The Irish drinks industry is characterised by innovation, both in marketing and product range, An Bord Bia's chief executive told buyers at the world's largest biennial drinks exhibition in France yesterday.
Mr Michael Duffy said that whether targeting fashion-conscious, affluent consumers or traditional markets, new brands had been built with ease on Ireland's image as a brewing and distilling centre of excellence.
"Whiskies and cream liquors are among the world's leaders, with Ireland supplying more than 90 per cent of the world's cream liquor market," he said at the biennial Vinexpo. "We are now seeing the success of new entrants from the Irish spirits sector in categories, such as vodka and schnapps.
New brands, new products and indeed new companies are springing up in an industry revitalised with confidence." Mr Duffy said there would be increased emphasis on developing the European market and he said the board would be working closely with exporting companies on a new development plan.
Irish drinks exports last year were worth £630 million (€800 million) and accounted for 14 per cent of total exports, Ms Cathryn Hargan, trade marketing specialist with An Bord Bia explained. She predicted exports would grow by about 10 per cent every year.
The US is still our biggest single market, taking £154 million worth of exports. Whiskey is the fast growing sector of the spirits market with exports of 1.4 million cases last year, an increase of 6.6 per cent on the previous year.
