Glenarm Salmon Seals China Deal

Glenarm Organic Salmon is to supply top hotels in Hong Kong.

The news has been announced by Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness, who are currently on a trade mission in China to promote Northern Ireland industry.

The Ministers made the announcement during a visit to the Food Hotel China exhibition in Shanghai with a group of Northern Ireland companies. The event was backed by Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and Invest NI and attended by Agricultural Minister Michelle O’Neill.

First Minister Peter Robinson said: "Establishing a presence in Hong Kong for fresh salmon is a tremendous boost for this export-focused business. In a marketplace that remains among the world’s most dynamic places to do business, this will provide a great opportunity to develop future sales."

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness added: "Today’s announcement is testament to the company's resilience, after the difficult circumstances Glenarm Organic Salmon experienced in 2007. It highlights how small local business can go from strength to strength in competitive environments, by focusing on developing niche markets and by attracting high profile customers."

Arlene Foster said: "Glenarm Organic Salmon has made excellent use of Invest Northern Ireland export schemes including a recent mission to Hong Kong for the seafood sector. By participating in discussions with potential buyers and following up expressions of interest quickly and successfully Glenarm has been able to secure this contract."

Michelle O’Neill welcomed the announcement: "Developing such export markets is important in sustaining employment for our rural communities and I congratulate Glenarm Organic Salmon on this exciting new development," she said.

John Russell, Glenarm Organic Salmon Managing Director, said: "The business that we are developing in Hong Kong will give us an important foothold for growth in China, an increasingly affluent market with a rapidly growing middle class with an interest in quality food from European suppliers. It’s a market that we’ve targeted for fast growth during 2013.

"The interest that we are now attracting from high-end hotels in China carries forward our existing business in other parts of Asia such as Singapore and Thailand, markets which we have been shipping fresh salmon to since 2008."

(IT)