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Fingal Local Enterprise Office (LEO) has announced that it is targeting small businesses that have potential to export their products and services off the island of Ireland. Enhanced packages of Grant assistance and the new “Get Exporting” programme are being rolled out to Fingal businesses, incentivising and enabling them to explore international markets for their products and services.
In addition, the LEO is identifying sectoral trade shows in the UK and EU, that can provide Fingal businesses with a platform to examine sales and growth opportunities.
Last month, the LEOs in the Dublin region supported ten small food producers to exhibit at “IFEX 2026” in Lisburn, three of which are Fingal-based producers. IFEX is recognised as one of the largest and most influential food, drink, retail and hospitality trade events on the island of Ireland, drawing thousands of buyers, distributors, hospitality operators and industry stakeholders. It enables exhibitors to meet UK based buyers and distributors, opening opportunities for exporting to UK multiples, despite complications arising from Brexit.
Speaking about the trade mission, Oisín Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise at LEO Fingal, said: “IFEX is a massive trade show with many hundreds of UK buyers and distributors seeking innovative products for their portfolio. Initiatives like this can be very expensive for a small food producer to exhibit at. So, we are happy to step in and support them to exhibit so that they can explore these export opportunities into the UK and beyond.”
As part of a targeted pilot initiative, the programme enabled participating businesses to prepare for the show, engage buyers and test market readiness in a concentrated, export‑facing environment.
The participating food producers brought a diverse range of innovative, high‑quality products to the event, demonstrating the creativity and ambition driving the county’s food sector.
With the momentum created at IFEX 2026, Fingal’s producers are now better positioned to convert buyer interest into lasting commercial partnerships and sustained growth.
The Local Enterprise Office is proactively identifying opportunities for other sectors to also explore export growth, with plans to further promote the “Market Explorer Grant” to small businesses with export potential. More information on what supports are available from the LEO can be found on their website www.localenterprise.ie/fingal.