Thirteen businesses from Ireland this week had the opportunity to foster cross-border connections to grow their business across the island on a two-day Cross-Border Trade Mission to Northern Ireland. This forms part of InterTradeIreland’s new 'Trade Missions @Home' initiative, which aims to facilitate connections and accelerate sales growth for businesses in the cross-border market.

The Food and Drink sector is a vital industry for cross-border trade, with the value of trade in this sector increasing significantly over the years. Since 2021, InterTradeIreland has supported over 450 businesses in the Food and Drink sector, contributing to the growth of cross-border trade from €2.6 billion to €3.8 billion.

The importance of all-island trade to the Food and Drink sector has never been more apparent. Close to a quarter of goods going from Ireland to Northern Ireland are in the food and beverages category, while 27% of all goods exported from Northern Ireland are in the sector. The numbers speak for themselves.

We’re pleased to be supporting these businesses to develop partnerships and grow their exports and we wish them continued success on their export journey.

The thirteen businesses participating in this Trade Mission are Brady’s Coffee Company from Wicklow, Couverture Desserts from Kildare, Filligans Limited from Donegal, Goodness Grains Gluten Free Bakery from Longford, Grá chocolates and Solaris Tea from Galway, O’Flynns Gourmet Sausage Company from Cork, Rosie and Jim, Raw Juice Company and Thanks Plants Ltd from Dublin, The Chocolate Garden of Ireland from Carlow, Wexford Home Preserves and The White Hag Brewing Company from Sligo.

The White Hag Brewing Company, based in Ballymote in Sligo, alongside twelve other businesses from Ireland this week had the opportunity to foster cross-border connections to grow their business across the island on a two-day Cross-Border Trade Mission to Northern Ireland.

This forms part of InterTradeIreland’s new 'Trade Missions @Home' initiative, which aims to facilitate connections and accelerate sales growth for businesses in the cross-border market.

The White Hag is a modern, independent craft brewery from Sligo, on the Wild Atlantic Way. The team brew beers inspired by classic & ancient styles.

Expanding into the Retail Sector

The Longford based Goodness Grains Gluten Free Bakery took part in the two-day Cross-Border Trade Mission to Northern Ireland this week. The event offered the Longford company, as well as 12 other businesses from across Ireland, the opportunity to foster cross-border connections and grow their business across the island. 

Goodness Grains is a family owned and run company which was established in 2013 to bring high quality gluten free bakery products to what was initially a Coeliac consumer base. In recent years, their products have increasingly grown in popularity among mainstream markets in Ireland, the UK and Europe. 

Their 30,000 sq. ft purpose built, dedicated gluten free facility is one of the largest gluten free bakeries in Ireland and the UK.

The Cross-Border Trade Mission forms part of InterTradeIreland’s new 'Trade Missions @Home' initiative, which aims to facilitate connections and accelerate sales growth for businesses in the cross-border market.

Commenting on their participation in the event, Commercial & NPD Manager at Goodness Grains, Geraldine O’Shea, said: "Goodness Grains is currently the Number one gluten free bakery provider to the foodservice sector on the island of Ireland. A key component of our current growth phase is to expand this business model to include the retail sector in Northern Ireland."

Synergies in Location and Taste Profiles

Pictured at the event with InterTradeIreland’s Trade Manager Anne-Marie McAteer is Celine English from Couverture Deserts Ltd.

Couverture Desserts from Naas, alongside twelve other businesses from Ireland this week had the opportunity to foster cross-border connections to grow their business across the island on a two-day Cross-Border Trade Mission to Northern Ireland. This forms part of InterTradeIreland’s new 'Trade Missions @Home' programme, which aims to facilitate connections and accelerate sales growth for businesses in the cross-border market.

Couverture Desserts was established in 1998 and currently employs 59 full time staff.  It is a major supplier of luxury premium desserts and sweet treats to the airlines, hotels, restaurants, catering companies, distributors and to the retail trade. The company manufactures over 30,000 desserts per day from its manufacturing site Naas, Co Kildare and has maintained its Grade AA - B.R.C (British Retail Consortium). 

Anne-Marie McAteer, Trade Manager at InterTradeIreland said: “The importance of all-island trade to the Food and Drink sector has never been more apparent. Close to a quarter of goods going from Ireland to Northern Ireland are in the food and beverages category, while 27% of all goods exported from Northern Ireland are in the sector. The numbers speak for themselves. 

We’re pleased to be supporting these businesses to develop partnerships and grow their exports and we wish them continued success on their export journey.”

Celine English Director of Couverture Desserts said: “The synergies in relation to location and taste profiles means that the cross-border market plays a very important role in potentially growing our business.”

Fueling Business Growth Across the Island

Brady’s Coffee Company from Wicklow town joined 12 other Irish businesses on a two-day trade mission to Northern Ireland to foster cross-border connections to grow their business. It formed part of InterTradeIreland’s new ‘Trade Missions @Home’ initiative, which aims to facilitate connections and accelerate sales growth for businesses in the cross-border market.

Brady’s Coffee is part of Irish Decal Products Ltd., an Irish souvenir company, founded in 1990 by John Brady Snr. In 2017, Craig and Darren Brady set up the coffee side of the business and today Brady’s Coffee provides a range of 25 coffees and teas. All coffee is speciality grade coffee, ethically sourced and expertly roasted.

InterTradeIreland trade manager Anne-Marie McAteer, said: “The importance of all-island trade to the food and drink sector has never been more apparent. Close to a quarter of goods going from Ireland to Northern Ireland are in the food and beverages category, while 27pc of all goods exported from Northern Ireland are in the sector.

The numbers speak for themselves. We’re pleased to be supporting these businesses to develop partnerships and grow their exports and we wish them continued success on their export journey.”

The food and drink sector is a vital industry for cross-border trade, with the value of trade in this sector increasing significantly over the years. Since 2021, InterTradeIreland has supported over 450 businesses in the food and drink sector, contributing to the growth of cross-border trade from €2.6 billion to €3.8 billion.

The ‘Trade Missions @Home’ initiative gives these businesses the opportunity to connect with key industry representatives and develop new sales opportunities in the cross-border market.

This year marks InterTradeIreland’s 25th anniversary supporting businesses across the island to grow through trading cross-border, innovating, collaborating, attracting investment and making connections. Visit here to find out more about the cross-border opportunities available to businesses.