Pictured: Peter Hogarth, International Trade Director for UK
Trade& Investment East Midlands
Over 20 major food and drink buyers from across the globe who
are looking for niche British branded products will be available
for one-to-one meetings with East Midlands' firms on Wednesday, 5
October.
Yet there are still spaces available and a Nottingham
distributor has joined UK Trade & Investment East Midlands in
calling for other firms to take advantage of this opportunity.
The Food and Drink Meet the Buyer event at the Derbyshire Hotel,
just off Junction 28 of the M1, organised by UK Trade &
Investment, aims to help local food and drink firms meet buyers
from around the world.
Peter Hogarth, International Trade Director for UK Trade&
Investment East Midlands, said:
"By exporting companies can reduce their risks while growing
their business. This event gives local companies a real opportunity
to secure new deals, make money and secure their business.
"Major buyers from countries including Singapore, Malaysia,
Mexico and Brazil are specifically coming to the East Midlands to
meet local firms because of our reputation for specialist food and
drink.
"Local food and drink producers can book one-to-one meetings
with these buyers so the chances to clinch sales are huge. These
are major distributors with links with supermarkets and big
retailers in their home countries."
UK exports of food and drink have risen for the sixth
consecutive year reaching £10.83 billion - up 11.4 per cent
on the previous year. Including alcoholic drinks, total food &
drink exports were £16.1 billion. Our top export markets are
Ireland, France, The Netherlands, Germany and Spain. Markets to
look out for include Russia, China, South Africa, Turkey and India,
which are experiencing double digit growth year on year.
Tim Roberts, Director of Fivexport, Nottingham, runs a
distribution and facilitation network to help SMEs across the East
Midlands to export.
He said:
"This event provides a massive opportunity to put your products
on the table before genuine international buyers for minimum cost
and time investment.
"Emerging economies like Brazil and China want British products
as they have such a great reputation. My company already deals with
a number of countries, including China and Taiwan, and we know what
they want: British products.
"I know that many businesses are frightened of exporting but
events like this make it so easy. And firms need to realise that
demand will not increase in the UK so the only way to increase your
margin is to export. If your products are good and you can sell it
here you could be exporting and growing your business."
The Meet the Buyer event is at The Derbyshire Hotel, just off
junction 28 of the M1, South Normanton, Derby and runs from 9am to
5pm. It costs £120 for six one-to-one meetings with
buyers.
To sign up go to http://foodanddrink.brackenevents.co.uk/