DiT leads on export advice at the first Taste Lancashire 2017
The Department for International Trade will be chairing a panel discussion and sharing tips and expertise on making the most of Lancashire’s export opportunities, at the county’s first ever Taste Lancashire 2017 food and drink conference, organised by Marketing Lancashire.
Taste Lancashire 2017 will bring together food entrepreneurs, agricultural leaders, international trade experts and influencers f
rom the hospitality industry to challenge, inspire and celebrate Lancashire’s food economy with delegates drawn from the county’s food & drink sector businesses.
The event will take place on Wednesday 6th September at Holmes Mill, a vibrant food destination inside a former textile mill in Clitheroe. Food writer and broadcaster Jay Rayner will be the key note speaker at the event which will feature case studies, expert panels and a ‘meet the producers’ opportunity for buyers, chefs and restaurateurs.
Lynne Gillen, International Trade Team Leader, for the Department for International Trade said, “It is a real pleasure to be working in partnership with Marketing Lancashire to champion the region’s talented food and drink companies. By sharing the experiences of companies already active in international markets, this event will demystify the process of selling overseas and open up a whole world of opportunity for Lancashire.”
According to HMRC statistics, food and drink exports from the North West grew by 16% in 2016, to £1.6 billion. Companies who sell overseas are likely to be 34% more productive and 11% more likely to survive than those that don’t. There is no better time for Lancashire-based companies to take advantage of the support and expertise offered by the Department for International Trade.
Gluten free beer guru, Rik Garner from First Chop Brewing Arm, winner of the Open to Export Food & Drink award 2017, will be sharing his experience of setting up a new micro-brewery and speaking about the brewery’s spectacular export success.
“Our USP is selling gluten free craft beers and we are planning the majority of our expansion through export. Selling through cans, bottles and kegs has opened up the world for us. We can fill a container and the beer can go anywhere in the world. There is an emerging global Gluten Free market that we are keen to capitalise upon,” says Garner.
An expert panel discussion will focus on the benefits of exporting and the export opportunities available for Lancashire companies, who want to expand internationally. Panellists include: Gary Johnson, Managing Director of Grandma Singleton’s Dairy, Claire Parsons from the British Embassy in Switzerland, Elsa Fairbanks of the Food and Drink Exporters Association and Mick Hadfield from Business Growth North.
Taste Lancashire 2017 is proud to be working in association with BOOST, Lancashire’s business growth hub and Burnley-based Coolkit, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of fridge van conversions. The event is generously supported by Holmes Mill, part of the James’ Places Group.
Taste Lancashire 2017
Tickets are now on sale for businesses working in the county’s food and drink sector
Holmes Mill, Clitheroe
Wednesday 6th September 9.30am – 4.30pm
Tickets: £40, (£25 for Members of Marketing Lancashire)
Includes lunch and refreshments
Buy tickets online
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