There is a growing appetite for British food & drink products in Emerging Europe.
Poland is already established among the UK’s top dozen food & drink export markets globally; while exports to the nine countries making up UKTI’s Central Europe Network (stretching from Poland in the north to Croatia in the south; and Austria in the west to Bulgaria and Romania in the east), were worth close to £400 million last year.
Export growth continues, with some impressive increases over the first quarter of this year: exports of dairy products and eggs to Romania up 300% compared with the same period last year, and doubled to Bulgaria, Hungary and the Czech Republic; a 600% increase in exports of fish and seafood to Slovakia; exports of beverages to Bulgaria up by 80%, with a 70% increase in beverages exports to Austria and a 50% increase to Slovakia; a huge 1700% increase in exports of meat products to Bulgaria; and major increases in UK exports of vegetables and fruit, plus coffee, tea and spices, around the region.
Tastes are changing too – as our recent ethnic foods showcase in Slovenia, supported by award-winning curry chefs, demonstrated. Elsewhere, Tesco continues to expand its network of over 800 stores in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary; and Marks & Spencer are undertaking what appears to be a very successful trial of hundreds of fresh food lines in Prague.
It is no longer necessary to cram one’s suitcase with UK food products before return flights to the CEE. An extensive and increasing range of products – from organic tea to Shropshire Blue cheese; piccalilli to British back bacon; and curry pastes to artisan chocolates, are available locally.
There is a lot to be positive about. But we should be doing better in a region with over 110 million consumers only a couple of hours’ flight from the UK. So, to raise awareness of the opportunity presented by Emerging Europe, UKTI and the Food & Drink Federation are delivering a CEE Food & Drink Export showcase at the QEII conference centre this Thursday, 6 June.
In addition to hearing from Tesco; CEE distribution and logistics experts Raben; and Queen’s Award winner Sun Mark Ltd., participants will have the chance to discuss the potential for their products with UKTI’s food & drink specialists from across Emerging Europe.
We’ll also be presenting the opportunity to participate in series of food & drink showcases across Emerging Europe later in the year – including the Foodparade festival in Prague; the Agrocomplex Expo in Nitra, Slovakia; and Taste of Britain events in Warsaw and Vienna. Details of this Thursday’s event are available at http://www.fdf.org.uk/event.aspx?event=4946.
4 comments
Comment by Martin posted on
The FDEA has now built up strong contacts with local distributors and retailers working with imported food and drink, plus an understanding of what it takes to succeed. In order for UK companies to successfully develop an export presence in the Chinese market they must be prepared to put sufficient resource behind the attempt
Comment by David Kennedy posted on
Martin,
Please take a look at the demand forecast on snacks demand in Poland from http://www.Queridata.com I sent you by email.
Regards
David Kennedy
Emerging Markets Direct
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Comment by Lucasbenjamin posted on
It is no longer necessary to cram one’s suitcase with UK food products before return flights to the CEE. In Order for UK companies to successfully develop an export presence in the chinese market they must be prepared to put sufficient resources behind the attempt.
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