THE £4 million international food and drink conference, Horizons, which ended last night was money well spent, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates said.
Speaking at the end of the three day exhibition which brought together the largest selection of Irish food and drink ever assembled for such an event, the Minister said his Department will be conducting a review of the impact of one of the most expensive sales promotions ever launched in this country. However, he believed it was good value for money and would prove itself.
He said Horizons had been unique because it had brought the focus of world purchasers of food on Irish food products and the Irish way of life and they also had the benefit of a top class international conference on food.
The Minister's view seemed to be confirmed by some of the 600 representatives from 32 nations who came to Dublin for Horizons. They were hosted in Dublin Castle and treated to a special race meeting in Leopardstown on Wednesday evening.
Ms Kate Macklin, of the Dawn group in northern Italy, who accompanied a group of Italian buyers to the event, said they had been overwhelmed with the quality of Horizons.
Mr Frank Hayes of the Kerry Group said his organisation had used the event to reinforce their contacts with foreign buyers and give them some corporate hospitality.
"We are very pleased with the way it went and we think it was very professional," he said.
