UK market conditions have become “more positive” for Irish mushroom growers as a result of the strengthening of sterling against the crisis-torn euro, an all-Ireland conference was told last weekend.
But Michal Slawski, development and marketing specialist at Bord Bia, also warned that the lack of long-term stability between the currencies remained a problem, creating price uncertainty for producers.
The Irish industry now holds a 25 per cent share of the UK mushroom market, some six per cent ahead of the Dutch, the next major exporter. Much of the Irish success, he said, was due to large-scale consolidation backed up by substantial investment, both from the state and the industry.
The strength of the Irish industry has been underlined by major player Monaghan Mushrooms buying Sussex Mushrooms in Thakeham and the Belgian group Walkro.
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