4 November 2017
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
‘The Loop’ is the well known brandname of the duty-free shop in Cork Airport, and other Irish Airports.
The outlet held a ‘Spirit of Gin Festival’, in August and September to showcase Irish-produced gin.
This produced “fantastic results for local and national distillers” according to the shop.
Among the fifty brands of gin showcased to passengers, locally produced and distilled Munster gins were front and centre for the nearly 360,000 passengers that passed through the Gateway to the South of Ireland between August and September.
Of the brands being showcased to passengers, by specially trained ambassadors, both Cork and Munster gins featured prominently. These include Bertha’s Revenge Original, Blackwater Gin, Dingle Gin, Cdc Gin, Kinsale Craft Irish Gin and St. Patrick’s Elderflower, Sloe and Honey Classic Gins.
Eamon O’Donovan, Retail Operations Manager at ARI said: “Cork Airport always endeavours to showcase Irish products as part of the excellent shopping and value for money that is available at The Loop.
“Gin has recently surged in popularity and it is great for business and tourism, knowing that Irish gin can compete with larger global brands. Across the board, Irish produce across food and beverage rivals some of the best internationally and we are very happy to promote this in Cork Airport to our European and American passengers”, he added.
Over the past two years The Loop and Cork Airport has significantly expanded its gin portfolio, and has worked with a wide range of Irish producers to expand the category.
Ireland is now one the world’s top ten gin-drinking nations, according to recent research from Euromonitor International. Irish consumers spent almost €83 million on gin last year, which was an increase of 23% compared with 2015.
