West Midland food firms out to show the French their je ne sais quoi
West Midlands food and drinks entrepreneurs are being urged to fly the flag for the region’s cuisine in the home of gastronomy – Paris.
A two-day trade mission next month will offer a platform for West Midlands food businesses keen to impress the harshest of critics.
The mission is being organised by small business support group Enterprise Nation and is part of the firm’s ongoing Go Global campaign. It builds on the seven international delegations the firm has already lead to trading hotspots including China, New York, Berlin and Amsterdam.
Supporting the mission are HSBC and professional services firm KPMG.
According to data from the Department of International Trade, France is the second biggest market for UK food and drink exports and is open to the trend for interesting new, high quality, independently-produced food-on-the-go.
UK food and drink exports in the first half of 2016 reached £6.6bn, up 8.7% on the first half of 2015 and Philippe Demarest, founder and director of sales development specialist Sutralis, has precited this will continue into 2017.
Across the channel British brands are thriving. According to Demerest, the historical hesitance in French consumers to buy British food and drink has been slowly changing over the past five years. A food culture that is high quality but highly traditional has left a gap in the market for innovative good food on-the-go, something that British food and drink makers and retailers excel in, he added.
Alongside larger brands such as Marks & Spencer and Pret A Manger, that have moved into the Parisian market to make the most of this opportunity, smaller, niche food brands are also taking a bite.
Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: “There is a growing appetite for innovative British food products globally and particularly in France.
“The independent British food market is building its reputation around the world for quality and ingenuity – and year-on-year that message is getting across to more buyers and stockists looking for something fresh and interesting.
“Exploring that market in person is vital for British firms to make sustainable connections which will take them to the next level.”
The Go Global Paris 2017 mission takes place March 27-28.
Day one:
Eurostar from London St Pancras (9.24am) to Paris Gare du Nord (12.56pm)
Arrive in Paris at 12.56pm
Whilst on board the train, delegates will get the opportunity to pitch to the food and drink buyer of Eurostar
Session one: The French market and customer trends
2.00-3.00pm: The French market: How to do business in the region
Visit to KPMG Paris to meet trade, tax and legal experts who will offer an introduction to the French market and a checklist on how to do business in the territory
3.00-4.00pm: The French consumer: How to sell your products
Delegates will hear from the director of Sutralis on how to position their products and make sales in the region
Session two: Financing your exporting aspirations
5.00-6.00pm Show me the Money Paris!
A session with HSBC’s Paris team on how to finance export aspirations to get products to France
Session three: Go Global Evening Reception
7.00-9.00pm Go Global Evening Reception at the Family
With guest of honour UK Ambassador, Ed Llewellyn plus invited local food bloggers, buyers and distributors.
Day two:
Session one: Who to sell to
9.00am-12.00pm: Market Research: The Food Market in Paris & France
A guided tour with market expert, Martine Foulloy, of hypermarkets, supermarkets, gourmet food halls, freezer halls and more.
12.30-2.00pm: Meet the buyer: Sodexo
A visit to the headquarters of Sodexo France to meet with French buyers and tour Sodexo Ventures
2.30-6.00pm: M.A.D.E. Paris
A visit to the M.A.D.E Paris trade show, the benchmark event for private label in the French market, with an opportunity to meet buyers, distributors and exhibitors and explore and understand the French market, and make potential sales contacts
Eurostar back to London, arriving 10.39pm.
