NEW MARKETS HUNGRY FOR IRISH FOOD AND DRINK - 2011 was a bumper year for food and drink exports, with a new record value of €8.85 billion worth of exports.
Chief executive of Bord Bia, Aidan Cotter, said there had been growth across all of the main sectors. He said the performance was helped by expansion into new markets - adding that while average growth was 12%, growth in Asia was more than 30%.
He said the value of exports grew by €1 billion last year, bringing total growth over the last two years to 25%.
Mr Cotter said the outlook was bright, with exporters more positive about their prospects than they were 12 months ago.
He said dairy exports in particular had benefited from strong global commodity prices, while income growth in Asia and changing dietary habits were also helping exports.
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NEWS IN BRIEF - Grafton Group, which owns Woodie's and Chadwicks, has said it will have to make a €19m charge against a small number of what it calls onerous leases in its Irish retailing business. This comes after the Government abandoned plans to legislate to end upward-only rent reviews for existing leases.
