Deadline to submit applications is 5pm on September 24th 2026

Local Enterprise Office Offaly is taking part in a new pilot support initiative, offering a local food and drink producer an opportunity to grow its foodservice sales at CATEX 2027.

Aimed at producers in Offaly that are either foodservice-ready (i.e. actively servicing the market) or looking to take that next step into the foodservice sector, the initiative will provide producers with direct access to foodservice buyers, distributors, chefs, hospitality operators and other influential trade decision-makers.

CATEX EXHIBITION

CATEX runs from 16th to 18th February 2027 at the RDS, Dublin, and is one of Ireland’s leading foodservice and hospitality trade exhibitions, with 12,100 visitors last year. The top five visitor sectors were hotels, restaurants, cafés and take-aways and the spend generated at CATEX 2025 is estimated to be between €29.3million and €37.7million.

The support package on offer from the Local Enterprise Offices includes:

1. Subsidised CATEX Exhibition Access: A subsidised opportunity to exhibit at CATEX 2027  
2. Training & Business Supports: Practical, commercially focused support to strengthen foodservice readiness, buyer engagement, stand presentation and post-show conversion. 

A subsidised producer fee of €850 + VAT covers the exhibition access and the associated training and business supports. 

To be eligible to apply, businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Have 1 to 50 employees in the business
• The show is most suitable for producers trading for 24 months and longer.
• Must have an established product range with demonstrated commercial trading activity.
• Must have products that are relevant to the foodservice sector.
• Must have the production capacity and operational capability to service new foodservice business arising from the show
• Must have flexibility to provide up to two staff members on the exhibition stand during busier show periods, 16–18 February 2027.
• Must commit to participating fully in the associated training and business supports and to completing agreed pre-show preparation.

Preference will be given to producers that can demonstrate a clear ambition to develop foodservice as a meaningful sales channel.

Submissions can only be made on-line through this link and applications close at 5pm on September 24th 2026.

The Foodservice Sales Growth & Exhibition Support initiative is being piloted by ten Local Enterprise Offices: Fingal, Dublin City, South Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Cavan.