Both buyers and Irish food and drinks manufacturers have expressed satisfaction at the Bord Bia marketing event that hosted 3,800 business meetings at Croke Park. The event is expected to generate €10 million worth of new business.

Using a "speed dating" formula, two of the floors at the stadium were taken over by 300 international and local buyers with a capacity to purchase more than €85 billion worth of product, with 150 Irish producers in attendance.

The buyers came from all over the globe and represented some of the largest retailers in the world including Carrefour, Sainsbury, Morrisons, Asda, Intermarche and Tesco.

For the first time buyers from China attended and were interested in luxury products such as chocolates, quality drinks, honey, jams and quality fish.

"There are a growing number of affluent people in China and they are seeking luxury products and that is why we are here.

"There is a great deal of interest on both sides," said Breiffini Kennedy, who opened the Bord Bia's Shanghai offices 16 months ago.