31st March 2014
Taste Cork – an Innovative Regional Brand and Export Support Programme Brings Nine Small Food Companies to Meet Potential Buyers at one of the UK’s Largest Food Industry Events
Nine Cork-based food and drink producers will feature on RTÉ Television’s Nationwide programme on Monday, 31st March at 7pm. The food producers appeared at Food and Drink Expo 2014, the most important even on the British food and drink sector’s calendar.
All nine companies have taken part in the First Steps to Food Exports programme funded by Cork County Council and the Cork County & City Enterprise Boards. This innovative training scheme is designed to meet the needs of the food SME sector and is the first of its kind in Ireland.
Food and Drink Expo 2014, which took at the NEC Birmingham between 24th – 26 March 2014was the first major opportunity these nine companies had to showcase their products to international buyers and have face-to-face meetings with key players in the global retail sector.
The event is one of the largest of its kind in Europe catering for all sectors of the food and drink market encompassing grocery, foodservice, wholesale, speciality retail and manufacturing.
The Taste Cork regional brand is a cluster marketing initiative supported by the Cork County & City Enterprise Boards, Cork County Council and Bord Bia. The nine companies taking part will have access to a fully branded, high tech exhibition stand with all of the facilities necessary to showcase their products.
Regional branding and cluster marketing has a long history and it has become an essential tool used by many similar small, specialised food regions elsewhere in Europe and in the United States.[1]
Cllr Noel O’Connor, Mayor of Cork County, Ireland,spoke about how a major presence at international events ensures that Cork earns a place on the international food industry map:
“This is an excellent opportunity to put Cork on the map as a centre for world-class food and drink products. The food industry is of huge importance to the Cork economy and supports many jobs in communities throughout the region. Cork County Council has always been at the forefront of food sector innovation and development in Cork County. More recently, with the provision of food incubation units for the artisan food sector and the piloting of food entrepreneur shared community kitchens to facilitate new food start-up’s. In addition Cork County Council are partnering with our stakeholders in international food events, food festivals, food business training, and mentoring. Having a Cork presence at major international food show events like the Food and Drink Expo 2014 is vital to ensure that we continue to grow Cork as a food and tourism brand.”
Sean O'Sullivan CEO South Cork Enterprise Board outlined the how the project plays a vital role in the on-going development of Cork’s reputation as a centre of excellence for food: “Since last September, our student entrepreneurs have been setting up and running their own real-life businesses, learning important business lessons along the way. By promoting an enterprising culture in local classrooms, the Enterprise Boards are helping to support and nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
“Since last September, our student entrepreneurs have been setting up and running their own real-life businesses, learning important business lessons along the way. By promoting an enterprising culture in local classrooms, the Enterprise Boards are helping to support and nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs.”“We are delighted to be able to assist these Cork companies to increase their visibility on the global stage. Food and Drink Expo 2014 is one of the key events on the global food calendar. Being so close by, in Birmingham - it is an excellent opportunity for Irish food companies to showcase their outstanding products.Regional marketing is a trend that has developed in many European countries in recent years and it is commonplace in places like France, Spain and Italy.The Taste Cork brand allows producers to cooperate and create a much bigger impact than would be possible working on their own. It also helps to reinforce the image of County Cork as a centre for some of the world’s finest food products”
Tara McCarthy of Bord Bia explains the importance of regional branding to the Irish food sector: “Ireland’s food sector has an excellent international reputation and our agricultural and seafood products are known all over the world for their outstanding quality. However, we operate in a very competitive global market and building strong national and regional branding is a very important part of ensuring that our food sector continues to build on its success. Bord Bia is very excited about the development of the Taste Cork regional brand and we are confident that it will play a fundamental role in growing awareness of Cork and Ireland’s reputation as a centre of excellence for outstanding food.”
Michael Hanley CEO of West & North Cork Enterprise Boards, spoke about the importance of the food industry to the region:“West and North Cork are at the very heart of the Irish food sector. The region has a rich agricultural and fishing heritage and a reputation for producing some of the best food products in the world. Over the decades, we have seen the development of a very strong food culture in the region and the growth of a large number of extremely diverse and innovative food businesses. These have created sustainable employment in many communities right across West and North Cork.The food sector has enormous potential for growth and it is vital that we pursue strategies that support its development. Regional marketing initiatives like this help to grow Cork’s reputation as one of Europe’s most innovative food producing regions and as a tourism destination for food lovers everywhere!”
The Cork participants in this regional marketing initiative are:
- Kinsale Gourmet
- Fastnet Catch
- Green Saffron
- Carrigaline Farmhouse Cheese
- Virgina Harvest
- Irish Atlantic Sea Salt
- Just Food
- Yawl Bay Seafood
- Taste a Memory Foods
