25th Nov 2009 - Cork Food Forum, Oriel House Hotel, Ballincollig, Co. Cork

Cork Food Forum 2009

 Experts Gather to Discuss Potential of Ireland’s Food Sector

Some of the country’s most eminent food industry analysts will gather in Cork this month to discuss the future of what has been described as Ireland’s most important indigenous industry.

A panel of distinguished food experts, with a wide knowledge of the various issues effecting food marketing and production, will address attendees at this year’s inaugural Cork Food Forum on 25th November, 2009.

Organised by the Cork County and City Enterprise Boards, the event is aimed at small and medium food businesses that are keen to further their knowledge with regard to the opportunities and challenges currently facing the Irish food sector.

The seminar will also showcase several accomplished local food businesses and look at the key strategies that have helped their companies succeed.

Sean O’Sullivan, CEO of the South Cork Enterprise Board, has been instrumental in organising Cork Food Forum 2009 and will provide the opening address on the evening. He says the seminar is designed to motivate and inspire:

“The manufacture of food and drink products is Ireland's most important indigenous industry with an output approaching €20 billion. Across the country, almost 50,000 people are directly employed in the food and drink sector and a further 60,000 are indirectly employed within this sector. The industry also uses 90% of the output of Ireland’s 120,000 farmers. Therefore, food business is a vital part of our economy, and as such, we need to monitor market trends and developments so that we can continue to nurture new entrepreneurial talent within this area”.

“This month’s event provides an excellent opportunity for new and aspiring business owners to hear the thoughts of some of the most respected voices in the industry. The evening will finish with an open panel discussion and a showcase of successful food companies. The event will be more than a series of talks or lectures – the Cork Food Forum aims to create true debate about the future of the industry and examine the potential for further growth”, he adds.

Other speakers at the Cork Food Forum will include, Aidan Cotter from An Bord Bia, economist Jim Power from Friends First and Fiona Cox from Greenstreets Environmental Resources.

Denise O’Callaghan, the Cork businesswoman who established ‘Delicious Gluten Free Bakery’, will also address attendees in relation to the key issues facing a start-up company.

According to Sean O’Sullivan, the event is the culmination of several years’ food training and mentoring among start-up businesses in Munster:

“The South Cork Enterprise Board, along with our counterparts in other regions across Munster have been providing ongoing support for food businesses since the early 1990s. Over the last three years, we’ve developed the highly successful Advanced Food Programme for start-up SMEs. The Advanced Food Programme helps SME food companies to improve their brand marketing activities and fully exploit new sales opportunities. This is achieved through a combination of food marketing workshops, trade fair participation and a comprehensive mentoring scheme”.

The Advanced Food Programme was established in 2006, when Bullseye Food Marketing was chosen as the marketing consultancy firm to run the training scheme. Having seen so many businesses thrive as a result of completing the Advanced Food Programme, management at the South Cork Enterprise Board believed that it was time to host a function that brought together aspiring entrepreneurs with food companies that have successfully come through the difficult start-up phase.

Conor Hyde, Managing Director of Bullseye Food Marketing, agrees that the Cork Food Forum offers the perfect opportunity for new and established business people to meet and discuss their experiences:

“The line-up of great speakers who are addressing the event will ensure that the inaugural seminar is extremely informative and of huge benefit to the next generation of food entrepreneurs. It’s important to remember that the sector exports 80% of its output to over a hundred countries around the world. Therefore, the significance of growing these SMEs and providing them with education, training and support should not be underestimated”.

The first Cork Food Forum takes place at the Oriel House Hotel in Ballincollig, Cork from 6pm to 9pm.

Attendance is free of charge but places must be booked in advance. Register online at www.sceb.ie/online-booking.

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