Kildare food business takes part in Cross-Border Trade Mission to Northern Ireland

Couverture Desserts from Naas, alongside twelve other businesses from Ireland this week had the opportunity to foster cross-border connections to grow their business across the island on a two-day Cross-Border Trade Mission to Northern Ireland.

This forms part of InterTradeIreland’s new ‘Trade Missions @Home’ programme, which aims to facilitate connections and accelerate sales growth for businesses in the cross-border market.

Couverture Desserts was established in 1998 and currently employs 59 full time staff.  It is a major supplier of luxury premium desserts and sweet treats to the airlines, hotels, restaurants, catering companies, distributors and to the retail trade. The company manufactures over 30,000 desserts per day from its manufacturing site Naas, Co Kildare and has maintained its Grade AA – B.R.C (British Retail Consortium). 

The Food and Drink sector is a vital industry for cross-border trade, with the value of trade in this sector increasing significantly over the years. Since 2021, InterTradeIreland has supported over 450 businesses in the Food and Drink sector, contributing to the growth of cross-border trade from €2.6 billion to €3.8 billion.

Anne-Marie McAteer, Trade Manager at InterTradeIreland said: “The importance of all-island trade to the Food and Drink sector has never been more apparent. Close to a quarter of goods going from Ireland to Northern Ireland are in the food and beverages category, while 27% of all goods exported from Northern Ireland are in the sector. The numbers speak for themselves. 

We’re pleased to be supporting these businesses to develop partnerships and grow their exports and we wish them continued success on their export journey.”

The thirteen businesses participating in this Trade Mission are Brady’s Coffee Company from Wicklow, Couverture Desserts from Kildare, Filligans Limited from Donegal, Goodness Grains Gluten Free Bakery from Longford, Grá chocolates and Solaris Tea from Galway, O’Flynns Gourmet Sausage Company from Cork, Rosie and Jim, Raw Juice Company and Thanks Plants Ltd from Dublin, The Chocolate Garden of Ireland from Carlow, Wexford Home Preserves and The White Hag Brewing Company from Sligo.

Celine English Director of Couverture Desserts said: “The synergies in relation to location and taste profiles means that the cross-border market plays a very important role in potentially growing our business.”

The ‘Trade Missions @Home’ initiative gives these businesses the opportunity to connect with key industry representatives and develop new sales opportunities in the cross-border market.

This year marks InterTradeIreland’s 25th anniversary supporting businesses across the island to grow through trading cross-border, innovating, collaborating, attracting investment and making connections. To find out more about the cross-border opportunities available to businesses visit www.intertradeireland.com