All the latest news from Bord Bia

PLASTIC PACKAGING – THE HOT TOPIC

The topic of plastic waste has come to the forefront of the minds of both businesses and consumers both in Ireland and abroad. An estimated 50% of all plastic produced is single-use, and research shows that if current habits continue there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. Following demand from consumers, and further motivated by the EU’s proposed ban on single-use plastics, many businesses have put measures in place to reduce the amount of single-use plastic consumed, with Lidl the most recent to announce their ban on non-recyclable packaging on fruit and veg by Christmas 2018, on fresh fish by February 2019 and fresh and processed meat products by August 2019.

ORIGIN GREEN SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING SEMINAR

Bord Bia’s Origin Green team and Repak recently co-hosted a sustainable packaging seminar for verified members of the Origin Green programme. Speakers from organisations including the EPA, 3Keel, and Musgrave Group as well as Bord Bia and Repak, addressed topics including packaging trends, innovation, challenges and legislation. The seminar also featured a panel discussion comprising of representatives from Origin Green member companies, government and packaging experts. As consumers grow more concerned about packaging waste, the seminar aimed to give members a deeper insight into sustainable packaging in the Irish food, drink and horticulture industry. Learn more at www.origingreen.ie.

PACKAGING PROSPECTS UNPACKING SUCCESS: 2018 AND BEYOND

Bord Bia, in partnership with Touch Packaging Innovation Specialists recently launched our latest packaging report ‘Packaging Progress 2018+’, at a workshop in The Thinking House. The report provides first hand insights on the packaging trends which will influence businesses now and into the future. A number of themes which are likely to shape future packaging developments were explored including: ● The role that technology is playing today ● New routes to market ● Responding to the circular economy and ways in which we need to consider future packaging life cycles ● Future opportunities for innovation in consumer experience via packaging The report is designed to allow businesses to start questioning how they look at their packaging and consider the role it plays in their marketing strategy, business planning and supply chain models. ✽

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2019 FROM BORD BIA

Bord Bia provides financial support to Irish food, drink and horticulture companies through our Marketing Assistance and Step Change programmes.

Both initiatives can enhance the competitiveness of your business by helping you take the next step in your growth progression. The MAP assists you in establishing a foothold in new and emerging niche markets, while the SCP funds significant new projects which have the potential to impact strongly on your company’s growth levels. In 2018 a total of €799,000 was approved for 160 MAP applicants with a further €165,000 approved for four companies under SCP. Activities eligible for support include participation at trade fairs and exhibitions, marketing, design, new product development, and quality measures.

Don’t miss the opportunity in 2019. Details of grant opportunities for 2019 will be made available in mid-November 2018, with applications ending 31 January 2019. Please note, for those wishing to exhibit or travel to trade fairs in mid to late January, your application must be received in advance of activities taking place. Please contact your sector manager to discuss a possible application, or see www.bordbiavantage.ie/business-development/map-step-change-fund for further information. ✽

BREXIT – BE PREPARED WITH FREE WORKSHOPS BY BORD BIA

The decision by the UK to exit the EU continues to represent a significant challenge to Ireland’s agriculture industry. In the two years since the Brexit referendum, despite the uncertain landscape for Irish exports to the UK, it remains our most important trading partner. Since the vote by the UK to leave the EU, Bord Bia has been playing a key role in monitoring and assisting Irish food, drink and horticulture companies to assess and prepare for the challenges ahead, implementing the Brexit Barometer in 2017.

In 2018, senior management from 117 Irish food, beverage and horticulture companies undertook the Brexit Barometer 2018 update, with the results depicting how prepared the sector is for Brexit, benchmarking against the following key risks: UK customer relationships, supply chain, customs and tariffs, financial resilience, market diversification, and emerging risks.

EMERGING RISKS

As talks continue between the EU and the UK, companies need to be monitoring emerging risks and the possible impacts of these on their businesses.

FREE WORKSHOPS

Bord Bia is providing practical supports to client companies including hosting FREE customs and tariffs training, and supply chain workshops in autumn 2018 and early 2019. Log on to www.bordbia.ie brexit for further information on upcoming events, press releases and market reports. The Brexit Barometer 2018 findings are available from www.bordbia.ie. ✽

FOOD DUDES PROGRAMME – TARGETS 100,000 SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR

The Food Dudes programme is a school based behaviour changing programme which encourages school children to taste and consume fruit and vegetables as part of a healthy balanced diet. The programme which has been rolled out nationally over the last decade has to date positively impacted close to one million school children in developing and maintaining good healthy eating habits. The programme is funded by the EU Fruit & Vegetables Scheme and the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine. A new improved programme was launched in August 2018 to include new varieties of fruit and vegetables, additional tasting days, new eco-friendly rewards and new supporting materials including DVDs and multilingual website. In the 2018/19 school year, the ambitious programme aims to target 700 schools nationally with over 100,000 children taking part. ✽

MUSHROOMS COMPLEMENT EVERYTHING

The €2,050,000 ‘Mushrooms Complement Everything’ campaign over three years commenced in April. It runs in the UK and Ireland, and is very heavily based on recipe videos, digital advertising, and social media. It is aimed at young women in the 25-45 year old bracket.

The activity highlighted the impact of video recipes, with over 413,000 views on organic social media, and 723,000 views on pay per click. After the initial burst of activity, the industry group got together and made plans for the remainder of the campaign. It was felt that while the results achieved were excellent, to give the campaign more longevity it was necessary to create a concept with a higher engagement.

Flexitarianism is a rising food trend where a variety of meals are eaten, and meat consumption is reduced – not cutting meat out of the diet but simply eating less. While the name may not be well known the trends are there to see and it is clear that the taste and health credentials of mushrooms make them ideal to take advantage of the trend.

After an intensive creative process, consumer focus groups were used to select the most compelling concept, ‘Bring on the Blend’. The aim of this concept is to show how easily chopped mushrooms can be blended with minced meat, to enhance the health and flavour of the meal, while at the same time reducing the cost. The campaign commenced in October, with a range of new videos and recipes, and early results are promising. ✽

INCREDIBLE EDIBLES PROGRAMME

The Incredibles Edibles Schools programme ran for its 10th year in 2018 and continues to be very popular with pupils and teachers. This year over 1,220 primary schools (48,000 pupils) registered to take part with over 1,600 grow packs distributed. There was uptake from schools across 26 counties. An awards ceremony to present the overall winning prize took place in the winning school (St Patricks NS, Galway) in September, with guest appearances from well-known TV dietician Aoife Hearne and Shane Delahunt (Connaught/Irish rugby star) on the day. This educational programme informs school children about how fresh produce grows, its origin and the role it plays in a healthy balanced diet. It is supported by Bord Bia and the fresh produce industry and implemented by Agri Aware. ✽