International food producer network TradeIt is inviting Irish food entrepreneurs to join more than 1,100 micro and SME food producers and technology providers in 20 countries in its online marketplace.

The TradeIt Marketplace is an online hub created to facilitate collaboration and communication among small food producers, addressing the need for access to new developments, technologies and markets for a core group in the food sector.

Although the food sector is the largest manufacturing sector and employer in Europe, it is also highly fragmented. More than 70% of 400,000 and more food producing SMEs in Europe have less than 10 employees, responsible for 49.6% of total turnover and 63.3% of employment in the food and drinks industry. TradeIt identified a need for a network to give access to innovations, technologies and markets.

Success stories since its foundation include traditional bakeries in Portugal and Germany finding equipment, and linking with researchers to develop new food products, Irish meat producers importing best practice from Spain in technologies for raw-cured meat processing, and in Poland shepherds are making huge advances in the production of Oscypek cheese, traditionally manufactured in huts in the Polish Tatra Mountains.

Dr Helena McMahon of the Institute of Technology Tralee said: “TradeIt has created an online food business innovation community that provides access to technologies, processes, partnerships and new markets across Europe, generating up to 500 live business opportunities every week. The geographical spread is a huge benefit, as it creates an open marketplace enabling businesses to grow.”

In Association with

The food and drink industry is Europe’s largest manufacturing sector in terms of turnover (€956 billion), value added (€194 billion) and employment (4.1 million). The sector is highly diversified, with 274,000 companies producing a vast range of foods. The fragmented nature of the sector is well documented —. Notably, 99.1% of companies are SMEs (271,000), 79% of which are micro-SMEs, generating 48.7% of annual turnover (€452 billion), 48% of value added (€93 billion) and 63% of people employed in the sector (2.7 million).

The EU-funded initiative is led by the Institute of Technology Tralee via nine European hubs. For further information email: info@tradeitnetwork.eu or tweet @TRADEITFoodNet.