There has arguably never been a better time to be a UK food and drink exporter. After breaking the £20 billion barrier for the first time in 2016, the first quarter of this year saw record year-on-year growth.
No doubt the drop in value in the pound following last June’s EU referendum has helped. But the uncertainty surrounding Brexit has perhaps also had another effect. While the EU remains the largest overseas market for UK food and drink, exports to the rest of the world are growing at a faster rate. For branded goods, that growth is 10 per cent stronger.
Membership of the EU, with its ready made market right on the doorstep, has perhaps Diverted the attention of UK manufacturers away from opportunities in the rest of the world. Now, with Brexit looming, it is time to look further afield with fresh eyes.
Both the FDF and the government are on the same page in recognising these new horizons for British food and drink, both recently publishing action plans for boosting global exports. Both recognise the challenges food and drink companies face in making the most of these opportunities, and the kind of support they will need.
This is where strategic partnerships with specialist freight carriers can come into their own. Beyond standard freight forwarding services, logistics partners can help food and drink companies in areas such as:
- Supply Chain Management: A logistics partner who is experienced in the movement of foodstuffs will appreciate the requirement to keep food stuffs, particularly perishables, moving in the supply chain. Selection of mode of transport (air, sea, road or rail), direct service or transhipped, cold storage or ambient storage and location of warehousing are all factors that a skilled logistics provider is able to bring to the table.
- Documentation and compliance: The red tape surrounding the global movement of goods can be daunting. Freight specialists can take care of this for you, so you can focus on what you do best.
- Staff training and outsourcing: Launching or growing a successful export business will require you to upskill staff in new areas. Get the best available training from specialists in export operations. Or alternatively, third party logistics providers (3PL) are able to offer customers outsourcing of internal import and export processes to allow exporters to concentrate on what they do best.
- Supply chain audits: Exporting inevitably means outsourcing operations to distant locations. Get independent advice on the safest, most efficient options so you can reap the best returns from your overseas trade.
There are exciting opportunities ahead for UK food and drink companies. The freight industry is ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with them to help make the most of them.
Alliance Shipping Group is a leading provider of blue chip sea and air freight services worldwide. For more information, please visit www.allianceshippinggroup.co.uk.