Bord Bia’s New Warsaw Office Provides Gateway to 11 Central European Markets
Bord Bia (Irish Food Board) has opened its new office in Warsaw, Poland, from which it aims to drive exports of Irish food and drink to eleven targeted Central European markets. Bord Bia’s presence in the region will assist Irish exporters in building enduring business relationships at a time when Ireland’s food and drink industry is seeking new premium markets for food and drink in order to meet the targets of its FoodWise 2025 development strategy.
Poland is Ireland’s eighth largest EU market for food and drink with exports reaching an estimated €185 million in 2016, an increase of 15% on the previous year. Bord Bia Chief Executive Tara McCarthy (pictured) says the decision to establish an office in Poland followed considerable research into potential growth in Poland itself and its location as a gateway to Central Europe.
“This office opens at a time when many Irish companies are looking to new opportunities while still holding their positions in traditional markets. The value of trade to Poland has almost trebled over the last five years with dairy, beverages and prepared foods, all showing strong growth in 2016.” She continues: “The potential for further growth here and in emerging EU markets will increase their attractiveness to exporters and the increasing awareness of Origin Green will offer important assurances to buyers on sustainable sourcing. Bord Bia Warsaw will provide exporters with the resources, consumer insight and market intelligence necessary to help them maximise opportunities in these markets.”
Central and Eastern Europe accounts for over a quarter of a billion euro of Irish food and drink exports. The three largest markets, Poland, Czech Republic and Latvia, account for almost 85% of this trade which has doubled in value in the past five years.
The key sectors driving growth of Irish exports in the region are prepared foods (driven by fat filled milk powders in Poland), meat (driven by beef and pigmeat in Poland) and beverages (driven by Latvia and Czech Republic).
The 11 target countries are: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
