Exciting food and drinks producers from Kilkenny Costello’s Brewing Co and Highbank Orchards and Distillery will be representing the county’s food and drink sector at the new LEO ‘Meet the Buyer’ event which will take place on ‘The Street’ at the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) on Thursday 23 May 2019.

Featuring up and coming producers from all over the country, buyers from Ireland, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, representing the key supermarket groups and food service sectors, are expected to attend on the day.  This will provide SME’s with a great opportunity to gain new distribution for their products and to get expert advice on how to succeed.

Kilkenny is putting its best foot forward with top quality products created locally; Safeguarding the tradition of craft brewing in Kilkenny City, Costello’s is brewing a bright, easy drinking red ale and hope in time to produce their own range of beers. Highbank Organic Farm is home to an award-winning range of apple-based syrups, ciders and more recently their tiny distillery has started making apple brandy and vodka.

The event is trade only, so it is open to buyers from across the food industry such as supermarket groups, food wholesalers, retailers, independent fine food shops, food service, development chefs, restaurants and more.  They will be invited to sample a huge range of the finest new Irish produce from up to 90 producers and meet the passionate, talented artisans behind it. 

Spearheaded by Eamon Ryan, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Limerick and The Irish Quality Food Awards and hosted by the Limerick Institute of Technology, this event is set to be a key annual business event for the Irish food industry.

Says Aileen McGrath of Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny “Food producers in Kilkenny are producing a range of quality food products and with the support of the Local Enterprise Office through training and development and networking opportunities are achieving fantastic success in developing their markets. The meet the buyer event will assist these producers to develop new markets and outlets for their produce and will enable them to benchmark their products against the best from all over Irelands.”

Helen Lyons of the Irish Quality Food Awards (IQFAs) adds “We are delighted to partner with LEOs around the country for this event.  It is particularly exciting to showcase the brightest talent and newest produce coming out of the country.  In the 7 years that we have been conducting the IQFAs, we have been hugely impressed by the increasing quality of Irish produce, which is now amongst the best in the world. We all want to know where our food is coming from and to be reassured that it is made with integrity, clean, local ingredients and with care.  Irish producers really understand this.”

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