Bord Bia and Tesco Assist Irish Companies to Grow at Retail Level
Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board) and Tesco have developed a programme, to help food and drink companies to develop the required skills to achieve sustainable growth at multiple retail level. This comprehensive retail programme will equip participants with the necessary skills required to secure, grow and maintain a listing with Tesco. The programme will involve three different levels – Local, National and Export – to assist small, medium and large sized companies in growing to the next level of business with Tesco. The programme is being supported by Enterprise Ireland.
Sixteen companies covering the dairy, seafood, ready meals, beverage, frozen and ambient sectors have been selected to participate on the programme. Clear objectives and targets will be set for each company partaking to help them achieve key opportunities identified for their business with Tesco. The programme will consist of workshops, bespoke mentoring and access to relevant Tesco consumer data and consumer insights. At present, the Irish grocery market is valued at Eur8.8 billion.
Aidan Cotter, chief executive of Bord Bia, comments: ”The Irish food industry is experiencing strong growth in export markets yet the domestic market remains challenging, with spending under pressure and consumers searching for value. Based on Eurostat data, food prices in Ireland today are just 3 to 4 per cent above their level of seven years ago. By comparison, in the euro area as a whole they have grown by 15%, and in the UK by as much as 35%, a period moreover of strong commodity price inflation. It is vital in this environment that Irish food and drink companies work with the retail sector to build their competitiveness on the domestic and export markets alike. This programme with Tesco is designed to arm the participating companies with the insight required to have success at home and the opportunity to expand abroad.”
CAPTION:
Pictured at the launch were Aidan Cotter, chief executive of Bord Bia; Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD; Tony Keohane, chief executive of Tesco Ireland; and Maxine Hyde, Ballymaloe Country Relish.
