Donegal drinks company In Good Spirits for Philadelphia Showcase

Donegal drinks company In Good Spirits for Philadelphia showcase

Donegal-based Muff Liquor Company is one of two North West companies in Philadelphia this week to take part in a prestigious Irish American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) Craft Drinks event. 

Muff Liquor Company from Donegal and Derry-based Baronscourt Brewing Company will showcase their produce as well as connecting with drinks distributors and business leaders with a view to expanding their networks into the Greater Philadelphia region.

The companies will travel along with representatives from the Local Enterprise Office in Donegal and Derry City and Strabane District Council to participate in the prestigious “In Good Spirits” event, following an invitation from the Chamber of Commerce in Philadelphia.

The event is part of the strategic Ireland Northwest initiative between Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council and their partners to develop in-market support for local companies to help them build relationships to support the development of export opportunities.

The Councils have been working closely with the IACC and Pennsylvania Dept. of Community & Economic Development to promote the North West region and are delighted that Muff and Baronscourt Liquor can avail of the unique opportunity to further develop their exports into the US market.

The two local companies will be joined at the event by Teeling Whiskey, Drioglann Local Measc Distillery, as well as distillers from Philadelphia.

The “In Good Spirits” event will feature a panel discussion and question and answer session moderated by Terese Waldron, Director of Graduate Food Marketing Program at Saint Joseph’s University.

There will be drinks experts from  Pennsylvania and Irish industry taking part including, Eve-Anne McCarron, Local Enterprise Office, Donegal, responsible for The Food Coast Initiative); John Teeling of Teeling Whiskey; Andrew Auwerda, President & Co-Founder of Philadelphia Distilling and John Cooper, Co-Founder of Mountain Laurel Spirits (Dad’s Hat Rye).   The panel discussion will be followed by a tasting session featuring The Muff Liquor Company, Teeling Whiskey, Baronscourt Brewing Co., Lough Mask Distillery, Powers Irish Whiskey, Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey, and Manatawny Still Works. The participants will get an opportunity to pitch their products and meet with industry experts who will assist the companies seeking market entry and develop local partnerships.   Head of Enterprise in Donegal, Michael Tunney said the visit highlighted two important strands of their strategy in Donegal – the continued support to make Donegal famous for food and the emphasis on helping small businesses from the county to look beyond local markets.

“We have an amazing cohort of businesses in Donegal and we are working hard now with our businesses to find out what really drives the people who are exporting so we can help others achieve that too. This trip is just one part of that strategy and we are confident that the links we have been forging over the past few years in places like Philadelphia, Boston and New York through the Diaspora project will bear fruit for businesses here.”

  Welcoming Derry City and Strabane District Council’s participation in the event, Director of Business Stephen Gillespie said the visit is part of the Ireland Northwest’s strategic objectives, aimed at assisting local companies to internationalise their business, increase their business connections and exports.   A key element of this visit is that it aligns with the objectives set out in the recently launched Council food and drink strategy.    “This is a great opportunity for Baronscourt Brewing Co. and Muff Liquor Company to showcase their products and further develop their links with drink distributors in the US. It’s a huge privilege for us to be invited to take part in this prestigious event and to be given a platform to promote the North West region as a food and drink destination. The event will be attended by a range of influencers in the drinks sector and our participation at this showcase is testament to the ongoing relationship we have developed with Philadelphia during our trade investment visits,” he said.

Alanna M. Barry McCloskey, Business Manager and Marketing Coordinator with the Irish American Business Chamber and Network said: “On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Irish American Business Chamber & Network, we are thrilled to welcome a delegation of Irish craft distillers and brewers and representatives from Derry City and Strabane and Donegal County Councils. Our visiting companies will meet with various Chamber members, local business leaders, and government representatives with the goal of expanding their networks and expanding into the Greater Philadelphia region.

“We are very much looking forward to introducing our visiting companies to the Irish Chamber membership at a special event, In Good Spirits: The Rise of Craft Distilling and Brewing in Pennsylvania and Ireland. This panel discussion and tasting session will feature both Irish and Pennsylvania companies and highlight the parallel track of the craft industries in Pennsylvania and Ireland.

“Throughout the Chamber’s 20 year history, we have welcomed delegations of Irish companies and government representatives to the Philadelphia Region. We actively work to promote the Island of Ireland in the Philadelphia region and conversely, highlight Philadelphia as a destination for Irish businesses, trade and investment." The delegation departed to Philadelphia on Wednesday 15th May.

Further trade missions are scheduled to take place to both Boston and Philadlephia in November when both Councils will be supporting a range of local companies to assess their readiness to export and gear up to target and explore new business opportunities in export markets.

ENDS