How to Scale a Food & Drink Business – Conference & Exhibition, Aviva Stadium, 16th September 2015
The second annual Food & Drink Business Conference & Exhibition will be held at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on Wednesday, 16th September 2015. The theme of this year’s conference and exhibition is ‘How to Scale a Food & Drink Business’.
Food Wise 2025, which will build on the Irish Government’s successful Harvest 2020 development strategy, has set out significant growth targets in all of the key sectors of the Irish food and beverage processing industries. The new 10 year plan targets an 85% jump in the value of exports to €19 billion by 2025. The growth is expected to deliver an additional 23,000 jobs based on the projected expansions in dairy, beef and seafood, as well as a doubling of consumer food and drinks exports.
The plan identifies a surge in global food demand driven by emerging middle class populations across Africa and Asia as significant opportunities for Ireland. In beverages the plan envisages doubling whiskey output by 2025 and an increase in the number of micro breweries from 21 to 100. To achieve these targets indigenous companies must be able to scale up to increase sales to local retailers but more importantly to develop sustainable export markets.
Key Note Speakers
Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive of Bord Bia.
The conference will hear from key note speakers who have a proven track record in creating growth through investment, innovation and automation. Key note speakers include:
* Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive of Bord Bia (Irish Food Board);
* Michael Carey, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of ‘The Company of Food’, and Chairman of Bord Bia;
* Raymond Coyle, Founder and Chairman of Largo Foods;
* Cathal Fizgerald, Head of Food and Agriculture Investments – ISIF National Treasury Management Agency;
* Paul Kelly, Director of Food and Drink Industry Ireland;
* Michael Cantwell, Director of the Food Division of Enterprise Ireland;
* Richard Cullen, Managing Director of The Jelly Bean Factory;
* Jason Whooley, Chief executive of Bio-Marine Ingredients Ireland;
* Louise Ryan, Head of Strategic Planning at Irish Distillers/Pernod Ricard.
Food and beverage manufacturers on the Island of Ireland are perfectly placed to capitalise on the country’s reputation for producing high quality, safe and sustainable products which are respected and sought after in retail and food service sectors.
Major Workshop
This year’s conference will include a major workshop on the future growth opportunities for the craft beer, whiskey, spirits and cider sectors. The workshop will include presentations from some of Ireland’s leading craft beer and whiskey companies with an emphasis on Brand Development, Distribution, Investment in Capacity and New Product Development.
The event will bring together key stakeholders responsible for Ireland’s largest manufacturing sector, which has a turnover of over €25 billion. Exports reached over €10 billion for the first time in 2015. The sector employs over 230,000 people and the Government has committed to increase this number substantially over the next six years.
Admission to the event is FREE for Food & Drink Manufacturers. All other attendees pay €295.00 for Day Pass. For further information or to register visit http://www.fooddrinkevent.com/.
Exhibitor & Sponsorship options also available (Limited spaces). To be included contact Ronan Meagher at ronan@prempub.com.
