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Chef Reif Inducted Into the Bord Bia Chefs’ Irish Beef Club

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, TD, today continued his Trade Mission to the Gulf region in Dubai.
The main focus of events in Dubai was a visit to Gulfood, the world’s largest agri-food trade fair, where over 20 Irish companies are exhibiting at the Green Pavilion, coordinated by Bord Bia. Gulfood is the world’s largest annual food event and has over 5,000 exhibitors from 120 countries and there are an estimated 95,000 visitors to Gulfood.
Minster Creed said, “This Trade Mission was planned specifically to coincide with Gulfood, which provides Irish companies with an exciting opportunity to showcase the best of their safe, high quality and sustainably produced food and drink, across a range of sectors including dairy, meat, eggs, consumer foods, biscuits and more. I was particularly pleased to see over 20 Irish companies participating in this event showcasing the best of what Ireland has to offer in this sector.
Speaking at Gulfood, Bord Bia CEO, Tara McCarthy said, “We have a unique product to offer our international food buyers strengthened by our Origin Green sustainability programme and the 62% increase in our presence at Gulfood is proof of their commitment to growing exports. We have already an established trading relationship with 90% of the buyer countries here and will work to engage them in extending the range of products they source from Ireland“.
The Minister commenced his series of engagements with a breakfast briefing with the Irish Business Network, where he further acknowledged the Irish diaspora and the key role they play in promoting Ireland in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The Minister also met with Senior Executives from the Dubai Municipality, a key organisation with responsibility for inspections at the main entry points into Dubai.
Speaking after the meeting the Minister said “I underlined the emphasis we place on rigorous food safety in Ireland from farm all the way to fork and that our system of controls and certification are second to none. I also emphasised our keen desire to continue to ensure a smooth flow of trade without interruption as the GCC continues to harmonise the regulatory controls across the GCC region. It was extremely useful to establish personal contacts at official level with the agency that can provide practical assistance to Irish operators seeking to navigate Dubai portal controls”
The day also saw the launch of the UAE chapter of the Bord Bia Chefs’ Irish Beef Club. The Chefs' Irish Beef Club brings together leading chefs who collectively endorse Irish beef by serving it in their restaurants and support it among diners, shoppers and the food media. This Club marks the first of its kind outside Europe and will support the positioning of Irish Beef as a premium product.
Minister Creed said, “I never cease to be amazed by the enthusiasm of chefs abroad when they are cooking and promoting Irish produce. It is one thing to lead a trade mission to countries to promote Irish food products. It is quite another thing when top class chefs work their magic and place delicious Irish food on consumers’ plates. It is only then that the same consumer can fully appreciate the excellent taste and quality of Irish beef and it is only then we can see the demand for that same product increase to the ultimate benefit of beef farmers.”
The Minister concluded his series of engagements with a meeting with Spinneys, one of the largest retailers in the region.