Northern Ireland Bakery and Snacks Businesses Encouraged to Grow through Innovation
John Hood, Invest Northern Ireland’s Director of Food and Tourism, has encouraged over 40 producers from Northern Ireland’s bakery and snacks sector to explore innovation to support business growth.
Speaking at a seminar jointly hosted by Invest NI and CAFRE (College of Agriculture and Rural Enterprise), John Hood said: “Northern Ireland’s bakery and snacks sector remains very competitive, with businesses continually needing to invest in innovation and skills to remain profitable. Responding to the needs of the sector, as identified by the Agri-Food Strategy Board’s Bakery and Snacks sub group, this event will help to improve the competitiveness and capability of local companies as they seek to grow in ever competitive markets outside Northern Ireland.”
He added: “Together with CAFRE, we want to encourage more local businesses to explore innovative measures to support their growth and continued contribution to Northern Ireland’s Agri-Food processing industry. Extending a product’s shelf life, for example, can help deliver greater export opportunities, while implementing efficiencies in a product’s distribution can reduce costs. Innovation is key to success and Invest NI and CAFRE have advice and support designed to help local producers in this sector to embrace innovation in all its forms.”
The bakery and snacks sector is a very strong contributor to Agri-Food in Northern Ireland and includes the production of bread, bread products, biscuits, buns, pies and pastry as well as hand-held snacks and food-to-go products. The delegates discussed the importance of product innovation, market trends, and seasonal opportunities. The group also got an overview of the support available from Invest NI, as well as viewing the technical facilities provided in the Food Innovation Centre at CAFRE.
Joy Alexander, Head of Food Technology, CAFRE, commented: “We at CAFRE, Loughry Campus are delighted to be jointly organising and hosting this important Food Innovation Seminar, targeted at the Bakery and Snacks Sector. We have an agri-food industry which we can be justifiably proud of, but the challenge which faces everyone is to continue to develop world class products which meet the needs of an ever discerning consumer, wherever in the world that consumer may be. I encourage food companies to work in partnership with Invest NI and Loughry and explore the many opportunities available for innovation support.”
Invest NI offers free advice and support available in areas such as business information, innovation and technology solutions, research and development, design, e-business, sustainable development, skills and strategy solutions, trade development and food marketing.
CAPTION:
Pictured (back – from left to right) are: Joy Alexander from CAFRE; John Hood, Invest NI; and Ronan McNamee, co-founder of Cuisine De France and founder of BFree Foods. Sitting are: Keri Cummings (left), Category Marketing Executive at Macphie of Glenbervie; and Lisa Boswell, Trade Marketing Manager, CSM Bakery Solutions.
