Study shows Northern Ireland meat industry needs to cut costs
According to a recent study, Northern Ireland's meat industry must start to cut costs and boost exports over the next ten years in order to ensure long-term growth.
The research - commissioned by the Livestock and Meat Commission and Invest NI - was conducted by French consultancy firm GIRA, who are also experts in the global meat industry. Their researchers looked at all aspects of the £1.5 billion meat industry in Northern Ireland, such as:
• Threats facing the industry
• Competition from other countries
• The impact of changing consumer trends (i.e. an increased focus on animal welfare and sustainability)
• Cost-efficiency
The managing director of Invest NI, Ian Murphy, explained what this study means for Northern Ireland's food and drink sector. He said:
Northern Ireland's meat industry is currently worth around £1.5 billion - contributing half of the total £3 billion the food processing as a whole earns per year - and employs 9,000 people in food jobs.
The research - commissioned by the Livestock and Meat Commission and Invest NI - was conducted by French consultancy firm GIRA, who are also experts in the global meat industry. Their researchers looked at all aspects of the £1.5 billion meat industry in Northern Ireland, such as:
• Threats facing the industry
• Competition from other countries
• The impact of changing consumer trends (i.e. an increased focus on animal welfare and sustainability)
• Cost-efficiency
The managing director of Invest NI, Ian Murphy, explained what this study means for Northern Ireland's food and drink sector. He said:
"This is one of the most significant documents that we have produced because meat processing is vitally important here in terms of the scale of its contribution to the local economy, especially rural communities, in areas such as exports, new product development and, of course, employment."
Northern Ireland's meat industry is currently worth around £1.5 billion - contributing half of the total £3 billion the food processing as a whole earns per year - and employs 9,000 people in food jobs.
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