The UK government has established an action plan to boost the export of food and drink – specifically beer and cider – to Australia and New Zealand by 2020.
The newly created Department of International Trade is working to promote British products internationallym leading to speculation supermarket retailers such as Waitrose or Tesco could enter the Australian market.
Australian Food and Grocery Council CEO Tanya Barden has told news.com.au that the plan could pave the way for an influx of UK brands and products if EU tariffs and quotas were removed.
“There has been recent interest from several international supermarket retailers considering entering the Australian food and grocery market due to the relatively high Australian supermarket profit margins by global standards,” she said.
“If a free-trade agreement were to lead to investment from UK supermarket retailers, such as Waitrose or Tesco, into the Australian market this increase in competition would be welcomed by Australian manufacturers of food, beverage and grocery products as it would give them an alternate channel to sell their products.”
Currently, Scotch whisky, gin, biscuits, chocolate and cereal are among the main products the UK exports to Australia annually.
However, the Department of International Trade is looking at “specific opportunities” in “ambient grocery products, health, wellbeing & free-from and alcoholic drinks (beer and cider)” in Australia.
“We will target key retail buyers, in-store promotions and category development. The Australian Prime Minister has also made clear his desire to proceed quickly with a new trade deal for Britain,” it claims.
It gives the example of Hecks Cider, noting: “When Hecks Farmhouse Cider first started, they never imagined that they would export, but they were approached by an Irish pub in Russia, who had enjoyed their cider in Bristol and proposed that they export. Building on this success and with help from their local International Trade Adviser, DIT-run courses and a local beer and cider network, Hecks now export not only to Russia but also to the USA.
“Sandra Hecks, Business Development Manager at Hecks Farmhouse Cider, said: ‘My advice to any other business looking to export would be to straight away contact DIT (formerly UKTI) and be in touch with your representative before you do anything. And talk to as many companies as you can before exporting. Feeling networked here at home has been as important to us as the network we are happily now building overseas.’
According to news.com.au a Sydney-based team is already working with major food importers to promote British tea, coffee, beers and premium spirits.
