New UK Food and Drink Export Plan

The agreement will set many key plans into action, namely promoting UK food and drink internationally, helping UK firms to win business internationally through targeted campaigns, and by unlocking market barriers and simplifying paperwork, plus encouraging more businesses to consider exporting, promoting inward investment and encouraging dialogue between the industry and the Government.

Andy Capes, head of Baker Tilly’s northern food and drink group said, “Strong, effective collaboration between the industry and Government is vital to securing greater export growth for the UK’s agri-food and drink sector. The days of sneering at British cuisine are in the past. There is a growing respect in the international market for the variety and quality of British food and drink, and this is being reflected in increased sales in overseas markets.

Mr Capes sees positive aspects in this plan, and said, “Particularly welcome is a Defra proposal to secure Protected Food Name status for more UK products. This will allow for more British products to join the likes of Stilton cheese, Welsh lamb and Scottish farmed salmon and be given legal protection against imitation throughout the EU. This will also open new opportunities for marketing in other international markets. Many food and drink businesses can also learn from the global appeal of Scotch whisky, and the efforts made by that industry to protect itself from unfair competition.

“Where we see most opportunity is for the smaller food and drink producers. While there are some excellent examples such as The Ilkley Brewery business in Yorkshire which is now exporting beer to the US, 90 per cent of SMEs are missing out on export opportunities according to the UKTI’s own figures. The real challenge for advisers and the Government is to ensure SMEs get the right support and assistance to showcase their products on the international stage.”