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Cumbrian food and drinks firms look to Ireland

Food and drinks firms in Cumbria have returned from a trade mission to Dublin, Ireland, where they learnt about the benefits of a trade relationship with the country.

The trip, organised by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) North West, allowed the businesses to meet with embassy staff and businesses as part of a drive to stimulate exports between the region and Europe.

UKTI North West highlighted the advantages of trading with Ireland, including its geographical proximity, common language, good transport links and similar business culture.

The food and drink sector is a particularly important one for Ireland, according to UKTI North West, and the two day trip included a visit to local food stores Mortons and Donnybrook Fair.

Visiting businesses included home made preserves maker, Sarah M, cask and bottle beer brewer, Hardknott UK, condiment producer, Friendly Food and Drink, and cake wholesale maker, Appleby Bakery.

David Bailey of Hardknott UK commented: “It was very good to meet the Ambassador and the seminars were very useful.

“Although it was brief, it was good to be able to visit companies on the ground and to meet some contacts we have in the area with a view to our beer being stocked in bars and specialist outlets in Dublin.”

Ann Wedgwood, also of Hardknott UK added: “I enjoyed the store visits to the retail outlets, both of which would be good places for our products.

“Donnybrook Fair has a lot going on, including a restaurant and we would be interested in pursuing beer and food matching, and we are going to look at finding a distributor who will be able to supply stores throughout Ireland with our products.”

Geoff Monkman, owner of Friendly Food and Drink near Kendall, also commented: “The visit definitely gave us an overview of the market and of what is involved in exporting.

“It was good to network with so many other companies and to meet some of the exhibitors from Ireland too.

“The stores we visited both had quite a large range which included plenty of specialist, high-quality products as well as more mass produced items, and I think my range of products would sit well there.

“Since returning from the visit I have employed a market researcher to look into finding Irish distributors as I think that would be the best route into the market for me.”

Irish residents spend an average of £3,558 on British goods each year, and the country is currently the North West’s fifth largest export market.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .