With Irish food and drink exports at a record high, it seems like the perfect time to launch the first International Food & Drink Trade Awards, which will take place this October. The Awards will recognise trade achievements with a revenue value topping €12.6 billion in 2017.
The Awards are unique in that entrants will be judged by their global buying base.
Amarach Research, judging process partners to the programme, are tasked with canvassing entrants' international buyers across a number key criteria to establish which companies are delivering the best service to their clients.
Gerard O'Neill, chairman, Amarach Research said; 'The awards are unique in that winners are awarded a title that describes them as the best supplier to a specific market. So, for example, if you supply meat products to the UK, these awards will declare the winner as best meat product supplier to the UK as voted by UK buyers. This will give winners real currency in their drive to develop international sales.'
The continued stability of sectors such as dairy – where exports amounted to €4bn last year – and beef should ensure that 2018 is another year of trade growth, perhaps albeit at a slower rate. The night will be an opportunity to reflect on the landscape and of course look ahead to the challenges posed by the likes of Brexit in the near future. While Bord Bia’s market diversification strategy is having a positive impact, there is no doubt our relationship with the UK, which accounts for 35 per cent of all food and drink exports, is at the front of everyone’s minds.
This year’s headline sponsor for the awards is world logistics leader Kuehne + Nagel, who are hugely positive about the trade outlook for Irish food and drink businesses:
“Brand ‘Ireland’ is hugely powerful and has become a badge of honour in international food and drink markets, signifying superior quality. Irish food is sourced sustainably and ethically and this stands up in all markets. The food and drink industry offers bespoke, local, artisan produce and it’s this type of product that is increasing in demand. Today’s consumers are not only eager to know the story and background to their food, they also want to know that it’s sourced ethically and is of high quality. With Ireland’s rich soil, unique wet climate, vast coastal areas and expansive green fields, the Irish food and drinks market is producing such high quality produce that Ireland can compete with even the largest food exporters.”
About Kuehne + Nagel
Today, the Kuehne + Nagel Group has more than 1,300 offices in over 100 countries, with over 76,000 employees. Kuehne + Nagel Ireland was established in 1996 and has 300 staff members here, at present.
"We are the leading provider of freight forwarding service in seafreight, airfreight, roadfreight and contract logistics – offering full supply chain solutions to Irish and international businesses," says Alan O'Brien, national director of food and drinks, Kuehne + Nagel.
In particular, Alan says the company is proud to offer custom-made solutions to the Irish food and drink industry, such as its KNFreshChain product, which ships temperature sensitive cargo according to the most stringent quality standards, ensuring optimum condition at final destination. Their KNDrinksLogistics product offers global shipping, storage and distribution solutions for the Irish drinks industry.
Kuehne + Nagel work closely with those companies in the industry who have expanded to international markets. There are always changes afoot in the international movement of goods and Irish companies face lots of challenges from Brexit to restrictions on customs, as well as new opportunities such as the Chinese beef market.
“The resilience of this industry is evident – as we have seen first-hand how companies have diversified across a broader range of target markets, despite battling through the unknown realm at times. To enter into a new market can be demanding, daunting, complex and overwhelming. It’s so important to get it right, as any delays with food products can result in a deterioration of the product, putting Irish producers’ business at risk. It’s Kuehne + Nagel’s expertise that can offer comfort to those companies when they enter into a new market.”
Event background
This is the inaugural year of the International Food & Drink Trade Awards, and will be run by BusinessRiver, who devise and mange over 30 business award prgrammes in Ireland - 12,000 senior executives engage with the programme annually.
Eugene Bortolozzo, CEO, BusinessRiver said; 'International trade is the true measure of success for businesses located in Ireland. Ambitious, forward-thinking food and drink businesses trading from Ireland realise that their ambitions can only be met by success internationally.'
Judging
The awards will be judged by a panel of Irish and international experts with an in-depth knowledge of the global food trade landscape.
Judges include:
- Roddy Feely, partner, Strategy Crowd
- Sasha Kerins, tax partner, Grant Thornton Ireland
- Jacques Henry-Bezy, managing director, Bespoke and Beyond
- Justine Emoe - international selling programme, programme manager, Dublin Institute of Technology
- Cathal Fitzgerald - head of food and agricultureiInvestments, NTMA
- Timothy Forsyth - political-economic chief, US Embassy Dublin
Speaking about the night itself, Kuehne + Nagel said; “The International Food & Drink Trade Awards is a chance for those companies who stand out in their field, or lead the way in industry standards, to be recognised amongst their peers for their achievements. For this reason, Kuehne + Nagel’s partnership as headline sponsor was undoubtedly the right fit for us. We feel passionately that those companies who are committed to high quality products, and who venture into unknown markets to expand, should be recognised and commended.”
To enter the awards contact Thomas Bortolozzo on (0)1 524 2383 or mail tommy@eventstrategies.ie and visit thetradeawards.com.
For more information on BusinessRiver events, visit their news hub here.