Some 400 food buyers from 30 countries have descended on Ireland for the Bord Bia Marketplace 2015 - an event touted as the biggest international food buyer event ever to take place in the country.
The week long event, which began Sunday (22 March), is being staged in conjunction with the Irish food and drink industry, which is hosting the event which aims to build new trade deals with food buyers and Irish sellers.
The buyers, representing sectors such as meat and dairy, alcohol, seafood and speciality foods, have come from the traditional export markets such as the UK and continental Europe, as well as further afield.
Australia, UAE, Japan and South Africa will also be represented, as well as the the largest ever Chinese trade delegation to travel to Ireland.
In total over 100 food buyers from Asia will attend the event, as Irish food continues to expand in eastern markets.
Bord Bia chief executive, Aidan Cotter (pictured), speaking before the event said, “This is the largest business development event for the food and drink industry hosted by Bord Bia in Ireland.
"It represents a huge opportunity to showcase the breadth, depth and capabilities that has enabled the industry to build a €10.5bn export platform and reach out to 175 markets around the world.”
The food buyers will visit farms, factories and shops all over Ireland on their itineraries, culminating in a business-to-business event in the Convention Centre Dublin on Thursday 26 March.
