Wednesday, 12th January 2011 (Source: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food)

“Sector is of critical importance, both in terms of economic recovery and job maintenance and creation”

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, today welcomed the “strong performance of Irish food and drink exports in 2010 and the encouraging prospects for food, drink and horticulture in 2011.”

Tuesday, 11th January 2011 (Source: The Independent)

High street giant Marks & Spencer said today that it had overcome the severe weather over Christmas after recording its biggest ever day in food sales.

Read more: The Independent

Tuesday, 11th January 2011 (Source: The Irish Examiner)

GERMANY has been hit by a repeat of the dioxin in animal feed scare which closed Ireland’s pig industry two years ago.

Read more: The Irish Examiner

Tuesday, 11th January 2011 (Source: The Irish Examiner)

INTERNATIONAL buyers are abandoning European grain for cheaper suppliers such as the US, leading European agriculture market analysts say.

Read more: The Irish Examiner

Tuesday, 11th January 2011 (Source: The Irish Examiner)

Thailand will suspend exports of 16 vegetables to the European Union next month, including basil, aubergines and chillies, after EU food safety inspectors found the products contaminated with insects, officials said today.

Read more: The Irish Examiner

Tuesday, 11th January 2011 (Source: John Mulligan, The Irish Independent)

Like-for-like sales at supermarket chain Morrisons, which is headed by Wicklow native Dalton Philips, climbed 1pc in the six weeks to January 2, beating analyst expectations.

Read more: The Irish Independent

Tuesday, 11th January 2011 (Source: Caitriona Murphy, The Irish Independent)

International dairy prices are set for a New Year boost due to a 5-15pc drop in dairy exports from drought-affected New Zealand.

Read more: The Irish Independent

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, today announced that his Department had reached agreement with the Turkish authorities on a veterinary health certificate, which will allow Irish beef from animals aged 30 months or under, subject to certain conditions, to be exported to Turkey. The Turkish market has only recently re-opened to EU beef after 14 years and in the past few months, many Member States, like Ireland, have been negotiating with the Turkish authorities on certification issues. The Minister pointed out that while 99% of our beef exports go to the high-value EU market, Turkey, with a population of almost 75 million people, offers another potentially important outlet to the Irish beef industry.

Wednesday, 5th January 2010 (Source: Department of Enterprise, Trade & Innovation)

One in five babies in the world will be fed on Irish-produced infant milk formula when the new €50 million investment by Danone Baby Nutrition comes on stream in Cork, according to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD.

Read more: DETI.ie

Wednesday, 5th January 2011 (Source: Peter Flanagan, The Irish Independent)

SHARES in Greencore jumped yesterday after the company threatening its proposed €580m merger with the UK's Northern Foods was given two-and-a-half weeks to say whether or not it plans to make a rival bid for the British company.

Read more: The Irish Independent

An 8% increase in the value of food and drink exports in the first five months of 2010 and accelerated growth since demonstrates why the food sector is Ireland’s leading indigenous manufacturing industry and generator of net export earnings, said Brendan Smith TD, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This solid performance follows huge efforts by companies and producers to improve competitiveness and to identify market opportunities in a very challenging international trading environment.

Wednesday, 22nd December 2010 (Source: The Guardian)

One of the big four supermarkets gets planning permission every working day of the year and at least 577 Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Asda stores have been approved over the last two years.

Read more: The Guardian

Wednesday, 22nd December 2010 (Source: The Guardian)

Ranjit Boparan, the Buxted chicken entrepreneur who also owns the Harry Ramsden's fish and chip shop chain, is working on a bid to take control of Northern Foods, Britain's biggest manufacturer of Christmas puddings.

Read more: The Guardian

Wednesday, 22nd December 2010 (Source: RTE.ie)

British food group Northern Foods says it has received an approach from UK-based food tycoon Ranjit Boparan, but it reiterated its support for a planned merger with Greencore.

Read more: RTE.ie

Monday, 20th December 2010 (Source: Evening Herald)

DUBLIN-BASED food group Country Crest has acquired a substantial share in dessert specialists Couverture Desserts.

Read more: The Evening Herald