Exhibitions and trade shows can be a great way of marketing your product overseas. They attract a large number of people, involved in a particular industry and can be a cost-effective way of testing foreign markets. Your products are viewed by a large and highly specialised target audience. Overseas exhibitions can also provide the ideal opportunity to meet with existing customers to maintain good customer relations.

Recently Northern Ireland Seafood have participated in several exhibitions in association with some of their member companies:

Hospitality Exchange
In October 2003 Northern Ireland Seafood exhibited along with Keenan Seafood Limited at Hospitality Exchange at the Ramada Hotel, Belfast. Hospitality Exchange, organized by the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation, is Northern Ireland’s premier hospitality conference and exhibition and attracts hundreds of potential buyers from the tourism, hospitality and catering industries.
Northern Ireland Seafood took this opportunity to promote local seafood and distribute buyer’s guides to the foodservice industry.

IFEX

In April 2004 Northern Ireland Seafood exhibited at IFEX in the Kings Hall, Belfast along with two of its member companies, Donegal Prime Fish and Kilhorne Bay Seafoods.

IFEX is the leading food, drink and catering exhibition in Ireland. The exhibiting companies showcase their products to buyers from every part of Ireland and across the globe.
As well as supporting the two exhibiting member companies, NIS took the opportunity to promote the Northern Ireland Seafood industry. On the NIS stand chefs, Virginia Convery and Gary McDowell cooked up seafood dishes for the show’s visitors. Recipe and cooking instruction leaflets were also available. NIS also showcased their Seafood Industry DVD and promoted all member companies via the distribution of its brand new Buyer Guide.

The European Seafood Exposition (ESE)

Northern Ireland Seafood have been exhibiting at ESE since 1995. They exhibit along with participating member companies on the Invest NI Northern Ireland stand. The processing sector is fully catered for in relation to ESE, which is held in April or May every year and is widely accepted by the trade to be the biggest and best in the world. ESE attracts hundreds of companies worldwide with a wide range of frozen, fresh, live and value added seafood.

The exhibition provides member companies with the opportunity to distribute brochures and company information to potential customers. A significant level of enquiries are generated and as a result of the event, several member companies have received many new orders. Northern Ireland Seafood also offer hospitality to all visiting member companies and distribute the Buyer Guide which features details of all members.