Demand for Irish food grows this Christmas

by S. C.

With an increasing number of Irish residing temporarily or permanently in Australia, Taste Ireland has seen a surge in demand for Irish products on all sides of the business: wholesale to Irish bars, retail stores and restaurants; and the online retail service, delivering groceries directly to customers’ doors or through their warehouse open to the public in Sydney.

Now, major supermarket chains such as Woolworths are paying particular interest in Irish grocery exports; the major supermarket chain has recently brokered a deal to stock Tayto crisps in 185 of its stores nationwide, other products currently ranging include: Barry’s Tea, Club Orange and Bisto Gravy. The aim is increase the number of Irish foods to the International aisle of major stores in nationwide.

Taste Ireland owner Eamon Eastwood said: “I arrived in Australia initially as a backpacker in 1999 just in time to experience the Sydney Olympics, I found that so many Irish expats really missed the basic groceries – the first comment everyone makes out here is that the tea just isn’t the same!

“So I originally set about importing Tayto crisps and other iconic Irish foods that my friends and I really missed and it has grown from there. The number of Irish moving to this country since the GFC is astounding and while many used to see Australia as a year of travel, the Irish who are now coming here are here to find work and sponsorship and are looking for a more permanent life. I think the fact that Woolworths has approached us about supplying Irish foods in the International aisle, is testament to the fact that Australians are aware that there is going to be another cultural shift in this country.”

According to the Irish Embassy, Canberra, around 60,000 Irish-born citizens are permanent residents of Australia. In addition, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship stated in their most recent report that by June this year, just under 13,000 Irish were in Australia on working holiday visas and between July 2010 and June 2011, 26,636 Irish temporary resident arrived in Australia.

by S. C.
07 December 2011 Teatro Naturale International n. 12 Year 3

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