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THE RECENT HORSEMEAT scandal is expected to play a key role in the growth of Irish businesses in the next year, according to a report launched today.
The report, produced by Good Food Ireland and Grant Thornton highlights the effect the scandal has had on the food industry in Ireland, how labelling deception is widespread across Europe, and how Good Food Ireland businesses expect to grow profitability in 2013.
97 per cent of Good Food Ireland businesses said they expected higher turnover this year with the horsemeat scandal “to play a significant role in driving this growth”, according to Head of Food at Grant Thornton, Ciara Jackson.
She said a positive outcome from the scandal is that the food labelling issue has now been pushed to the top of the EU policymaker’s agenda.
“The level of complexity, particularly the number of countries horsemeat travelled through to end up in a processed beef burger, is frightening,” she said.
Key findings in the survey of over 600 businesses include:
More than ever now, food businesses will be highlighting their ‘Irishness’ with the report showing that nearly all focused on their Irish heritage to market their products and services.
Margaret Jeffares, Managing Director of Good Food Ireland, said these businesses can expect to benefit as consumers “increasingly vote with their wallets and choose to buy quality food they can trust”.
“The specialty food market in the Republic of Ireland is valued at €450 million, and this figure is set to increase as Irish consumers are showing a heightened interest in artisan foods,” she said.
“Although price is always a factor, particularly given the troubles the domestic economy faces, consumers have also become concerned with sustainability issues, traceability, provenance and organic farming.”
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Long overdue. Europe needs to stand with oppressed people around the world. Democracy and fundamental civil rights are the only way forward for humanity
Religion the cause of oppression and wars since time began,
@Paul Crowley: I’m an atheist but can see that Religions themselves can be a great cornerstone for morality and guidance for communities and nations. Many people use them peacefully as a way to live their life with love and respect for their fellow man.
The Problem is that they have been weaponised by power hungry despots the world over to strip people of their rights and belongings for centuries.
@Paul Crowley: the separation of church and state is essential and should be carefully protected,the demonising of individual belief systems however is just a sure way to cause division.
@Paolo Fandango: The fundamental problem with most religions is that they are a means by which men can force people (and especially women) to live their lives the way they think they should be lived.
This is how you end up in mad situation where the answer to men’s weakness and jealousy is to force women to cover up everything that causes the weakness and jealousy i.e it’s women’s fault and problem, not men’s.
And before Christians get too sanctimonious it’s not that long since Irish women had to wear ankle length dresses and headscarves to cover up all the tempting bits.
@Stanley Marsh: well spotted. Ireland in the decades after independence wasn’t far off what Iran is today. The only difference is we shoveled our women and children into institutions
@Paul Crowley: Yes one religion is still centuries behind the civilized world in the west . In fact its going backwards not forward
America has its Evangelicals and Afghanistan has its Taliban.
@andrew: I don’t think Evangelicals behead who they seem to have sinned or stone women to death for being in their view promiscuous, among other benign “sins”?
@catinthehat: Only because US laws won’t allow it.
@Stanley Marsh: the US still executes people though
@Stanley Marsh: that’s why the absolute separation of church and state is so vital. Ireland is still slowly crawling out from under the Catholic church
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