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Business West hosts food exporting fair
One hundred food and drink companies from across the region came together with international buyers at Berwick Lodge on January 19 and 20 for The FoodEx South West ‘Meet the Buyer’ event.
Buyers looking for new British products to stock had the opportunity to network with food producers both looking to expand their order books or to start selling overseas.
Amanda Stansfield, owner of Taunton based Ice Cream makers Granny Gothards, already exports to Dubai and was positive about the benefits: “I’ve met buyers from Turkey, Belgium and France who are all interested in both the retail and food service side of my business.”
Majid Lazraq from Belgian distributor, Wonderfood, said: “I have had clients for over 10 years who love very unique and unusual food products for their stores and the South West of England always produces high quality unique products.”
FoodEx South West launched last year, a programme by Business West and the UK government in part to tackle concerns about the UK’s ability to trade internationally post-Brexit.
Asked about the ‘gloomy outlook’ surrounding UK exports, director of international trade at Business West, James Monk, said: “Twelve buyers from Europe and beyond came along to FoodEx because they want to buy British products. They love the quality, they love our equitable trading, and our products are the cheapest they’ve been for decades. Who wouldn’t want to trade with us?”
FoodEx South West offers a range of free support for food and drink companies who are looking to export their produce. This support service includes promotion of products to international buyers through an online directory and a virtual trade fair, as well as advice on IP, import tariffs, documentation and trading regulations.
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