Food safety knowledge and skills among SMEs on the island of Ireland
ISBN: 978-1-905767-82-3
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Background
Small and Medium Enterprises constitute the vast majority of food businesses across the island of Ireland. A failure on their part to manufacture, distribute and sell safe food products will lead to a loss in consumer confidence and a subsequent loss of market share. To guard against this, SMEs must regard food safety as an opportunity to create competitive advantage, rather than an onerous and costly burden.
This report provides details on the current situation across the island of Ireland with regard to the level of food safety knowledge and skills within Small and Medium Enterprises in food and drink manufacturing, retail and catering. It is envisaged that the findings of the report will assist safefood in the development of resources and tools suited to their food safety needs.
safefood would like to thank the Principal Researcher on this project, Dr Catherine Jordan, National University of Ireland, Galway, and the team at Excellence Ireland Quality Association (EIQA) particularly Irene Collins (Managing Direct and Principal Contractor on this project), Beth McEntee (Survey Administration) and Martin Roper. Thanks are also due to the project Advisory Board and those who contributed to the research including Prof Ronnie Russell, Moyne Institute, Trinity College Dublin and Annette Sweeney, Institute Technology Tallaght. We would also very much like to thank all of the food and drink SME business operators across the island of Ireland who took the time to participate in the survey and / or the interviews.
