Export support after FFB closure on 31 March 2009

Since the announcement of the closure of Food from Britain (FFB) in its current form in March 2009, arrangements are being made to ensure support will be available for British food and drink exporters after that date.

Since the announcement of the closure of Food from Britain (FFB) in its current form in March 2009, FFB has been exploring ways of ensuring that export support to the UK food and drink industry continues after that date and that information about sources of help is readily available.

Update November 2008

Arrangements are taking shape that will enable British food and drink exporters to continue to access export support after 31 March 2009. This is the current state of these arrangements:

The British pavilion

Food from Britain has been an Accredited Trade Organisation (ATO), managing the British pavilion at around 15 key international food and drink exhibitions. For 2009-10, UK Trade & Investment has appointed a number of new ATOs which will manage the British pavilion at shows previously managed by FFB. UK Trade & Investment is in the process of allocating shows among the ATOs and we will provide more information when these arrangements are finalised.

UK-based support

UK-based government support to companies will be provided by UK Trade and Investment - the government department that provides business opportunities, expert trade advice and support to UK-based companies wishing to grow their business overseas.

Companies in Northern Ireland will be supported by Invest Northern Ireland, which provides support specifically to Northern Irish food and drink manufacturers to help them develop international business

Scottish companies will be able to contact Scotland Food & Drink, which provides information and advice to Scottish food and drink manufacturers to help them develop their international business.

Welsh companies can access support from International Business Wales, which provides support specifically to Welsh food and drink manufacturers to help them develop their international business.

In addition, existing and new organisations may well provide services to cover the gaps left by FFB in the UK from April 2009, but without being able to use the FFB name or logo. Although there will not be a formal successor organisation to FFB in the UK after March 2009, in due course it would be open to any organisation to approach Defra afresh about the use of the FFB name and logo in the UK.

In-market support

In-market support will be available from the FFB International network, which cover 16 markets and provide export services to British food and drink manufacturers. The offices previously provided these services through Food from Britain, and have confirmed that they will continue to provide them directly to the British food and drink industry. UK Trade and Investment has a network of posts which can also carry out in-market research on opportunities for your products.

Signposting

FFB is keen to ensure a legacy of export support specific to the food and drink industry. As such, we are now  establishing a system to signpost the existing sources of support and advice available to UK food and drink manufacturers looking to export. We aim to have such a system established before the closure of FFB in its current form.