Global industry leaders to gather at Irish Drinks Forum 2025 as sector faces new era of disruption and opportunity.
Senior executives from global drinks brands, government agencies, and supply chain leaders will gather in Athenry, County Galway this September for the Irish Drinks Forum 2025.
The event, hosted at the BIA Innovator Campus on September 3 and 4, is Ireland’s flagship platform for the food and beverage export sector.
“Our resilience is all about moving forward. You only lose when you stop moving. In a retail-based business the numbers really matter”
The forum arrives at a pivotal time for the industry, as producers face challenges including trade tensions, tariff risks, supply chain disruptions, climate pressures, and evolving consumer preferences.
A spirited business
Irish drinks exports reached record highs in 2024, while volatility across raw materials, international markets, and regulatory frameworks continues to grow.
The sector now accounts for almost half of Ireland’s total food and drink exports and supports over 38,000 jobs nationwide, playing a foundational role in local economies from Donegal to Cork.
This year’s event, hosted at BIA Innovator Campus on 3 and 4 September, will feature keynote speakers such as Jamie Fulham, Planning and Media Manager at Diageo, and Emma Walls, CEO of the National Dairy Council.
More than 40 leaders from Ireland, Europe, Asia, and North America will participate, representing whiskey, beer, Irish cream liqueurs, cider, spirits, malt, finance, sustainability, and innovation.
“The Irish Drinks Forum is more than just a conference,” explained Lynn Harte, Programme Manager of the Irish Drinks Forum. “It is a strategic spark for Ireland’s drinks industry at a time when building resilience, innovation, and connection matter more than ever.”
Highlights include a tariff stress test, a net-zero whiskey maturation reveal, a circular-economy lab, a cooperage masterclass, and a global market outlook session.
Mary Sadlier, CEO of Coole Swan Cream Liqueur, added: “Our resilience is all about moving forward. You only lose when you stop moving. In a retail-based business the numbers really matter.”
Early-bird tickets are available here
Main image: Lynn Harte, Smart Regions Enterprise Innovation Programme Manager, BIA Innovator Campus & Programme Manager of the Irish Drinks Forum; Derek Dunwoody, General Manager BIA Innovator Campus; Mary Sadlier, CEO Coole Swan Irish Cream Liqueur; and Annette Kearney, Founder & Managing Director, Brims. Photo: Ger Griffin, Shade and Light Media
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