08 Dec 2017 --- After months of negotiations and what looked like a continuing impasse, finally the UK government and EU have declared a “Brexit breakthrough” having reached a last-minute deal on key points, including the fact there will be no “hard border” in Ireland. For food and beverage industries, the Northern Ireland border is one of the key points that could impact trade and so companies have been closely monitoring Brexit talks for months, hoping that a “hard border” will be avoided.