Northern Irish Distillers Conference
30 Sep 2025
Loughry Campus
Invest NI’s Consumer Insights & Drinks Sector teams, in collaboration with CAFRE, invite you to attend the 2nd annual Northern Irish Distillers Conference. The conference will explore the on-trade in the UK; the importance of tourism within the sector; the current Northern Irish spirits retail market and track consumer sentiment within the category. In addition, delegates will learn more about the services offered by Invest NI and CAFRE.
Date: Tuesday 30 September 2025
Time: 09:00-13:30
Address: Food Technology Centre, CAFRE, Loughry Campus, Cookstown, BT80 9AA
Keynote speakers from Lumina Intelligence and CARD Group will present on opportunities within the UK on-trade sector and consumer sentiment in the Northern Irish whiskey sector respectively.
Programme
| 09:00 Coffee and registration |
| 09:30 Welcome and introduction: Peter Simpson, Head of Food Technology, CAFRE and Fiona Walker – Head of Invest NI’s Drinks Sector Team |
| 09:40 Focus on the On-Trade Sector in the UK: Linda Haden – Insights Lead, Lumina Intelligence |
| 10:10 Consumer Sentiment on Northern Irish Whiskey: Albert Hamilton – CEO of CARD Group |
| 10:35 Tourism and the Spirits Sector: Gary Quate – Food & Drink Tourism Manager, Tourism NI |
| 11:00 Lunch Break & Networking |
| 11:45 DrinkTec Exhibition – New Technologies: Milan Havlicek – Food Technologist, CAFRE |
| 12:10 Invest NI Energy & Resource Efficiency Support: Daniel Purdy – Energy and Resource Efficiency Manager |
| 12:25 BCorp & Sustainability: Joe McGirr – Founder & CEO of Boatyard Distillery |
| 12:40 Invest NI Innovation and R&D Support: Sam Kinghan – Food & Drink R&D Manager |
| 12:55 Irish Spirit Labelling: Eoin Ó Catháin – Director of Irish Whiskey Association |
| 13:20 Evaluation & Wrap-Up |
Optional FTC Tour
There will be an opportunity to network with other Northern Irish distillers and specialist guest speakers over lunch and at the close.
Also, you can talk to Invest NI’s Consumer Insights, R&D and Energy & Resource Efficiency teams about how they can support your business.