Small Business Can

520 food buyers from 28 countries across four continents, attended Marketplace International 2012, a major one-day business development event organised by Bord Bia. Some 177 Irish food and drink companies, ranging in size and profile from small enterprises to multinationals, met with targeted buyers during 4,500 pre-scheduled ‘speed-dating’ style meetings. The buyers have a collective buying power in excess of €18 billion.

In addition to a strong representation of UK and European buyers, 14 representatives from leading Chinese retail and foodservice companies travelled to the event; while 17 buyers from the Middle East and 12 from Russia also attended. In 2011, Irish food and drink exports performed very strongly in International markets led by significant growth in dairy, meat and seafood. For the year, it is estimated that the value of exports outside of Europe grew by 20%, or €350 million, to reach almost €2.2 billion.

The value of Irish food and drink exports increased by 12%, or €1 billion, in 2011 to reach an all-time high of €8.85 billion. It is estimated that volume growth accounted for 25% of the rise in food and drink exports. The strongest performing categories were dairy (€2.6 billion), meat (€2.59 billion), prepared foods (€1.5 billion) and seafood (€420 million).

Here are some of the companies with their export tips:

Do your research and make sure you find the right distributor

Use Bord Bia

Be different and stand out

Do your research, visit the markets you want to export to

Make sure you are seen by all the major companies (I think that means trade fairs)

More lessons;

1. Have a plan
2. You need to be successful in your market in Ireland
3. You need to be profitable
4. You need to be different in Ireland and that difference needs to be translatable in other countries
5. Get a Bord Bia fellow