Business First Issue2 Vol5 CH2:Layout 1 23/10/2009 14:32 Page 13
What the Butler heard
Food is continuing to grow
through the recession
Sam Butler MBE talks to Invest NI’s food director about the industry’s success
F
ood and drink has become capability within companies in essential activities such as marketing,
Northern Ireland’s biggest productivity and exports. Through the Food division client
manufacturing industry. In 2008, companies, both large and small, can also access the full range of
for instance, the industry was worth Invest NI services to strengthen their competitiveness.
£2.8 billion and employed over “Over the past year we’ve also leveraged total investments by
19,000 people in processing. This rises individual companies worth £207 million by offering Selective
to 65,000 if farming, retail and Financial Assistance of £20 million.
distribution are also included. And it’s
an industry that is beating the downturn by being one of relatively
“But probably our biggest and most practical support has been for
few to exhibit growth in 2008, when output grew by 8.9 per cent,
companies in developing both existing and new markets. At the
and additionally the sector is displaying significant employment
core of this focus is the appointment of a four-strong team of
growth year on year of 2.9 per cent.
professional marketing advisers in Great Britain and the Republic.
Their role has been to promote Northern Ireland food and drink in
The industry also contributes 14 per cent to manufacturing Gross these markets and to help companies identify and exploit business
Value Added and 15.2 per cent of Northern Ireland’s export of leaders in retailing and foodservices. This initiative has so far helped
manufactured goods to generate around £20 million in new business for companies
What’s behind the industry’s outstanding achievements? Maynard across the broad range of sectors.”
Mawhinney, Invest NI’s Food director, believes these are the
outcome of aggressive marketing, a developing focus on new
products and the agency’s comprehensive portfolio of support.
“Invest Northern Ireland is committed to the growth of this
important industry. We believe it has enormous potential as a
source of innovative products, exports and employment,” he says.
He points to the re-emergence of the red meat sector as a
significant driver of growth in terms of external and export sales and
innovation, contributing around £700 million annually to the local
economy.
“Our beef and lamb processors now sell to the Netherlands,
Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Spain and Portugal. The
sector has been steadily re-establishing itself in European markets
lost during the BSE and Foot and Mouth outbreaks. Around 10 per
cent of beef and 30 per cent of lamb are now shipped to customers
in Europe seeking quality, tasty and, perhaps above all, safe meat,”
he says.
Invest NI has assisted this by running a series of ‘meet the buyer’
events for red meat companies in Europe, yielding new sales worth
more than £25 million in 2008/09.
“Among many encouraging trends within there is a developing
focus on new product development, a trend that benefits from the
engagement of major retailers such as Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda, Spar
and the Co-operative with the sector. Tesco, for instance, spends
almost £500 million on local products. This means that the multiples
spend around £1 billion with Northern Ireland supplier and also
work with them on new products for their customers.”
Invest NI set up a separate Food Division to support the growth of
the industry in line with its overall strategic focus on building
Global role for Rana
F
ormer chamber president, Lord Diljit Rana has been elected
president of GOPIO International at the organisation’s 20th annual
convention in New York.
Chairman and chief executive of Andras House Group, the leading
Northern Ireland hospitality and property development company, Lord
Rana will hold the important post for the next two years.
GOPIO International is the representative body of 30 million people
with Indian roots currently resident outside the nation. Recognised by
the Indian government and the United Nations GOPIO is a non-
partisan, non-sectarian global organisation with chapters in several
countries including Ireland. Lord Rana is Chairman of GOPIO Ireland
chapter.
Lord Rana, a resident of Northern Ireland since 1966, said: “It’s a
tremendous honour to be charged with the responsibility of leading
Lord Diljit Rana is pictured accepting the position as president of
such a respected global organisation particularly at this important time
GOPIO International at the convention in New York
for India.
“I hope that the role will also enable me to step up my efforts to
“India is now a recognised global economic player which continues promote links in trade, inward investment and education between
to achieve GDP growth well ahead of the US and Europe. India, India and Northern Ireland and to strengthen the standing of GOPIO in
therefore, can make an important contribution to the global economy the UK. I want to play my part in drawing all GOPIO chapters together
and to accelerate recovery through higher levels of trade and into a very effective international representative organisation.
investment.
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