Eighty six per cent of consumers believe that grocery items, produced in Ireland, should be clearly labelled as being ‘Irish’.

That's according to a new survey of over 1,000 people.

In the wake of the recent horse meat scandal, the survey also found that 92% also say it is important for them to know where their food is coming from.

Speaking in relation to the findings, Stephen Wynne-Jones, editor of Checkout Magazine, says brands with strong Irish credentials should invest more in communicating this to the consumer, to seek differentiation in a highly competitive marketplace.

Two-thirds or 66% of those surveyed said they would be more likely to visit a store that stocked a wide range of Irish products.

The survey also found that the cost of groceries remains a priority for Irish shoppers. People are still seeking the best value for their budget, so depending on price, Irish products are likely to be their first preference.