FDBusiness.com

An ambitious new action plan to grow exports and bring a £2.9 billion boost to the UK economy has been launched by the Government. The new International Action Plan for Food and Drink will see Government and industry working together to boost food and drink exports over the next five years.

The plan identifies nine markets across 18 countries with the best potential for growth. It sets out new ways to tap into these markets, including targeting:

* An extra £185 million in exports to Japan through demand for classic British products like tea, jam and biscuits and new opportunities for British beef;

* An additional £293 million of exports to Australia and New Zealand, where there is a growing thirst for British beer and cider;

* A £215 million export boost in Mexico and Latin America through growing demand for a wide range of British products including whisky and gin.

“With over £10 billion worth of food and drink sold overseas in the last seven months and exports up almost six per cent compared to 2015, there is no doubt we are open for business and ready to trade,” says Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom. “Scottish salmon, Welsh beef, Northern Irish whiskey and English cheese are already well-known globally and I want us to build on this success by helping even more companies send their top quality food and drink abroad. Together over the next five years Government and industry will help exporters sell more overseas and provide business support, mentoring and training to give new companies the confidence and skills to start exporting.”

Ian Wright, Director General of the Food and Drink Federation, says: “We are supporting the Government’s export drive with an ambition to grow branded food and drink exports by a third by 2020 to £6 billion. Export growth is hugely important to our sector. We hope that the International Action Plan for Food and Drink will open more channels and provide direct support to new and existing food and drink exporters.”

The Great British Food Unit which was launched earlier this year to promote exports, support inward investment and champion the excellence of British food and drink at home and abroad will support industry to achieve the targets set out in the plan.