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PRESS RELEASE
178/08
TÁNAISTE AND MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
JOINTLY LAUNCH ENTERPRISE IRELAND STRATEGY
FOR PREPARED CONSUMER FOODS SECTOR
€30m Funding for R&D, Innovation and Productivity Initiatives
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan TD and
the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, today (Monday,
6th October 2008) launched Enterprise Ireland’s strategy for the accelerated growth and
international development of Ireland’s prepared consumer foods industry.
At the launch, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan announced that the Government, through Enterprise
Ireland, expects to provide around €30m over the next five years to progressive companies in
the prepared consumer food sector through its R&D and Growth funds.
Minister Coughlan said: “Working in partnership with the other state food development
agencies including Bord Bia, BIM and Teagasc, Enterprise Ireland has identified the
prepared consumer foods sector as a key area of growth. Exports for this sector grew by 6%
to €1.8bn last year with further growth anticipated this year. Irish companies such as
Green Isle, Rye Valley and Dawn Fresh Foods are already leading the way in the
development of healthy, wholesome and tasty convenience foods and the sector offers real
opportunity for further success in the future.
“Through this strategy, Enterprise Ireland will work with companies to realise this sector’s
full international growth and export potential. The strategy aims to enhance access to
Enterprise Ireland’s R&D Fund and Growth funds through which Enterprise Ireland expects
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to allocate around €30m to companies in this sector for R&D, innovation and productivity
improvement.”
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, added: “I welcome the
commitment of Enterprise Ireland to the prepared consumer foods sector and urge Irish food
companies to consider partnerships with other food companies and/or third level institutions.
Industry led research partnerships will create research with commercial applications, and
exploit the world leading food science research that is already taking place in our third level
institutions and food research institutes.”
Dick Lenehan, Manager of Enterprise Ireland’s Food Division added: “The Prepared
Consumer Food sector is one of the most demanding sectors within the food and drink
industry, driven by trends in health and well-being, convenience and quality. To remain
internationally competitive, Irish prepared consumer foods companies continuously must
offer new innovative added-value products in line with consumer and market trends.
“Enterprise Ireland is committed to helping progressive prepared consumer foods companies
to build management capabilities, improve innovative capabilities, adopt industry best
practice thereby enabling Irish food companies to become leading world class suppliers.”
6 October 2008
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Food Sector is Ireland’s single largest indigenous sector and plays a critical role in the
continued growth and success of the Irish economy. The sector contributes annual output of
approximately €18.7bn, exports in excess of €7.5bn and direct employment of 46,000.
It comprises over 700 companies, (10% of which are foreign-owned) exporting to
170 countries. It accounts for approximately 10pc of GDP. Prepared Consumer Foods is a
significant and growing sub-sector of the overall industry.
Examples of Enterprise Ireland - support Companies in this Sector
Green Isle
Green Isle, which produces a range of branded frozen foods employs over 1,100 people in
Ireland with operations in Naas, Co. Kildare, Portumna, Co. Galway, Longford and Gurteen,
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Co. Sligo. Its Irish made ‘Goodfella’s’ frozen pizza is a brand leader in the sector
commanding 30pc of all frozen pizza retail sales in the UK.
In March 2008, Green Isle Foods announced a €5.2m investment, supported by Enterprise
Ireland, in new job creation, training, and management development.
Rye Valley Foods
Kerry Group’s Rye Valley Foods is a leading supplier of frozen ready meal solutions to both
the Irish and UK markets. Supplying private label is a major part of the company’s business
and Rye Valley is a market leader in the UK private label frozen ready meal sector.
Enterprise Ireland has supported a number of significant development projects at the
company’s facilities in Carrickmacross.
Dawn Fresh Foods
Dawn Fresh Foods is part of the value-added division of the Queally Group, Ireland’s largest
privately-owned agri-business with 27 multi-disciplined food manufacturing facilities located
throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe. The company has supplied the UK and European
foodservice and retail markets since 1984. Supported by Enterprise Ireland, innovation in
product and process development is paramount and products are tailored to meet customer
requirements.
Other examples of companies in your local area may be available on request.
Contact Details
Ciara O’Mahony, Press Officer, Enterprise Ireland: 01-727808 2284/087-2043435
Roisin McCann, Press Officer, Dept. of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: 087-2594144
Martina Kearney, Press Officer, Dept. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: 087-2500953
Picture: Tanaiste, Mary Coughlan TD, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan
Smith TD and Mike Feeney, Enterprise Ireland.
ENDS