Bord Bia has revealed that it plans to host two senior food buyers from Spinneys, one of the leading high-end supermarket chains in the United Arab Emirates, on a three-day visit to Ireland next month.
The announcement was made today, March 2, during an official visit by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed and Bord Bia Chief Executive, Tara McCarthy, to the Spinneys store in Dubai.
Spinneys has over 55 retail outlets across the UAE and is a substantial purchaser of Irish food.
The top-end store is well known among Irish ex-pats for stocking Irish-branded goods such as Clonakilty Pudding, Golden Irish Eggs, Glenisk yoghurts and Keogh’s Crisps, to mention but a few.
According to Bord Bia, the Spinneys buyers will meet with, and visit, a number of Irish exporters with the ability to supply meat, seafood and private-label products for Spinneys.
Bord Bia also announced its plans to partner with Spinneys on an Origin Green Project to explore sustainable packaging practices.
The three-month project will commence in April, with initial plans to be reviewed in June. Bord Bia is also hoping to place a full-time Origin Green Ambassador with Spinneys in 2018.
Next month’s planned visit will be the second such visit by Spinneys this year. Last month, at the invitation of Bord Bia, two buyers met with some 17 Irish food and drink companies.
In addition, Fresh Express, recognised as the leading food and beverage distributor in the premium food and hospitality business in the Gulf Region, will visit Ireland later this month on a separate itinerary.
The distributor, which currently sells Irish seafood, will look to build on its Irish supply base in seafood, dairy and confectionery.
Keogh’s Crisps has recently appointed Aramtec as its distributor in the UAE, as a direct result of a Bord Bia inward buyer visit to Ireland last November.
Aramtec is an importer and distributor of premium food products throughout the UAE, supplying the finest hotels, restaurants, institutions and retail markets. Aramtec is also the pioneer in introducing the fast-food concept restaurants in the UAE.
Some 50 Irish food and drink brands can be found on the shelves in the UAE.
Bord Bia at Gulfood
This week, Bord Bia is coordinating Ireland’s largest ever presence at Gulfood, the world’s biggest annual food and hospitality show taking place in Dubai.
The Origin Green Ireland stand, which includes some 21 exporters across dairy, meat and consumer food, is a significant and timely representation of the Irish industry following this week’s Trade Mission led by Minister Creed.
Gulfood attracts nearly 100,000 food buyers from around the world and runs until today, March 2.
The trade mission and Gulfood will conclude with an Origin Green Gala Dinner, run by Bord Bia this evening.
Some 350 guests are expected to attend, including buyers, importers and distributors of food and ingredients from across the Gulf Region, with a combined purchasing power of €1.9 billion in the room.
The menu will feature the best of Irish produce and Chef Rob Krawczyk, who will prepare the meal with Irish beef to the fore, will accompany Allan Morris of John Stone Beef and Padraig Brennan of Bord Bia to host an informal discussion around the merits of Irish food and what Origin Green means for the future.