Local Enterprise Offices have joined forces to invest in raising the profile of the country’s food producers.

They have linked with the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards to create a new ‘Meet the Buyer’ event on May 23 at Limerick Institute of Technology.

Up to 90 food producers will have the chance to pitch their businesses to buyers from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Britain who are expected to attend.

Participating producers will receive training from their Local Enterprise Office on how to maximise their attendance; looking at the importance of branding, stand layout, literature and how their product is best presented and sampled.

There will also be break-out sessions hosted by the buyers, focusing on purchasing strategies employed by the multiples, the products that they are looking to stock in the future, as well as major issues facing the food industry.

In Association with

Participating producers will also have free entry into this year’s Irish Quality Food Awards 2019.

LEO Network chairman Oisin Geoghegan (pictured) said: “Our focus will be on helping food and drink startups secure orders as well as learning from buyers about what products are likely to be successful in the marketplace of the future.”

Buyers interested in attending the event should register their interest by emailing helen.lyons@emap.com.