Mid and East Antrim Food and Drink Business Event Series launched

Tuesday 1 August 2023

Organised by Mid and East Antrim (MEA) Borough Council, the Food and Drink Business Event Series aims to empower and bolster the thriving agrifood and drink business community in MEA. By bringing together local businesses and industry experts, the series provides a platform for networking, learning, and fostering collaborations that will drive growth and innovation in the Borough's food and drink sector.

The first session on ‘Confident Pricing for Profit’ was expertly delivered by BD Consultancy.  Each of the local businesses have been faced with the crippling effects of the cost-of-living crisis and increased costs of supplies and utilities.  They also realise that the cost-of-living crisis and financial health of families and small businesses are closely interconnected - and the struggles of one can amplify the difficulties of the other. 

With that in mind, participants explored factors to consider when setting prices, gained valuable pricing strategy insights, and were equipped with a toolkit to be able to calculate cost and establish margins easily and confidently. 

Brigid Duggan, founder of BD Consultancy facilitated the session, sharing invaluable insights, best practices, and real-life case studies. The interactive nature of the event allowed participants to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange ideas, and forge connections with like-minded entrepreneurs.

Following fantastic feedback from participating businesses, Council is delighted to announce the next session - which will focus on ‘SALSA Approval’ - scheduled for 16 August in the Ecos Hub, Ballymena.

This event will guide businesses on the path to achieving SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier Approval) accreditation - a coveted standard that validates food safety, quality, and legality. Obtaining SALSA approval opens doors to new business opportunities and boosts consumer confidence, ensuring an edge in an increasingly competitive market. This has been kindly supported by Invest NI as part of their specialist services to food and drink companies. 

"We are thrilled by the enthusiastic response to our Food and Drink Business Event Series," said Eva Dobbin, Business Growth Manager at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

"The turnout for the first session endorsed the need for the very practical support the network intends to provide. As we look forward to the next event on 'SALSA Accreditation’ we hope for another great gathering that will lend itself to further elevating the strength of the agrifood and drink landscape in Mid and East Antrim."

The Mid and East Antrim Food and Drink Business Event Series is open to all local food and drink businesses, whether established entities or startups. Interested participants can find out more or register for the upcoming ‘SALSA Accreditation’ event by registering through our Eventbrite listing.

For further information about the event series, or any other enquiries, please email: mary.oboyle@midandeastantrim.gov.uk