The government estimates the Food and Drink International Action Plan will benefit 1,000 British food and drink firms and hopes it will deliver a £500M boost to the UK economy.
It will be delivered by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as part of the government's ambition to raise UK exports to £1 trillion and get 100,000 more UK companies exporting.
The government launched the plan after six months of consultation with the food industry.
DEFRA and UKTI aim through the plan to offer support and advice on exporting – with simple access points for UK firms – to speed up international growth.
The plan sets out specific support for the dairy industry; beer, cider, wine and spirits exports; meat and seafood industries and UK food brands.
It also pledges faster export certification for animals and animal products and continued work to lift trade barriers, promote trade and maintain access to open markets already opened.
Huge untapped potential
DEFRA stated that there was huge untapped potential for export among small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), with 90% not exporting.
At the same time as launching the international sales drive, Paterson revealed food was one of the pillars of the UKTI's GREAT marketing campaign. This aims to showcase the best of Britain's goods and services, encouraging the world to visit, study, and do business with, it.
A two-year GREAT campaign will promote the British food and drink industry to international markets including Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, South Korea, Hong Kong and Macao, China, the US and Europe.
Speaking from Anuga, DEFRA Secretary of State Paterson said: “The Food and Drink Exports Action Plan and the launch of Food is GREAT … will give quality British produce an even higher profile, boost our economy and create jobs.
“There are huge opportunities for British food companies to export all over the world and I’m determined to help our firms exploit them.”
'There has never been a better time'
Fiona Kendrick, chairman and chief executive officer of Nestlé UK and Ireland and co-chair of the Agri-food and Drink Export Forum said: "There has never been a better time for the UK agri-food and drink companies to start exporting.
"High demand from overseas markets for British goods will play a vital role in our sector’s ability to achieve the shared goal with government of 20% sector growth by 2020.”
UKTI has taken a food and drink trade mission to Anuga and UK firms are meeting a range of buyers and suppliers, and visiting local food and drink producers.
Chef and ambassador for the Food is GREAT campaign, Tom Aikens, has created a menu for the delegates to showcase the best of British produce and improve international perceptions of the UK’s food offering.
"A 15% increase in overseas sales in the last two years is a clear sign of the opportunities available to the British food and drink manufacturers working in this sector," said Lord Green, trade and investment minister.
“This Action Plan reinforces the UK government’s support for such a prosperous sector with an emphasis on how together with industry we can support businesses in the global export markets.”
For more on the Action Plan, click here.