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About the Food and Drink Exporters Association - Meet the Buyer event

We are planning to support a delegation of Northern Ireland food and drink companies to attend the Food and Drink Exporters Association (FDEA) Meet the Buyer event in London in October 2026.

This two-day programme will bring together international buyers and United Kingdom food and drink exporters for pre-arranged business meetings, networking and export-focused sessions.

The event is expected to attract carefully selected international buyers from markets across Asia Pacific, Europe, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), North America and Australasia.

Find out more about the Food and Drink Exporters Association – Meet the Buyer.

Who should consider attending the Food and Drink Exporters Association – Meet the Buyer?

This event is suitable for:

  • Existing FDEA members or companies willing to join the association ahead of the event
  • Companies with BRC Accreditation
  • Companies with products suited to international food and drink buyers operating in categories such as snacks, confectionery, dairy, beverages, frozen food, health and wellness and other relevant food and drink sectors
  • New and experienced exporters that are ready to take part in a pre-arranged buyer meeting programme 

Who is eligible to attend the Food and Drink Exporters Association -Meet the Buyer event?

Our international exhibitions and trade missions are open to all Invest Northern Ireland client companies that meet the eligibility criteria. If you would like more information on becoming a client, see How we support business.

Spaces are limited and we will allocate on a first come, first served basis, subject to receiving your completed application form and payment.

Application forms and payment must be received by 31 August 2026.

Cost

£100 plus VAT

Benefits of attending the Food and Drink Exporters Association - Meet the Buyer event

By attending the Food and Drink Exporters Association - Meet the Buyer Event with us, you will receive:

  • 50% support towards the participation pass cost, up to £500, for up to two company representatives
  • Travel and accommodation support of £250 per person, for up to two company representatives*
  • Business development support from FDEA before the event
  • Access to the meeting booking platform
  • Additional export capability-building support
  • Support from Invest NI’s food and drink team before and during the event

*Please note grant support is subject to satisfactory completion of the event and submission of a post-event evaluation.

Interested in attending the Food and Drink Exporters Association - Meet the Buyer event?

To check your eligibility to participate, please answer these three questions.

Is your business eligible?

Answer the following questions to find out if you can apply.

Q1 - Is your business currently based in Northern Ireland?
Q2 - Can your product or service be sold to customers outside Northern Ireland?
Q3 - Are you an existing Invest Northern Ireland customer?

It is critical to understand any regulatory, compliance, and procedural issues that might affect your product or service in your target market.

A rule or regulation could stop you exporting, therefore it makes sense to find out before you spend any time or money exploring your export options.

Based on your answers your business is eligible to apply for this event.

Complete the following form and one of our international trade advisors will be in touch to discuss the next steps.

For information on how we use your personal data including your rights, see our privacy notice.

Based on your answers, you should discuss your business’ support needs with an Invest NI advisor.

Complete the following form and one of our advisors will be in touch to discuss the next steps.

Sorry, based on your answers your business does not meet the eligibility criteria for support from Invest NI

Considering doing business with Northern Ireland? Find out more about Northern Ireland’s highly skilled talent, excellent infrastructure, competitive costs, and supportive, business-friendly environment – see Why Northern Ireland?

The UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade offers a wide range of free export support. To find out more, visit great.gov.uk.

Based on your answers, your business is not eligible to receive support to attend this event.

Find more about Invest NI’s support for business.

The nibusinessinfo.co.uk website offers a wide range of help, support and guidance to help you start, run and grow a business.