Exporting

Food entrepreneurs and those who feel they could create and run a successful export-orientated food business will be interested in ‘Food Works’, a new comprehensive training and development programme launched today. Bord Bia , Enterprise Ireland and Teagasc have combined resources to design an in-depth process aimed at finding and fostering global food entrepreneurs. Successful participants will be given a range of practical business supports required to develop an initial concept into a winning food product with international appeal. The available supports will include consumer market research, business plan development, technical advice, commercial viability testing in addition to access to incubation units, research and development (R&D) facilities and possible investors. Speaking at…

Bord Bia has this morning launched a national programme designed to help Ireland become a world leader in sustainably produced food and drink.

Irish alcohol market in decline — report Certification Europe has praised the Irish food and drinks industry for embracing ISO standards which promote safe, environmentally-friendly food production. The theme for this year’s World Accreditation Day (9 June) is the role that accreditation plays in supporting the provision of safe food and clean drinking water. “The largest costs related to the food and drinks sector are production and energy costs, which means companies are continually researching environmental and energy efficiency cost saving methods,” said Michael Brophy, CEO of Certification Europe. “Initiating ISO certification in these areas offers numerous sustainable environmental benefits for an organisation such as reduced water usage, increased energy…

Grafton Group plc completes acquisition of TG Lynes in North London Grafton Group plc said today that it has completed the acquisition of TG Lynes Ltd, a distributor of mechanical engineering products serving London and the south east region in the UK. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The company trades from a purpose built distribution facility in Enfield, North London. The products are used in commercial and public sector buildings, apartments and industrial processes. Grafton Group said the acquisition greatly enhances its coverage of this segment of the merchanting market and is a significant step forward that complements development of the Plumbase Industrial business.  Plumbase Industrial…

Record exports achieved by EI companies in 2011Frank Ryan, Enterprise Ireland chief executive Exports reported by Enterprise Ireland client companies, at €15.2bn for 2011, exceed the pre-recession record levels of 2008, according to the agency’s annual report published today. The report also shows employment levels in Enterprise Ireland client companies stabilised in 2011 with full-time employment in client companies at 141,228 – a similar number to 2010. “The performance of Ireland’s exporting sector in overseas markets in 2011 was remarkable in any context, but particularly against the backdrop of a global economic slowdown,” said Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland. “The impact of this on the Irish economy is enormous. …

Only 18 months since the site went live, UrParts.com won the gold prize for Export Startup of the Year at the Vodafone Startup Awards recently. It also won silver in the Digital/Online and Women in Business categories. Started by brother and sister team Simon and Sonya Fitzpatrick, the site connects buyers and suppliers of new and used spare parts around the world . It focuses on the spare parts industry for the construction, agricultural and commercial truck sectors and is 90pc export-driven.The Fitzpatricks came up with the concept having learned from the 40 years’ experience of the construction industry through their family business Fitzpatrick Plant Sales (Fitzplant). “By saving buyers time and money with their free service UrParts.com is becoming an invaluable resource to anyone who requires parts for excavators, bulldozers, tractors, dump trucks, wheel…

The EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) offers Ireland an opportunity to make sure its development of a strong institutional framework and investment in an educated workforce are rewarded, according to a former US under secretary of commerce Grant Aldonas. He was the keynote speaker at a high-level briefing on TTIP and its implications for US investment in Ireland hosted by Grant Thornton in association with European Movement Ireland this morning in Dublin. Irish exports to the US are worth over €18bn, and according to Aldonas the TTIP will help further stimulate economic growth between Ireland and the US, and provide confidence and stability for US firms investing in…

IEA aims to boost Latin America trade with new resource for Irish businessesPictured: Rio de Janeiro The Irish Exporters Association’s Latin America Trade Forum (LATF) is being launched by Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD, this morning. Based at the offices of the Irish Exporters Association , the new forum will be a resource to Irish businesses interested in developing trade with Latin America. It will bring together Irish companies, industry organisations, State agencies as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to foster trade, economic and commercial relations between Ireland and Latin America. “Latin America offers exciting opportunities for Irish companies as we move forward with our export-driven…

Salmon Software to implement new TMS at UK’s Kelda Group Pictured: John Byrne, Salmon Software Irish-owned Salmon Software has won a contract to implement a new treasury management system at Kelda Group, parent company of Yorkshire Water, which provides water and sewerage services to nearly five million people and 130,000 businesses. According to Christopher Elliff, cash and banking manager, Kelda Group, the company wanted to replace an aging TMS to manage critical transactions across the business, including visibility of short term loans and deposits, long term debt and index linked derivatives and other instruments. Following a pre-selection process the Kelda Group reviewed six TMS solutions. “We selected Salmon Software because…