Focus on Origin Green and Dairy as Trade Mission continues

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., today took to the floors of some of Chicago’s major retail outlets (Binny’s & Whole Foods Market) as the Ministerial Trade Mission to the US entered its final day. Engagements focused on drinks and dairy and included the promotion of Ireland’s Origin Green strategy. The day commenced with a breakfast meeting where the Minister introduced Origin Green to International dairy representatives. The Minister said: 

“Ireland is proud to be a global leader in dairy, with an unparalleled reputation for quality, safety and sustainability. Its hard earned reputation sees Irish dairy products exported to approximately 130 countries each year. The US was the fifth largest market for Irish Dairy in 2016, and exports have grown by over 50% since 2012-13. We are proud to have a mutually beneficial trade and commercial relationship with the US, and are using this trade mission to build critical relationships and develop even closer ties to US customers and consumers.”

Speaking at the breakfast briefing event in Chicago, Bord Bia CEO Tara McCarthy presented Ireland's Origin Green Programme to key dairy buyers from the Mid West.

"Through our Origin Green programme at farm and processor level we offer independently verified solutions to US dairy buyers to the growing demand from their customers for sustainably produced dairy products."

Following this, the delegation travelled to Glanbia’s new Performance Nutrition Research and Development facility. The new facility cements Glanbia’s status as a leader in the global market for protein powders and supplements. 

The delegation also visited a Whole Foods Market store in Chicago, to promote Kerrygold butter. Kerrygold is the number one imported butter to the US and the 3rd largest butter brand in the US.  

“It’s important to be able to support Irish brands, even world-famous brands like Kerrygold” said the Minister at the event. “Kerrygold is a respected and trusted brand here in the United States. Through promoting its association with grass-fed dairy production, it has enhanced the reputation of Irish dairy and Irish food generally across the US market.” 

The day’s programme culminated with a promotional event at Binny’s Store in Chicago, which currently stocks products from 30 Irish brand owners across spirits, liqueurs, beer and cider. Irish beverages are one of the fastest-growing sectors of exports to the US. Irish whiskey exports to the US rose 17% in 2016. Speaking at the event, the Minister said,

“This is a particularly exciting time in the development of the Irish drinks industry, with worldwide growth in spirits consumption and with new Irish distilleries coming on stream. 

Just four years ago we had four distilleries in Ireland.  Now we have eleven and a further eight in various stages of development and these are making a significant contribution to employment and exports and to the social fabric and tourism infrastructure in both rural and urban areas. ”

This concludes a very successful visit to the US which succeeded in strengthening ties at political, official and technical level and also in promoting Irish beef, dairy, beverages and other food and ingredient products. The Ministerial delegation will travel on to Mexico for Thursday and Friday to focus on developing opportunities in what is a growing market.

To view this Press Release as a PDF:DAFMPR 112/2017 (pdf 328Kb) 

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D. continues the US Trade Mission in Chicago today focusing on Origin Green and Dairy.  From (L to R) Nicola O’Connell, Glanbia Ingredients Ireland, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., Tara McCarthy, CEO Bord Bia.

Date Released: 21 June 2017