International Trade

Leech:

BUSINESS LEADERS' FORUM

Exports need government support – FDF boss

By Rod Addy

The government could support food exports more, Melanie Leech, director general of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), claimed, shortly before Lord Livingstone pledged more trade backing.

Sourcing UK food for school dinners supports industry

Government pledges to support British food

By Michael Stones

Environment secretary Owen Paterson has pledged to significantly boost the proportion of British food bought by government agencies in 2014.

Mumbai docks, where UK food manufacturers' products have been held

India’s new law could cost the UK millions

By Rod Addy

UK food and drink manufacturers could lose millions of pounds as exports to India languish at Mumbai docks after authorities blocked shipments following sudden regulatory changes.

Food and non-alcoholic drink exports rose by 2.5% to £6.1bn, after a slow start in the first quarter

Food and drink exports pick up after slow start

By Mike Stones

Exports of British food and non-alcoholic drink rose by 2.5% to £6.1bn in the first half of 2013, after a slow start, revealed figures released today (September 23) by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Clare Cheney, director general, Provision Trade Federation

Costly sledgehammer to crack an EC nut

By Clare Cheney

The European Commission (EC) is calling for tenders for a study on mandatory origin labelling of milk, milk used as an ingredient and unprocessed meat other than beef, pig, poultry, sheep and goat meat. Presumably the latter is to cover game. What about...

On the march: pests and diseases were moving north and south at an average of two miles a year, thanks to food trade and climate change

Food security threatened by climate change and trade

By Mike Stones

Food security is threatened by the global trade in farm products – which allows crop pests and diseases to spread worldwide – and climate change – which allows them to establish in new locations, according to new research published in the journal Nature...

The BCC claimed sending students to study abroad was 'vital' for the UK economy

Sending UK students abroad vital to UK economy: BCC

By Laurence Gibbons

Sending students and graduates on work placements abroad is vital for the UK economy and for manufacturers looking to build international relations, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Tulip's pork business is doing well, according to industry commentators

Tulip job cuts announcement puzzles experts

By Rod Addy

Confusion over job cuts at Tulip is rife among industry insiders and analysts at a time when things were beginning to look up for UK and export markets for pork.

'Health mark' labelling has given the impression imported Cheddar was made in the UK

Departing trade boss targets domestic sourcing

By Rod Addy

Outgoing Dairy UK director general Jim Begg has hit out at misleading labelling implying all the ingredients of dairy products are sourced from the UK when this is not the case.

Trading places: New US/EU trade talks were released at the G8 meeting in Northern Ireland, attended by Prime Minister David Cameron and President Barak Obama

Euro food manufacturers welcome EU/US trade talks

By Mike Stones

New trade talks between the EU and US will create growth opportunities for Europe’s food and drink industry, claim manufacturers, who together exported £11.67bn of food and drink to the country last year.

Barnes: Many firms aren't aware of the level of help available to enable them to exploit export opportunities

Food firms should draw more on export support

By Gary Scattergood

It is “staggering” how many food and drink firms aren’t aware of how much help and support is available to enable them to exploit export opportunities.

Europe represents 70% of UK exports

‘Export to Europe first before taking on China’

By Laurence Gibbons

Small UK food and drink manufacturers looking to begin exporting should focus on markets closer to home before tackling countries such as China, the Food and Drink Exporters Association (FDEA) has warned.

Food and drink manufacturers exporting to China face tough new rules

Chinese clampdown with food import law

By Gary Scattergood

Manufacturers eyeing burgeoning export opportunities in China must comply with a raft of new legislation in order to trade in the country – or face strict new penalties.

Food and drink manufacturers have been tipped for export success by the CBI

Business bosses pick out food sector as ‘champion sector’

By Mike Stones

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has highlighted food manufacturing and agriculture as one of seven key “champion sectors” for growth, urging the government to develop a “coherent industrial strategy to boost exports”.

UK food manufacturers face much sharper competition in export markets

Government set to break down barriers to exports

By Rick Pendrous

Food and drink manufacturers could look forward to more support from government to help them lift their exports, following the results of a new study commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Food manufacturers are being invited to join trade mission to the

West Midlands food firms on Irish export mission

By Laurence Gibbons

Food and drink manufacturers in the West Midlands are being invited to join a trade mission to boost exports to the ‘ideal market’ of Ireland, organised by United Kingdom Trade & Investment (UKTI).

Paul Walsh has been appointed the UK's first business ambassador for food and drink

Diageo boss appointed ambassador for food and drink

By Mike Stones

Drinks giant ceo Paul Walsh has been appointed the first business ambassador for the food and drink industries to boost the export performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The new safety lab is further evidence of the trend towards globalisation of the food chain

New food safety lab highlights globalisation of food

By Mike Stones

Further evidence of the globalisation of the food chain has come with the announcement of the UK’s first food training laboratory designed to improve the safety standards of food and drink imports.

Export growth will help the firm lift its turnover to £50M within the next five years, said Colin Burke

Scots salmon firm to boost exports after acquisition

By Mike Stones

The Edinburgh Salmon Company (ESC) predicts export growth will lift its turnover to £50M within the next five years, after its acquisition by French equity firm Merinvest earlier this month for an undisclosed sum.

UK food and drink firms may struggle to achieve similar emerging export success compared with Diageo

Diageo export success tough to follow for UK firms

By Dan Colombini

Smirnoff manufacturer Diageo’s recent export success will be a tough act to follow for UK firms, according to city analysts, after the drinks giant revealed that 40% of its sales now come from emerging markets.

Government lends a hand to exports

Government lends a hand to exports

By Rick Pendrous

Manufacturers are being urged to take advantage of increased government support to increase their exports this year.

Food firms have welcomed the government's new Farming, Food and Drinks Export Action Plan

Food firms back government export plan

By Dan Colombini

Food manufacturers have backed the government’s new plan to boost UK food and drink exports to emerging markets such as India and China, which aims to help towards the drive for 20% industry growth by 2020.

Food firms are

Food firms back DEFRA’s export plan

By Dan Colombini

Plans to use British foreign embassies to promote UK food and drink overseas have been welcomed by food manufacturers after new figures showed exports for the sector were rising.

FDF aims for 20% food and drink growth by 2020

FDF aims for 20% food and drink growth by 2020

By Rick Pendrous

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is confident that its ambition to grow the UK’s food and drink manufacturing sector by 20% by 2020 will not be blown off course by prime minister David Cameron’s decision to veto changes to the EU treaty last Friday...

Poor financial performance has resulted in UK factory closure

Packaging firm Veriplast axes 67 UK jobs

By Dan Colombini

Food packaging firm Veriplast UK has left 67 employees with the choice of losing their jobs or relocating to Holland after the firm announced the closure of its factory in County Durham.

The UK's position gives it a competitive advantage in the food and drink export market

UK export success due to unique global position

By Freddie Dawson

The latest food and drink export figures reveal UK manufacturers’ ability to take advantage of our unique global position, according to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

FDF calls for clarity on government aid to exporters

FDF calls for clarity on government aid to exporters

By Ben Bouckley

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has challenged the government to prioritise the food and drink sector, in the aftermath of a White Paper outlining new trade measures to aid UK exporters that appear to exclude the industry.