Next month’s Cork Food Forum follows a similar format to a highly successful seminar that took place last November in Ballincollig, Co. Cork. Seán O’Sullivan, CEO of South Cork Enterprise Board, believes the Kinsale event will build on the issues raised at the previous Food Forum:
“After the success of November’s Cork Food Forum, we’re delighted to be able to welcome three more guest speakers who are all experts within their fields.
Deirdre Hilliard of The Just Food Company, who took her business from being a farmers’ market stall in Midleton to a fully-fledged award-winning food company, will undoubtedly have some excellent advice for start-up food entrepreneurs.
"We’re also very pleased that internet and communications expert, Damien Mulley of Mulley Communications, will be addressing the forum. In an era of social-networking and electronic communications, the food industry needs to be aware of the changing media landscape and the expanding range of communication outlets that are available to businesses. Many of us have Twitter and Facebook accounts but it’s important to develop a comprehensive knowledge of how to use these communications tools effectively for brand-building purposes”.
Frequently described as Ireland's most important indigenous industry, the food production sector has long been a focus of the Cork County Enterprise Boards. While the Enterprise Boards already run comprehensive training and mentoring for food business entrepreneurs, the new ongoing series of Food Forum lectures will provide an additional channel for food training and development.
According to Michael Hanley, CEO of West Cork Enterprise Board, the forum events will be more than a series of talks or lectures:
"We plan to run a Food Forum every six months. Each forum will highlight different aspects of the industry and respond to various issues or challenges that may arise within the sector. The evening generally finishes with an open panel discussion and a showcase of successful food companies. We believe this structure allows the forums to become more than simply a series of lectures. Two-way communication is actively encouraged. New and aspiring business owners get an opportunity to debate issues and exchange ideas with representatives of well-established businesses. Our aim is to create true debate about the future of the industry and examine the potential for further growth”.
“The manufacture of food and drink products has an estimated output approaching €20 billion. Across the country, almost 50,000 people are directly employed in the food and drink sector and a further 60,000 are indirectly employed within this sector. Therefore, food business is a vital part of our economy, and as such, we need to monitor market trends and developments so that we can continue to nurture new entrepreneurial talent within this area. The Cork Food Forum provides a twice-yearly vehicle for discussing recent developments”.
Attendance is free of charge pre-registration is essential.