Leading manufacturers visit Spain on UK's first organic food trade mission

The trade mission was organised and run by the Department of International Trade (DIT) and Santander Corporate & Commercial to network with distributors and buyers and potentially sign trade deals. 

About the visit

The programme reflected the growing demand for high-quality UK food products in Spain and the significant opportunities available to firms focused on the fast-growth organic and gluten-free sector.

Among the activities undertaken, the businesses visited specialist stores and supermarkets including El Corte Ingles and Carrefour, and attended an exclusive presentation, as well as a ‘meet the buyer’ event with over 35 buyers, at the British Embassy in Madrid in the presence of the British Ambassador. 

The firms were also given the opportunity to visit Biocultura 2017 in Madrid, a leading organic products trade fair that attracted over 800 exhibitors and around 70,000 attendees.

Good signs for food and drink sector

A sector report published by Santander and manufacturing organisation EEF earlier this year concluded that the UK food and drink industry is set for strong future growth off the back of global demand for UK manufactured produce. 

Food and drink exports have gone from strength to strength in recent years with 2016 marking the first year that the value of exports of the food and drink sector exceeded £20 billion. 

Despite this, only one in five UK food and drink manufacturers currently export, and there is a clear opportunity for them to “grow through exports”.

The report also concluded that gluten-free and the wider health food market is set for strong growth and UK firms are well positioned to capitalise on this global trend. Global sales of gluten-free foods rose 12.6% in 2016 to $3.5 billion, compared to 4% for overall packaged foods.

Alicia Ferrero Vega, International – Santander Corporate & Commercial Banking, said: 

The UK’s food and drink sector is a global success story and the industry is ahead of the curve in terms of the healthy food market and, in particular, gluten-free. Santander is dedicated to helping UK businesses trade and export overseas and our trade missions are a powerful, high-profile and increasingly popular means to directly connect firms with distributors, buyers and other key stakeholders.

Spain’s consumption of organic food products is well-established and increasingly motivated by a desire to lead a healthy lifestyle. Latest Nielsen data suggests that 45% of Spanish consumers want healthier food alternatives on shop shelves, especially in the 40+ age groups. The consumption of organic products is increasing, and if a UK company is interested in exporting this kind of products, it is the right time to be in Spain.

Claudio Stein, International Sales at Naturya said: 

The Meet the Buyer Mission exceeded my highest expectations. I met high quality buyers and distributors and had very relevant conversations with them. It would have taken me at least two years to achieve the same results. The event also allowed me to have a much better understanding of the market which will definitely help Naturya make the best possible choices for the Spanish market.

Helping SMEs to export is a core priority for Santander. The bank’s trade missions are unique in the wider SME banking market – Santander regularly and proactively gets UK firms out to markets to meet buyers and network with key stakeholders. Previous trade missions have covered the US, Spain, Chile, the United Arab Emirates and Poland, among others.

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