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THE true taste of Ireland will soon be sizzling under a grill in homes across the region thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of Dave Ryan and Dominic Miles.
The duo has launched Gulf Irish Food Traders (GIFT), specialising in importing quality Irish foods into the GCC.
Launch products include delicious meaty sausages, incredible black puddings, thick rashers and mouth-watering cooked meat alongside a broad portfolio of iconic Irish products including Tayto Crisps, which are said to be more famous in Ireland than the 'black stuff' they brew.
"Although the Irish contingent here was ecstatic at the prospect of Irish sausages arriving it was a far larger market that first attracted us to set up GIFT, the outstanding quality and variety of the produce available in Ireland made the selection of which companies to work with first the hardest decision," explained Dominic, 43, who has been involved in the hospitality and food sector all his working life.
He is married to Michelle. They have lived in the same villa in Saar for 12 years and have two children, Connor, seven, and Hannah, four.
"The Irish sausage is an institution in itself and many a local Irish butcher prides himself or herself on producing the best one around," said Dominic. "It's the combination of locally-reared high quality meat and the seasoning that makes these sausages so darn good."
Local knowledge has proved the vital ingredient and that's where Dave came up trumps. Traditional family farmers were targeted and one butcher Una O'Dwyer, had never even exported produce across the Irish Sea into the UK, let alone fly off fresh supplies weekly to the Middle East!
Dave and his wife Mary have lived in Janabiyah for 16 years and herald from the small town of Skerries in North County Dublin, probably best known for its fishing and farming communities as well as growing the best and earliest new potatoes in the country. They have two children, Miriam, who now lives and works in Dublin, and Richard, currently studying at university in England.
Dave was marketing director at Bahrain International Airport for many years before joining the private sector and setting up Ryan Business Solutions.
"I was with Aer Lingus in Ireland and came to Bahrain in January, 1987, for a two-week project at the airport for the then aviation ministry. The Minister, the late Yousif Ahmed Al Shirawi, asked me to stay for a year and the rest is history."
Although his love for Bahrain grew ... his memories of fine Irish fare did not diminish over the years. "It's not just the Irish who love Irish sausages; once you try them you are hooked," he explained. "Personally I was sick and tired of not being able to get a decent sausage here in Bahrain and was considering making my own. But hey, why bother? Why not import good sausages and other Irish food products?
"Irish sausages are stuffed full of meat and ooze with flavour. They are not made of breadcrumbs or leftover rubbish because sausage-making in Ireland is an art, brought to Ireland by German butchers in the late 1890s-early 1900s."
GIFT started importing a range of items into Bahrain just before Christmas and found a 'very favourable response'. As well as sausages the portfolio includes fresh and smoked seafood, chilled ready meals and desserts, fresh and organic vegetables, Halal duck, luxury chocolates, organic grains, muesli and flour.
"It wasn't long before Alosra started stocking some of our products and we continue to work with other key retailers around the region," said Dominic. "As well as meat products and crisps there is big demand for Ballybrado organic flours and grains, Country Crest Ready Meals and Galway Bay smoked salmon, to name but a few.
"We are about to launch products into the UAE, are in negotiations with a leading company in Qatar and have made initial contacts in Saudi Arabia."
GIFT's initiative will also be a welcome boost to the Irish economy, badly hit by the global downturn. Export success will be a vital part of the nation's recovery.
For more information email info@gulfirishfoodtraders.com
