Rural Ireland’s drinks businesses on the rise

Pictured at the launch of the DIGI ‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Drinks Industry’ report is: Patricia Callan, member of DIGI and director of ABFI; Tony Foley, DCU economist; Kathryn D’Arcy, member of DIGI and director of corporate affairs at Heineken Ireland; Donall O’Keeffe, Secretary of DIGI and CEO of the LVA and Max Hayes, commercial director of Dublin liberties distillery

New report by DCU economist, Tony Foley, shows high levels of innovation and entrepreneurship in all sectors of the Irish drinks

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The number of Irish breweries producing their own product has more than quadrupled since 2012, from 15 to 72, according to a new report published today by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI).

DIGI published its Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Drinks Industry report, authored by DCU economist Anthony Foley, to mark the launch of its annual Support Your Local campaign, an initiative designed to demonstrate of the importance of drinks and hospitality industry businesses to the economic, cultural and social fabric of Ireland.

Growing fast

The Irish drinks industry is Ireland’s fastest-growing manufacturing industry in terms of number of enterprises. Whereas the number of enterprises in the overall manufacturing sector has increased by less than a percent since 2008, the number of drinks industry enterprises has grown by 105%. In comparison, the number of enterprises in the second fastest-growing manufacturing industry, food, has grown by 28% in the same period.

In response to changing consumer tastes, pubs and off-licences are fostering their own culture of modernity and experimentation. Nearly three-quarters of pubs have refurbished their premises in the last three years.

Many off-licences host wine and spirit tasting events, encouraging customer loyalty and improving knowledge of, and appreciation for, Ireland’s diversified drinks market

Challenges ahead

DIGI’s O’Keeffe, Secretary of DIGI and CEO of the Licenced Vintners Association, believes that the industry’s rapid growth, especially the potential for scaling up the many new enterprises, will be challenged by current global trade considerations and our noncompetitive alcohol excise tax policies.

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