Bord Bia has announced a €1 million ‘Navigating Change’ COVID-19 marketing supports response strategy to help Irish producers.
The marketing grant scheme for manufacturers is tailored to assist accelerate eCommerce and expand marketing activities in the context of rapidly changing trading conditions, the group said.
The programme includes bespoke supports for producers and food and drink manufacturers, alongside the supports offered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Government Supports for Business.
A regular ‘Navigating Change: Markets Focus Report’ will be published bi-weekly detailing supply and demand trends and implications across the supply chain worldwide along with podcasts throughout the week, the group said.
“A core dynamic has emerged whereby food and drink companies are seeing a dramatic reduction in demand from foodservice customers countered by spiking demand in retail, for different products," said Tara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Bia.
"At the same time, factory floor constraints, supply chain challenges and varying international market dynamics all have the potential to cause significant disruption."
'Unprecedented Challenge'
Bord Bia said that it has made immediate and practical changes to Origin Green and Quality Assurance audit procedures during the COVID-19 crisis.
Origin Green voluntary food and drink sustainability programme, led by Bord Bia which operates on a national scale, 'uniting government, the private sector, farmers and food producers.'
"COVID-19 is an unprecedented challenge for our industry; the scale and enormity of the challenges we face are changing rapidly and so too must our supports," she noted.
"The Bord Bia team around the world is fully committed to supporting the food industry adapt to new market conditions to survive today and to reset with the ambition of winning again as markets recover.”
Reflecting on 2019, Bord Bia highlighted that Ireland’s food, drink and horticulture exports reached a record €13 billion in 2019, delivering 67% growth in a decade.
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