Irish small food and beverage firms predict strong growth

A spokesperson for the organisation told FoodNavigator: “When asked the source of business generated over the past year, an impressive 90 per cent of surveyed companies reported increasing business with new customers. About 74 per cent increased business with existing customers and 43 per cent won back business with former customers. Overall, 65 per cent had increased their sales forecasts for 2011​.”

Home-dining​

Driving improved sales were consumers’ increasing preference for home-dining coupled with more choosing premium products produced in Ireland, she said. Also retailers are said to be more supportive of domestic brands.

The survey also confirmed strong growth last year among small-scale food and beverage companies. Annual turnover reached bout €400m last year – 7 per cent up compared with 3 years ago.

Una Fitzgibbon, the board’s marketing director, said: “We’ve seen significant success in the past few years despite this being perhaps the most difficult period faced by the sector.​”

Some sectors have exceeded the 7 per overall growth reported by the sector. “Non alcoholic beverages have shown in excess of 40 per cent growth since 2007, driven by an appetite for mineral water and sports nutritional drinks​,” said Fitzgibbon.

“Alcoholic beverages increased by more than 30 per cent driven by a new demand for boutique or craft beers. Charcuterie has grown by over 25 per cent as consumers become more aware of the distinction in deli meats,”​ she added.

The Irish food board works with more than 400 small-scale food and beverage businesses.

About 250 food and beverage companies take part in its annual survey of business performance and prospects conducted each December.

Meanwhile, last week more than 140 food entrepreneurs gathered for Bord Bia’s Small Business Seminar at Enfield, County Meath.

Eileen Bentley, manager of small business, told the conference: “We’ve designed our services in Bord Bia to make profitability and growth more accessible to small food businesses​.”

Marketing grant aid​

Last year the Bord’s Marketing Assistance Programme approved nearly €900,000 in marketing grant aid to 157 companies.

The organization launched recently a Food Entrepreneurs’ Network to establish a forum for food entrepreneurs to share ideas. Forthcoming meetings will focus on finance and investment and best practice sharing through case studies and discussion.

Small-scale producers will travel with Bord Bia this year to trade fairs in the UK, Germany and further afield.

Next month, seven organic small-scale producers will attend the Ireland stand at Biofach in Germany, the largest international organic trade fair in the world.