6.5 Prepared Consumer Foods

6.5 Prepared Consumer Foods

Prepared Consumer Foods (PCF) are value-added food and beverage products, which sell both domestically and internationally to retail, food service or other food companies. These goods are categorised into 15 areas identified and agreed by industry stakeholders, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Central Statistics Office.

Exports in the PCF sector broke the €3 billion mark for the first time in 2022 with a total of €3.2 billion. Ireland imported €4.2 billion worth of PCF products, resulting in a trade deficit of €1 billion, a 28% increase on the previous year.

4,500

Figure 6.13 Global PCF Exports & Imports by Value, 2013-2022

4,000

3,500

3,000

Millions €

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Exports €m Imports €m

Source: CSO

The export value of all PCF product categories increased in 2022, with the total growing from €2.8 billion to €3.2 billion (+16%). Meat preparations was the largest category of export overall, increasing from €901 million to €1.1 billion (+19%) in 2022. Cereal-based products saw the largest percentage increase, growing from €99 million to €134 million (+35%).

While no product saw a decrease in export value, there were notable decreases in the volume of other food preparations and dairy preparations, which decreased by 20,000 tonnes (-20%) and 3,300 tonnes (-10%) respectively.

The top five Prepared Consumer Food categories are meat preparations, other food preparations, chocolate-based products, pizza/quiche and waters & juices & soft drinks, accounting for €2.2 billion or 69% of total exports by value in 2022.

Table 6.4 Prepared Consumer Food Exports by Category, 2021-2022

2021 2022 Exports Exports
Category	€000	Tonnes	€000	Tonnes	% Value Change	% Volume Change
Meat Preparations	900,565	149,792	1,065,984	160,816	18%	7%
Other Food Preparations	308,492	102,834	331,469	82,756	7%	-20%
Chocolate-based products	309,816	65,356	326,402	63,759	5%	-2%
Pizza/Quiche	193,777	85,745	240,203	88,178	24%	3%
Waters & Juices & Soft Drinks	212,466	245,599	237,025	272,937	12%	11%
Extracts, Sauces, Soups	178,236	24,810	214,879	26,270	21%	6%
Breads	163,237	77,349	202,123	81,459	24%	5%
Dairy Preparations	108,925	33,623	135,892	30,306	25%	-10%
Cereal based Products	99,416	131,828	133,584	151,590	34%	15%
Sugar-based products	108,154	34,015	120,520	32,414	11%	-5%
Fruit & Vegetable based	68,023	30,350	71,688	32,552	5%	7%
Fruit-based bakery	66,270	19,212	71,004	20,110	7%	5%
Frozen Confectionery	17,957	7,091	23,465	7,755	31%	9%
Biscuits	13,025	3,689	14,223	3,658	9%	-1%
Savoury Snacks etc	6,110	2,651	6,657	2,555	9%	-4%
Grand Total	2,754,468	1,013,943	3,195,117	1,057,116	16%	4%

Source: CSO

Figure 6.14 Prepared Consumer Food Exports by Category 2022

n Meat preparation 33% n Other food preparations 10% n Chocolate-based products 10% n Pizza/Quiche 8% n Waters & juices & soft drinks 8% n Extracts, sauces, soups 7% n Breads 6% n Dairy preparations 4% n Cereal based products 4% n Sugar-based products 4% n Other 6%

Source: CSO