FDBusiness.com

United Biscuits, a leading international manufacturer of biscuits, cakes and snacks, has announced a 50 per cent jump in its total exports from the UK over the past three years and anticipates a further 50 per cent rise by 2020. Britain is the central export hub for the UB business globally, with some 60,000 tonnes of product to be shipped from the UK across 2015, worth a total of £250 million in retail sales for the year. Two thirds of this comprised UB’s iconic McVitie’s Digestives range, with the quintessentially British brand experiencing a worldwide boom in popularity. Exports for the original McVitie’s Digestive alone have increased by 20 per cent year-on-year in 2015.

UB’s exports from UK reach over 100 countries worldwide, with a core focus on four key regions: Africa, the Middle East, India and China. This drive supports the recent FDF UK food and drink export statistics, highlighting a rise in biscuit exports between 2014 and 2015.

UB has invested significantly in its UK operations over the past two years, supporting its capability to deliver and expand its portfolio in a range of markets overseas. This includes significant investment in UB’s Harlesden facility in West London, the biggest biscuit factory in Europe, which currently produces about a sixth of its output specifically for export. A further £15 million of planned investment in 2016 which will help improve the site’s capacity and boost its export potential further.

Jeff van der Eems.

Jeff van der Eems, chief executive of United Biscuits, comments: “At United Biscuits we have established a strong track record of success in finding consumers worldwide who love our iconic McVitie’s British biscuits. Whether through exporting or manufacturing locally, our international development model is central to UB’s strategy for growth and will involve continued investment in our UK sites.”

He adds: “We have focused in particular on making McVitie’s Digestives a truly global product. This wonderful British biscuit is appreciated worldwide. Finding appropriate ways to introduce McVitie’s to consumers on all continents has helped our exports boom and will continue to drive investment in Harlesden and our other UK sites. This is a major reason for our success and the booming export figures for McVitie’s this year, and we are investing in our capacity to continue feeding the global demand for our biscuits and baked snacks.”

As the leading manufacturer and marketer of biscuits in the UK and second largest in the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Ireland, United Biscuits owns and operates 16 manufacturing facilities, of which seven are in the UK and has a strong footprint for growth, with products sold in over 130 countries. UB is owned by Yildiz Holding – owner of the master brands Ülker, McVitie’s and Godiva.

Yildiz is a global, snacking focused food company with over 320 brands in 49 different categories. With 77 factories in 14 countries, the company exports to 100+ countries and operates in a geography housing around 4 billion people. Yildiz is the world’s third largest biscuits company and employs 49,000 people around the world.