Invest NI supporting Best Export Marketing category at Grocer Awards

The benefits of exporting are well documented at both a company and overall economy level. Besides offering significant growth opportunities through increased sales and enhancing resilience from economic shocks, firms exporting to a wide range of markets contribute to improving productivity, driving innovation, and their export-fuelled growth can create and sustain high quality jobs.

And importantly for Northern Ireland, the distribution of export activity right across the region means that trade and its associated benefits, can be a driver of regionally balanced and inclusive growth. 

Invest NI works closely with local food and drink producers who are either already exporting or are considering taking their first steps into markets outside Northern Ireland.

The Go Further Grow Stronger initiative highlights this support, which includes comprehensive market information from trade specialists in Northern Ireland and right around the globe, who can advise on how to pitch for business, provide local insights and identify potential customers or partners.

When you consider that local food and drink products are sold in over 70 countries, there is clearly a global appetite for Northern Ireland’s award-winning food and drink.

Gráinne Moody, director of food and drink at Invest NI, says: “The local food and drink sector remains Northern Ireland’s biggest manufacturer, contributing over £7bn to the local economy, with over £5bn sold outside of Northern Ireland, and £1.9bn sold beyond Great Britain.

"Invest NI works with hundreds of food and drink businesses to help them remain competitive by growing sales, increasing exports, engaging in innovation and investing in the skills of their staff.”

For example, Invest NI has worked with Armagh-based food manufacturer Davison Canners for 15 years to support its sustained and profitable growth.

The producers of ‘ready to eat’ desserts recently announced a £6m investment in a new highly automated manufacturing facility which will create 31 new jobs and double turnover by 2027. The investment has enabled the company to secure new business with retail customers in Ireland and Great Britain.

Grainne says: “Invest NI provided support to Davison Canners for the new equipment it needed when it began production of its Simply Puddings range, which enabled the company to increase productivity and improve its efficiencies. Invest NI has also provided marketing development support that helped secure additional external sales.”

Invest NI has also worked with Tandragee-based White’s Speedicook over many years to develop new routes to market, particularly in the UAE.

The company has recently returned from exhibiting on the Invest NI organised group stand at Gulfood, the largest food exhibition in Dubai, where they launched new products within their ready-to-eat range. Last year, Invest NI’s new team in Seoul, South Korea supported the Belfast Distillery Company to secure an historic distribution agreement with distributor Goldenblue, which will see almost 10,000 bottles of McConnell’s Irish Whisky shipped to South Korea.

Invest NI said it is pleased to see last year’s winner of the Best Export Marketing award, Hinch Distillery, go from strength-to-strength. Hinch, which operates a state-of-the-art distillery and visitor centre near Ballynahinch is now among the most successful of the next generation of Irish whiskey distillers. The distillery exports its portfolio of Irish whiskey and Ninth Wave Irish Gin to more than 30 international markets including the US.

For further information visit Investni.com/nibusinessinfo.co.uk