21 Apr 2010 --- Exports of food and non-alcoholic drinks have hit record levels, according to new research for the Food and Drink Federation. With food and drink exports growing in value by 4.4% to £9.65bn in 2009, a fifth consecutive year of growth, the food and drink industry significantly outperformed other manufacturing sectors, which experienced an 11.8% slump in overseas sales.

Within the overall export success of the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, key highlights include:
• Non-alcoholic drinks was the best performing sector, growing 20.6% to £318.6m, driven by strong sales in EU markets such as Ireland, France, Spain and Germany;
• Fish and seafood was up by 15% to £1160.4m, including a 42.3% rise in the exports of fresh salmon.
• Other added value product areas in strong growth included breakfast cereals (up 17.2%), sauces and condiments (up 9.2%) and sugar confectionary (up 10.9%).
• Case study material (see below for more details) include Welsh sea salt used to make Barack Obama’s favourite chocolate caramels, a burgeoning Asian taste for traditional English lemon curd, a Paprika crisp designed for the Holland market now successful across Europe and Indian chutneys spicing up diets in Germany, Switzerland & Japan

The EU remains the main destination for UK food and drink exports, accounting for 79.2% of overseas sales. But significant growth has been recorded outside Europe - with sales to the Oceania region up 15.9% and exports to North America jumping 14.8%.

Melanie Leech, Director General of the Food and Drink Federation, said: “This is the fifth consecutive year of record exports by the food and drink industry – demonstrating the significant economic value of our sector. This strong performance is testimony to the persistence and entrepreneurial spirit of British manufacturers – as well as a reflection of the quality of what they produce. I am proud of the fact our sector has continued to report significant overseas success at a time when UK exports as a whole have taken a significant hit.”