International trade advisors beef up advice to food exporters

A NEW programme designed to help West Midlands food and drink producers sell their goods overseas has been officially launched.

The scheme, which forms part of British Food Fortnight, which ends on Friday (September 30), has been designed by the Department for International Trade to support small firms looking to increase their export potential.

Christine Hamilton, interim regional director of the Department for International Trade West Midlands, described the fast-track programme as a structured, flexible plan that is designed to provide all the help and training that businesses need.

She said: “We are very excited to launch this unique initiative within the West Midlands. There are already hundreds of very successful businesses in the region who export their food and drink goods across the globe, yet we know there are hundreds more whose businesses have the potential to grow if they took the next step and began exporting. This service is for them.

“The programme is designed specifically to provide food and drink producers with one point of access to expert assistance for all export-related issues and a fast track to sales opportunities and buyers from around the globe.

“Anyone who signs up will be assigned a dedicated international trade adviser, who will provide as much support as is needed to help make their export venture a success.”

International trade advisers (ITAs) are using the food event to highlight the potential opportunities which could be available to firms willing to enter overseas markets.

The programme helps by offering firms the right contacts; planning their marketing activities; and providing advice on intellectual property, import tariffs, documentation and trading regulations.

According to the Food & Drink Exporters Association (FDEA), the UK’s total food and drink export sales in 2015 were £12.3bn, with Ireland, France, Netherlands, Germany and Spain in the top five export markets, with the 10 biggest exports being: chocolate, salmon, cheese, beef, sweet biscuits, soft drinks, breakfast cereals, vegetables, chicken, and sauces/condiments.

The Department’s Export Opportunities website lists the hundreds of live opportunities across all sectors – from a request for peanut butter in the Czech Republic and bakery goods in Poland to organic curry pastes in Japan and beer in Argentina.

“We recently took a group of international buyers to the Ludlow Food Festival and organised a special food and drink event in Staffordshire and they were impressed by the range of products on offer. It’s clear that British goods are sought after and these events confirmed that even the smallest producers can look to exporting opportunities,” added Mrs Hamilton.

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