Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Pippa Hackett has said that environmental sustainability and animal welfare now play “a key role” in consumer choice in the US, following her trade mission to the country.
Minister Hackett completed her trade mission to the cities of Austin, Houston, and Seattle today (Wednesday, March 27), which took place in collaboration with Bord Bia and Irish food and beverage exporters.
Speaking on the final day of the trade mission, Hackett said: “The US is one of Ireland’s largest agri-food trading partners, worth €1.6 billion in exports in 2023, and there is further potential for Irish agri-food and beverages exporters.
“During my discussion with senior leaders in the US retail, foodservice and wholesale distribution chains, there is a strong message coming through on environmental sustainability and animal welfare which now plays a key role in consumer choice.”
According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Minister Hackett engaged with businesses in the US retail, foodservice and wholesale distribution chains to “re-enforce relationships as buyers of nutritious food and drink”.
Dairy produce and beverages were particularly to the fore in these engagements, the department said.
“The high-level of on-the-ground work of colleagues working across team Ireland from my own department and Bord Bia, together with the Irish embassy and consulates across the US, helped make this week a success,” Minister Hackett said.
“Using their network of contacts and the energy of Irish exporters and distributors already operating in-country gives me confidence in future positive development of opportunities in the wider US market.”
Bord Bia CEO Jim O’Toole, who was also on the trade mission, said: “This trade mission greatly supports Bord Bia’s strategy to grow Irish food and drink exports to the US, wrapping up a busy month of multi-sectoral market development activities and events.
“We’re grateful for the support of Minister Hackett, whose presence this week has reinforced Ireland’s ambitions and commitment to this important export market,” O’Toole added.
Bord Bia US appointments
To coincide with the trade mission, Bord Bia has appointed two new market specialists for North America, one to focus on the drinks market, and one to fill a new role specifically created for the meat and foodservice channels.
Adam Hannon joins the Bord Bia global business development team as the meat and foodservice market specialist for North America.
Meanwhile, Daragh Flanagan joins as a drinks market specialist. Both Hannon and Flanagan will be based in Bord Bia’s New York office.