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Food and Drink Manufacturing Sector Deal Proposal

Building on its Industrial Strategy Green Paper response, FDF has been working on detailed Sector Deal proposals which we hope will transform the sector's future growth potential and ensure the UK continues to be home for leading food and drink manufacturers.

• UK Export Statistics
• Food and Drink Sector Council Exports Group
• Food and Drink Sector Deal Proposal
• Food and Drink Sector Deal Proposal
• FDF / FDEA Growth through Exports Guide
• Research
• Innovation

UK export statistics

FDF publishes quarterly reports outlining the latest UK food and drink export statistics, which can help your company to prioritise markets for exporting. Our reports cover the following:

• Data on the UK's top product exports,
• Key destinations,
• Potential growth areas,
• and updates on FDF's policy work.

You can view our reports on the Exports statistics page.

Food and Drink Sector Council Exports Group

In January 2018, the Food and Drink Sector Council was established to act for the entire food chain.

The Sector Council is a formal industry partnership with Government created to improve the productivity and sustainability of the UK food and drink industry.

Among the Council's priorities are:

• agricultural productivity,
• nutrition,
• workforce and skills,
• innovation,
• logistics,
• packaging
• and finally, exports.

For each of these priorities, working groups have been set up which will drive activities and policy recommendations in these areas and feed into the Sector Council. The export group is being led by Graham Hutcheon, Managing Director Edrington.

For more information on the group's vision/objectives, group members and key milestones, see the FDSC Exports Core Group webpage.

Food and Drink Sector Deal Proposal

Building on its Industrial Strategy Green Paper response, FDF has been working on detailed Sector Deal proposals which we hope will transform the sector's future growth potential and ensure the UK continues to be home for leading food and drink manufacturers. Read more on FDF's Sector Deal proposals.

Exports

While exports in UK food and drink have been experiencing rapid growth, the sector faces some unique challenges.

To fully take advantage of growth opportunities and drive a step-change in UK food and drink exports, there is a need for a new Government and Industry partnership.

We propose three key actions that would work together to enhance export volumes and values for business of all sizes:

1. Food and Drink Export Portal a website that acts as a focal point for F&D exports.
• Signposting existing export information and support
• Promotion of Department for International Trade (DIT) export opportunities
• Highlighting missions / events
• Promoting sector-specific guidance
• Building a directory of exporters to inform export support and priorities
2. A Market Research Unit that produces market and sector intelligence reports which will address market failure in the provision of market research to support export prioritisation.
3. Market Access Assistance to put in place food and drink sector specialists in markets that offer the greatest opportunity for growth but are difficult markets for businesses to access. Initial priority markets would be China, India, Japan, USA and the Gulf.

FDF/FDEA Growth through Exports guide

This Five Steps to Food and Drink Exporting Success has been developed by FDF and Food and Drink Exporters Association (FDEA) as part of an enhanced partnership to help more of Britain's 7,290 business to export.

The guide provides useful information and tips on how food and drink manufacturers can begin exporting to foreign markets.

View the FDF / FDEA Growth through Export guide.

Research

FDF continues to conduct research around its key policy areas. Exports has been identified as a key area when considering our sector's economic contribution and growth opportunities going forward.

View: The food and drink industry – Economic contribution and growth opportunities

View: Growth opportunity: Trade

Innovation

The UK has a strong R&D base for food and drink manufacturing driven by high class multinational organisations choosing to locate in the UK. However, more than nine in ten of food and drink businesses are SMEs. Limited resources and uncertainty with short-term retail contracts can make financing of automation technology extremely difficult for food and drink SMEs and in turn hinders improvements in productivity.

We are therefore proposing to establish a network of demonstrator sites, based on already existing Centres of Excellence for Food and Drink Manufacturing*.

Food and drink businesses will benefit from consultancy support focused on identifying productivity improvements which will allow more businesses to find and understand solutions, removing the associated risk of technology investment. Providing a physical space for the demonstration of technology with further build the confidence of industry.

* National Centre for Food Manufacturing at the University of Lincoln, National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University and The Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry

Next Steps

The Sector Deal proposal has been submitted to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). If successful a period of negotiation will take place to define scope and co- investment.

Food and Drink Sector Council

FDF response to the BEIS Industrial Strategy Green Paper Consultation

For more information about this work, please contact: tanya.barringer@fdf.org.uk