Tipperary Drinks Company to Target European Retailers at Trade Fair
Bord Bia and 24 Irish food and drink companies to attend PLMA in Amsterdam
Liqueur maker, Robert A Merry, along with 23 other Irish food and drink companies, travel with Bord Bia to Amsterdam on 21 May for the annual PLMA (Private Label Manufacturers Association) trade event seeking new business with international retailers from over 120 countries.
The two-day trade fair is a strategic business to business event that connects Irish food and drink companies, wishing to supply retailer brands, with potentially thousands of international trade buyers. PLMA forms a key stop on Bord Bia’s international schedule of 33 trade shows this year and is one of eight trade fairs taking place during May alone.
Bord Bia at SIAL, Paris.
Photo Chris Bellew /Fennell Photography Copyright 2018
Speaking in advance of the event, Bord Bia’s Senior Business Development Manager, Karen Tyner said:
“Private label penetration continues to grow across Europe, giving rise to increasing opportunities for Irish food and drink producers wishing to target private label retailers. Exhibiting at PLMA allows Irish food and drink companies to meet key buyers, establish new relationships, and expand their market reach. As with all Trade Fair activity, Bord Bia will use PLMA to position Ireland as a leader in innovative and sustainable food and drink solutions for buyers worldwide.”
Based in Clonmel, Robert A Merry, make Irish cream liqueurs in a variety of flavours including salted caramel, white chocolate and pumpkin spice. They have global reach, with products sold in six continents and are part of the Na Cuana group, headquartered in Drogheda. As verified members of Origin Green, Ireland’s national sustainability programme, they will exhibit alongside 23 other Irish food and drink companies at the Origin Green Ireland stand at PLMA.
Karen Tyner continued:
“Retailers attending PLMA will be looking for suppliers who can meet their consumers’ expectations around both quality and sustainability. Each of the 24 Irish exporters have made verifiable commitments to sustainable production as members of Origin Green and are well-placed to meet the needs of these key buyers.”
Private Label Opportunities
Private label penetration varies between categories and across countries, with Spain, the UK, and Germany recording the highest market share for private label. In Spain, the bakery and biscuits retail category is nearly 60% private label; over 80% of retail delicatessen products in the UK are private label while in Germany over 59% of consumer dairy products are private label, according to World of Private Label research (2018).
Bord Bia Workshop
In order to maximise the opportunities for exporters at the event, in April this year, Bord Bia hosted a ‘Get PLMA Ready’ Private Label Workshop for all 24 companies set to attend PLMA.
The workshop included advice to companies on how to analyse their category to understand where opportunities lie and how to utilise the event for lead generation.
Sustainability in Private Label Seminar
In advance of PLMA, private label consultancy firm, IPLC (International Private Label Consult), will hold its annual seminar for retailers, private label suppliers and other industry professionals on 20 May. Reflecting the rise in consumer demand for ethical and sustainably produced products, the theme of the conference is ‘Sustainability in Private Label’. Speakers will include sustainability leaders from global manufacturers and retailers including Sainbury’s, Ahold Delhaize, and Tetra Pak.
Bord Bia will attend for the first time with Director of Food and Beverage, Padraig Brennan, presenting on the work of the Origin Green programme in measuring and improving the sustainability of Irish food and drink production, from farm to fork.
Amsterdam Trade Show
PLMA will feature more than 2,500 exhibiting companies exhibiting at nearly 69 national and regional pavilions. The event is expected to attract more than 14,000 trade visitors from 123 countries making it one of the largest gathering of private label buyers and professionals worldwide.
Irish Companies at PLMA
All 24 companies are located in the Europa Complex Hall 7 in the Origin Green Ireland Stand. The Bord Bia stand is located at F 6664.
| By Company | Stand Number | |
| 2019 | ||
| 1 | ABC Nutritionals | F-6660 |
| 2 | Bord Bia Irish Food Board | F-6664 |
| 3 | Coolmore Fresh Foods Ltd. | F-6645 |
| 4 | East Coast Bakehouse | F- 6643 |
| 5 | Epicom Food Ltd. | F-6556 |
| 6 | Follain | F-6659 |
| 7 | Fusco Food | F-6548 |
| 8 | Future Nutrition Ltd. | F-6552 |
| 9 | Glanbia Ireland | F-6649 |
| 10 | Glenisk Ltd. | F-6658 |
| 11 | Golden Bake Ltd. | F-6558 |
| 12 | Good Fish Processing | F-6560 |
| 13 | G’s Gourmet Jams Ltd | F-6546 |
| 14 | Healy’s Honey | F-6647 |
| 15 | Irish Fish canners | F-6650 |
| 16 | Irish Yoghurts Ltd. | F-6554 |
| 17 | JDS Foods | F-6656 |
| 18 | Sean Loughnane Ltd. | F-6544 |
| 19 | Pip & Pear | F-6652 |
| 20 | Robert A. Merry & Co. Ltd. | F- 6651 |
| 21 | Seerys Heatherfield Ltd. | F-6550 |
| 22 | Swift Fine Foods | F-6654 |
| 23 | Terra Spirits & Liqueurs Ltd. | F-6655 |
| 24 | Virginia Health Food Ltd. | F-6657 |
| 25 | West Cork Distillers | F-6653 |
About Origin Green
Origin Green is Ireland’s national sustainability programme developed by Bord Bia that enables Ireland’s food industry to set and achieve measurable sustainability targets that respect the environment and serve local communities more effectively.
Farms and food manufacturing businesses throughout Ireland, participating in Origin Green, sign up to the sustainability agenda, making measurable commitments to producing in a sustainable manner, with progress independently assessed and verified.
Since 2012, more than 320 Irish companies, representing 90 per cent of Irish exports have become verified members. At farm level Origin Green operates through Bord Bia Sustainable Assurance Schemes. Bord Bia has conducted in excess of over 120,000 carbon assessments to measure and help improve the environmental performance of Irish farms.
