few and far between, and we are thrilled to be able to bring businesses and potential buyers together again today, in the lovely setting of the Phoenix Park.
"The Food Village at Bord Bia Bloom plays host to some of the best of Irish food and drink companies, and this event provides them with a valuable opportunity to present their business and products to key retail and foodservice stakeholders.
“We are encouraged by the large number and calibre of buyers attending today which demonstrates their commitment to sourcing the best of Irish.”
New Products & Trends
McCarthy referenced some stand-out trends, including the drive towards functional foods which offer immunity-boosting properties. She instanced;
+ Feighery’s Farm new Beet Bullet, a concentrated ‘beetroot shot’ that provides consumers with a nitric oxide boost following exercise
+ Dairy Concept's CheeseOs puffed cheese bites that are high in protein, low carb, high in calcium
+ King of Kefir’s range of beverages made from water kefir, a live culture fermented beverage containing gut friendly bacteria and yeast
+ Good4U’s new Caesar Crumble Salad Topper made with roasted fava beans coated in winged kelp from the Mayo coast and featuring a vitamin-D enhanced mushroom powder from Monaghan.
Bord Bia has organised a new Organics Corner in the Food Village, showcasing a selection of the EU certified organic foods available in the domestic market.
Exhibitors include Burren Smokehouse, Harvest Moon Foods, King of Kefir, Kilbeggan Organic Foods, Niks Tea, Oriel Liquid Magnesium, the Merry Hill, Wexford Home Preserves and Wild Irish Seaweed.
The Bloom Inn showcases the best of the Irish craft drinks industry, featuring Rye River Brewing Company, who is introducing its newly branded 500ml bottled range featuring two new styles - Backwaters American Wheat and Retro IPA, alongside new companies such as Beekon Batches, who are launching a self-made category of honey refreshers with 5% abv.
Kinnegar Brewing is introducing its 1% ABV low-alcohol option on draught for the first time.
Bord Bia Bloom takes place in the Phoenix Park until Monday June 6.
Photo: Peter Maguire and Samantha Donnelly of Rye River Brewing Company. (Pic: Fennell Photography)
