Producers The Wensleydale Creamery, Cartwright & Butler and Shepherd’s Purse were part of a delegation exhibiting products to the Winter Fancy Food Show (WFF).
The mission, organised by the Department for International Trade (DIT), saw 21 businesses from the Northern Powerhouse region travel to the US to boost trade.
Wensleydale Creamery export manager Janette Scarth said attending the WFF helped the company support routes to market in the US.
“We aim to support these routes to market and promote our range of quality, handcrafted cheese to target audiences from the retail and restaurant trade,” said Scarth.
‘Target changing market needs’
“It presents a perfect opportunity for us to showcase our sliced blended cheese packs, developed to target changing market needs for convenience cheese formats.”
Wensleydale Creamery’s export sales to the US represented about 50% of its trade overseas. It also exports to mainland Europe, Australia, Asia and The Middle East.
Sheperd’s Purse aimed to become a first-time direct exporter by securing orders from the event. Caroline Bell, co-md, said she was excited to attend WFF and showcase the company’s artisan cheeses.
Biscuit and chutney producer Cartwright & Butler looked to expand trade with the US, after recently securing a major export order for its sweet and savoury biscuits, preserves and chutneys to Galeries Lafayette department stores in Paris, Marseille and Nice.
Tony Arnett, Cartwright & Butler md, said: “The US is a great fit for the Cartwright and Butler brand. We are already established in stores such as Macy’s in Herald Square and look forward to meeting new customers in San Francisco.”
Valuable orders for companies
DIT regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber Mark Robson said the organisation’s trade missions often led to valuable orders for companies and a chance to meet existing and potential customers.
“We’re genuinely pleased to provide the opportunity for The Wensleydale Creamery, Cartwright & Butler, Shepherd’s Purse and all the other Yorkshire and the Humber businesses attending WFF to grow and start successful export business in North America and further afield,” added Robson.
Winter Fancy Foods ran from January 22–24 2017 at the Moscone Center, San Francisco. Up to 30,000 food professionals and more than 1,400 top brands from around the world attended the speciality food event.
Meanwhile in other news, the US has withdrawn from the Trans Pacific Partnership, following an executive order from president Donald Trump.