Cut red tape to boost exports, Leicestershire drinks manufacturer tells Truss

Liz Truss and Pev Manners

Make export easier, with less red tape and more support – that was the message from Belvoir Farm managing director Pev Manners to Liz Truss, Secretary of State for International Trade, as he hosted a visit at the family-owned company, based in Bottesford, Leicestershire.

The company is celebrating strong export growth of 20% in the last 12 months and currently exports its range of cordials and sparkling drinks across the world, despite the double challenges of Brexit and Covid-19. In particular, sales are up in Australia by 102% and the USA by 54% and organic cordial is enjoying strong growth in Europe.

This growth very much bucks the trend, as recent research by the Food and Drink Federation shows food and drink exports, in particular to Europe, have fallen to a 10-year low.

“We were delighted to show the Secretary of State round our unique bottling factory,” said Manners. “Our flowers are hand-picked by the local community, to infuse into our delicious elderflower at our modern factory and bottling plant.”

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said: “Brilliant to see a quintessential British brand like Belvoir not only contribute to local economic growth but also take their exceptional drinks all over the world including to key markets like the US and Australia.

“New trade agreements will help open markets UK businesses would not have been able to access previously.”

Manners also discussed some of the key barriers to other exporters due to red tape.
He said: “Export is currently around 20% of our business but we are having fantastic interest from markets outside Europe, so can see it growing to at least a third over the next year. France, USA and Australia are currently huge opportunities, particularly as our organic cordial is very popular in France.

“We are certainly bucking the trend – many exporters may have either given up on exporting to the EU, or put it on the back burner given the Brexit complications. We were asking the Secretary of State what practical support the government will put in place to help brands like ours diversify risk within our businesses, particular in relation to reducing legislative requirements and also helping us to win new business.”

MP Alicia Kearns for Rutland and Melton also accompanied the Secretary of State on the visit.

The family firm fills 19,000 bottles an hour and 25–30 million bottles each year, that are sold up and down the country and exported all over the world from the £5m bottling plant in Bottesford. Each year, during the elderflower harvest, Belvoir invites people from the local community to pick flowers and bring them to the bottling plant, in return for cash.

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