UK exports reaching global high

THE ENVIRONMENT secretary, Liz Truss, has announced that a record number of countries are importing UK foods.

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Products including Yorkshire Ice and cheese are being shipped around the world into restaurants, supermarket and bars.

 

New figures show the UK government has helped 2,500 food and drink businesses sell their produce abroad in the last 12 months – more firms than ever before – generating £300 million for the UK economy as part of the long-term economic plan.

 

With almost three new global markets opened up each week since 2010, British food and drink manufacturers are also selling wine to France, Yorkshire Tea to China and extra hot British chillies to Pakistan.

 

Not only are UK producers selling to the far ends of the earth, but increasing their exports has helped grow the UK’s Food and Drink industry, which remains the country’s biggest manufacturing sector, greater than cars and aerospace combined. The entire food chain contributes £97 billion a year to our economy and employs one in eight people.

 

On a visit to the Salon International de l’Agroalimentaire (SIAL) fair in Paris today, where more than 100 of the UK’s premier food and drinks firms are exhibiting, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: “There’s no doubt we’re world leading when it comes to our food and drink – selling chillies to Pakistan, ice to Sweden and wine to France.

 

“We’ve had huge success – smashing our target– and helping a record number of British food and drinks companies sell their delicious produce abroad, building a stronger economy for the UK.

 

“I want to see more people buying British. That’s why I have come to France to fly the flag for British food, encourage more trade and demonstrate to international companies how attractive it is to invest in the UK.

 

Today’s announcement is the latest step in four years of record food and drink export growth. In 2013 exports of UK food and drink was worth £18.9 billion, an increase of £1.2 billion since 2010.