Latest food and drinks figures provide encouraging news for the local economy - Gildernew

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has welcomed the latest figures on the strong performance of the local food and drinks processing sector.

The figures were published in the report, ‘Size and Performance of the N.I. Food and Drinks Processing Sector, Subsector Statistics 2008, with provisional estimates for 2009’ on 30 July 2010.

Discussing the figures, the Minister said: “The increase in turnover between 2007 and 2008 is very encouraging and demonstrates how robust our local food and drinks sector is here in the north of Ireland. This is of particular note given the difficult economic climate and the impact of the recent recession upon business performance more generally. The figures illustrate that the food and drinks processing sector is well placed to help drive forward the recovery of the north of Ireland’s economy. The figures also demonstrate that the food and drinks processing sector is a very valuable asset to our local manufacturing industry and wider economy.”

The Minister continued: “The strong growth in gross turnover in the food and drinks processing sector between 2007 and 2008 was in part because of rising exports due to the gradual weakening of Sterling against the Euro. However, the initiatives and work undertaken by my Department have undoubtedly helped contribute to the success of the sector. For example, through the allocation of £7million of targeted grant assistance under the Agricultural and Forestry Processing and Marketing Grant (PMG) Scheme to 22 agri-food projects. This funding will have helped the north of Ireland’s food and drinks processing businesses to expand, develop and improve their economic performance.

“Furthermore, the work undertaken by my Department at CAFRE’s Loughry Campus continues to be of significance to the sector. Loughry Campus provides a range of technical support services for food businesses as well as specialised higher and further education food courses up to degree level. These courses have been developed to meet the needs of employers in the food industry, and Loughry students graduate equipped with the competences and knowledge required in employment. These graduates continue to have proven job success and provide a highly skilled pool of potential employees for our local food and drinks processing businesses.”

Looking to the future, the Minister concluded: “The food and drinks processing sector continues to play a vital role in our local economy and I am confident that the sector can continue to grasp the emerging opportunities available to them and to go from strength to strength in the future.”

Notes to editors:

1. This press release relates to the annual report “Size and Performance of the Northern Ireland Food and Drinks Processing Sector, Subsector Statistics 2008, with provisional estimates for 2009.”
2. The report and time-series data from 1989 – 2008/2009, may be downloaded free of charge from the DARD Website.
3. If a hard copy of the report is required, it may be obtained, price £6 including postage and packaging, from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Policy and Economics Division, Room 656, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Ballymiscaw, Belfast BT4 3SB.
4. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, Tel. 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours, contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440, and your call will be returned.