Sustainably Produced by People Who Care
Over 90% of Ireland’s food and drink exports are produced by members of Origin Green, our national food and drink sustainability programme. When you buy from an Origin Green member you can be safe in the knowledge that you are sourcing food and drink that has been sustainably produced by people who care about the environment, their communities and the world at large.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2022, Origin Green equips suppliers with the framework and tools to operate more sustainably.
More than 55,000 Irish farms and over 300 food and drink producers are members of the programme. Their sustainability actions are independently verified by a third-party each year.
Our teams around the world are well placed to track the latest trends and developments in food and drink globally.
Premium products and suppliers
Exporters all over Ireland that can meet your demands and offer to you the best of Irish food and drink.
Dairy
Ireland’s lush grasslands, farmed by generations of families, are key to the success of our renowned dairy industry, which exports more than €6.8bn-worth of products to 147 countries each year. On average, our 1.5 million dairy cows spend more than 240 days a year on pasture, with our temperate climate, plentiful rainfall and rich soils providing the longest grass-growing season in the northern hemisphere. The result is our much-loved butter, cheese, milk and powders which are famed the world over for their quality and flavour.
Meat
Our green grasslands also play a crucial role in the success of our meat industry, with flavoursome Irish beef appearing on the menus of some of the world’s best restaurants. Exports of Irish meat and livestock reached over €4bn in 2022, a 15% value increase. Beef, sheepmeat, pigmeat and poultry products play an important role in our agri-food industry, accounting for a third of Ireland’s food and drink exports.
Seafood
As an island on the edge of Europe, Ireland is surrounded by the cold, clear waters of the wild Atlantic Ocean and some of the richest fishing grounds in the EU. Our location puts us uniquely close to a diverse range of fresh, premium quality seafood including Irish mackerel, whelks, crab, oysters and langoustines. Exports increased by 3% to €530m in 2022 and our seafood is now enjoyed in many countries across the globe.
Alcoholic Beverages
With a long and proud history of brewing and distilling, it is little wonder that our stout, whiskey and cream liqueur brands are among the most famous in the world. Irish whiskey – one of three GI protected spirits in Ireland – is now the fastest growing spirit internationally and there has been a resurgence in our gin industry with several exciting new premium brands emerging. Overall, Irish drinks exports increased by 22% to be worth €2bn in 2022, showing a strong recovery after the pandemic slowdown.
Horticulture
Exports of Horticulture are estimated to have exceeded €300 million in 2022 and key Irish crops include mushrooms, potatoes, field vegetables, fruit and protected food crops. Mushrooms remain Ireland’s star performer, accounting for half of the value exports largely destined for the UK.
PCF
Ireland’s highly creative food producers work with the best natural ingredients from our island to create an exciting range of Prepared Consumer Foods. Operational excellence, long-standing category partner relationships and consumer-led innovation are contributing to the success of this sector. Exports were valued at €3bn in 2022. The UK market accounts for two thirds of exports. Value added meat products increased by 30% compared with 2021, helped by the sustained reopening of the foodservice channel in most markets.
Food Ingredients
A significant number of Irish food drink products are sold into the business-to-business channel for further processing by manufacturers. Ireland has a number of manufacturing companies who service this channel and supply a range of products from technical ingredients to bakery mixes and prepared meat toppings.
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