International food-buyers descend on Kinsale

The gastronomic capital of Ireland - Kinsale, Co Cork - has been temporarily taken over by some 200 international food-buyers, who between them have little change out of £500 million once their business year is done.

For 72 of the more progressive Irish food companies, it represents an unprecedented opportunity for much of that money to go in exchange for their produce.

In a three-day event promoted by the food board, An Bord Bia, the emphasis is on networking, between consuming fine food and drink. The selected companies make what are officially described as high-priced products coming from small manufacturing operations in a market worth more than £90 million annually.

The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, hosted the opening event last night, attended by buyers from Europe, Japan, Australia and the US. The biggest event since Bord Bia's "Horizons" promotion in 1996, it takes a new approach to helping food companies to generate business, according to Bord Bia's chief executive, Mr Michael Duffy.

A symposium on food quality, preparation and distribution later today features some of the world's niche food-marketing experts. The line-up includes US marketing guru Murray Raphel, chef Antony Worrell Thompson and Irish Times food writer John McKenna. It will go out on a live webcast which is accessible through the Bord Bia home page on the Inter net, www.bordbia.ie