Two artisan food companies from Northern Ireland are optimistic about new export opportunities to the US following their participation in a trade mission to New York City, which included the prestigious Summer Fancy Food Show. This significant event marked Northern Ireland’s return to the influential food show after several years. SAM BUTLER spoke with two local artisan enterprises that participated in the show.
Irish Black Butter’s NYC Debut
Alastair Bell, the entrepreneur behind Irish Black Butter, capitalized on the Summer Fancy Food Show to establish vital connections in New York City. Irish Black Butter, a small company already active in Boston and Dallas, recently secured a listing for its sweet/savoury sauce made from Armagh Bramley apples and spices at the World Duty Free in George Best Belfast City Airport.
“Gaining a listing there in the impressive duty free store was a tremendous boost as I headed to London and the mission to NYC,” said Alastair. “Irish Black Butter is now on the shelves in duty frees in both Belfast airports and Dublin.”
Reflecting on the Summer Fancy Food Show, Alastair described it as a tremendous experience. “It was massive. I met several existing customers from NYC, Boston, and Texas, and had opportunities to discuss new business prospects. My program included sampling Irish Black Butter at the stand hosted by Chelsea Market Baskets in New York. The UK Department of Business and Trade (DBT) did a marvelous job in supporting us by hosting business breakfasts and other events for key food buyers, including an excellent meeting at the home of the British diplomat in the city.”
PEPPUP’s Authentic Italian Sauces
Luca and Liz Montorio, the husband-and-wife team behind PEPPUP, also participated in the New York trade mission. PEPPUP, based in Newtownards, has developed a range of Italian-style gourmet sauces, Bolognese dips, and ketchups. For the company, which was founded in May 2015 by Luca, an Italian native and nutritionist, the US market represents a significant new venture.
Liz shared her thoughts on the NYC trade trip: “It was an immensely encouraging and significant trip. While it’s early days, visitors to the stand at the Summer Fancy Food Show understood the unique selling points of our Italian sauces and other products such as being fat-free, free from allergens, with no added sugar and no onions. Many visitors who tasted the products described them as the best for taste. Retailers, clubs, and distributors liked our products a lot and hopefully, the first order will come soon.”
Liz added, “We’ve still a lot of work to do, especially in terms of following up the many expressions of interest. Overall, Fancy Food was a very worthwhile show. We learned a great deal from the visitors to the stand and the DBT team in New York. We greatly appreciate their advice and support throughout the trip.”
Significance of the Summer Fancy Food Show
Organized by the US Specialty Food Association, the Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest specialty food fair in North America, first held in 1955. The event, which takes place annually at the Jacob K Javits Convention Center in New York during the summer months, focuses on exquisite and refined foods, showcasing a range of high-quality, unique products.
The show provides a platform for food industry professionals to network, conduct business, and draw inspiration from new ideas and cooking techniques. This is facilitated through cooking seminars, tastings, and cooking demonstrations. The fair also includes award ceremonies in various categories, attracting a diverse audience of retailers, restaurateurs, food manufacturers, specialty dealers, and other industry professionals.
Northern Ireland food and drink companies seldom participate in this significant trade event. However, the DBT has been actively working to strengthen business links between Northern Ireland and the US, making this year’s participation a noteworthy achievement.
In summary, the successful participation of Northern Ireland’s artisan food companies at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York is a promising step towards expanding their presence in the US market. With the support of the DBT and the positive reception of their products, companies like Irish Black Butter and PEPPUP are poised for exciting new opportunities in the American food industry.
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