Two County Derry Food and Drink Businesses Participate in Cross-Border Trade Mission to Dublin

Northbound Brewery Ltd and The Chocolate Manor from Co. Derry, alongside 17 similar food and drink businesses from the North, have been participating this week in a two-day cross-border trade mission (1^st – 3^rd July) to Dublin, as part of InterTradeIreland’s ‘Trade Missions @ Home’ initiative.

The Food and Drink sector is a key contributor to cross-border trade, generating £2.7 billion (€3.2 billion) in 2024 and offering significant opportunities for market expansion across the island of Ireland. 

Northbound Brewery Ltd is an independent, family-run brewery located on the outskirts of Derry City. Northbound began selling its beers in 2015 and is proud to produce premium, unpasteurized beers that are natural, unfiltered, and free from artificial additives.

The Chocolate Manor provides high-quality, bespoke chocolates available in small quantities, handcrafted and sustainably packaged. Rooted in the Causeway Coastal Route, the company also brings immersive chocolate experiences to life, combining tourism, education, and indulgence.

The ‘Trade Missions @ Home’ initiative directly connects businesses with key industry representatives, including buyers from leading multiple retailers, to foster these cross-border connections and accelerate sales growth. On the visit, the participating businesses are attending pre-arranged sales meetings to fast-track their growth efforts. 

During the trade mission, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald delivered an address at a breakfast networking event for participants in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire. Welcoming the aims of the cross-border trade initiative, she said:

“A priority for the Executive is to grow a globally competitive and sustainable economy.  To achieve this, we need to grow our global exports, while ensuring the all-island economy is strong enough to withstand global headwinds. 

“We know that businesses which export cross-border are more productive, more profitable and employ more people.  We also know that the majority of businesses that begin their export journey in the cross-border market tend to go on to export globally. 

“InterTradeIreland’s ‘Trade Mission @ Home programme’ in Dublin will support nineteen of our businesses on this journey and I commend them for their work in continuing to smooth the path for our businesses to engage, explore, and succeed.”

Also, speaking at the event, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke said: 

“I welcome the efforts of InterTradeIreland as part of its ‘Trade Missions @ Home’ initiative to empower small businesses by helping them to make important cross-border connections to unlock their export potential.  I look forward to continued collaboration with Minister Archibald and between officials of our respective Departments to maximise all-island trade opportunities and contributing to the growth of the economies of both jurisdictions.”

Colin McCabrey, Director of Trade at InterTradeIreland, commented:

“InterTradeIreland connects businesses to opportunities across the island – we’re focused on helping businesses to obtain the right advice and support to export and accelerate their sales growth, particularly those within the thriving food and drink sector.

“Our 'Trade Missions @Home' initiative offers businesses up to five days of specialised mentoring and sales coaching, with a minimum of four sales opportunities, to help them realise their export potential. Not only can it drive long-term sustainable success for these businesses, but it is also an important catalyst for further cross-border trading and economic development across the entire island of Ireland.”

Martina Rogers, Co-founder of Northbound Brewery from Co. Derry, is participating in the trade mission. She said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our small family business to showcase our beers to potential customers across Ireland. It greatly supports our growth, aligning with our vision of making Northbound beers available throughout the island.”

Also participating in the trade mission, Geri Martin, Founder of The Chocolate Manor, said:

“Participating in the InterTradeIreland Cross-Border Trade Mission presents an invaluable opportunity for The Chocolate Manor to build meaningful connections and open new market channels. With a unique offer of artisan-made-to-order chocolate gifts that combine personalisation, quality, and small-batch flexibility, the company is ideally placed to meet the growing demand in Ireland’s corporate, tourism, and hospitality sectors. The mission is allowing the business to engage directly with prospective partners, showcase their products in person, and strengthen their all-island growth strategy through practical, focused support.”

InterTradeIreland’s ‘Trade Missions @ Home’ directly facilitates cross-border sales meetings between businesses and potential buyers. The next trade mission will take place in the Autumn, when up to 20 export-ready SMEs from the Agri-Tech and Agri-Manufacturing sector will participate in a cross-border trade mission to Co. Armagh.

To find out more about the cross-border opportunities available to businesses, visit www.intertradeireland.com.