Launched on Wednesday June 27 by Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Brendan Griffin in Kilkenny, Fáilte Ireland has partnered with the Vintners' Federation of Ireland for a new ‘Grow your Food Reputation’ programme which aims to show publicans the benefits of providing great Irish food and drink experiences in pubs across the country with a focus on innovation, locally sourced produce and value for money.
Griffin stated that the programme's launch is a positive indication of how the tourism industry is recognising the value of providing great food experiences to visitors and customers alike.
He said, “We know that tourist and traveller expectations around food and drink are changing, with over half of all visitors indicating that food and drink is more important now than it was five years ago. [The] launch of the ‘Grow your Food Reputation’ programme is a perfect example of how Fáilte Ireland and industry work together to provide even greater quality, value and experiences to our food offerings.”
Paul Keeley, director of commercial development at Fáilte Ireland, said that Ireland’s food and drink offering has a significant role to play in contributing to the value of Irish tourism, enhancing visitor experiences, increasing and improving the visitor’s overall stay and growing spend.
He asserted, “High quality local experiences are a major contributor to a visitor’s holiday satisfaction, creating positive memories and return visits, and Ireland’s food and drink offering has a leading role to play in delivering these great experiences. The programme is designed to help publicans with practical advice and assistance on how to develop their food offering, including the benefits of sourcing local produce and the creation of a food ‘story’ as well as the know-how and tools to optimise profits whilst offering a high quality food and drink experience.”
Meanwhile, Vintners' Association of Ireland Padraig Cribben commented, “Tourists visit our pubs for their unique atmosphere and character, and over the past decade they increasingly have come for the quality of food. The ‘Grow your Food Reputation’ programme developed in partnership with Fáilte Ireland will bring that food offering to a new level. We are excited by the opportunities the programme will offer VFI members who are eager to enhance their food business.
“As consumers become ever more discerning, this course is an exceptional opportunity to learn skills that will help publicans build a reputation for food excellence. I have no doubt that anyone attending the course will come away enthused by the ideas, case studies and knowledge presented by leading industry experts.”
The ‘Grow your Food Reputation’ programme will run over 21 days from September to December 2018 at a range of locations nationwide.
© 2018 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
