Return of exports events

A blog by Awal Fuseini

Nobody could argue that the last year hasn’t been challenging. With the effects of Covid and Brexit felt across the supply chain, staff shortages in abattoirs, not to mention restrictions on international travel, it has been another tough year for our exporters. But as we head into a new year, I’m feeling hopeful about 2022 and the opportunities this year presents. I’m delighted that next month, AHDB will be heading back to one of our most important trade shows of the year – Gulfood. As the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition, the opportunities it presents for UK produce cannot be overstated. Held every year in Dubai, Gulfood attracts exhibitors from all around the world, with over 4,000 companies expected to participate this year. The programme has been revealed and it looks just as impressive as previous years, with more than 200 speakers taking part and 21 halls of food exploration. And AHDB will once again be a part of this.

The event not only provides us with an opportunity to showcase the UK’s red meat and dairy products to attendees, but it also gives our exporters the chance to meet with key importers and make valuable connections across the region. This year, we will be joined by a record number of exporters from the UK – six showcasing their high-quality cheese and 10 exhibiting their lamb and beef to the many thousands of attendees. The popularity of the event with our exporters has grown over the years and Gulfood now carries increased global significance for British food producers. We know that there is a huge opportunity in the Middle East market for our products and Gulfood is the perfect platform to embrace that opportunity.

These opportunities were evident in November when AHDB accompanied four red meat exporters on a mission to the Middle East as part of our strategic objective to grow key export markets for our levy payers. The three-day visit proved to be a resounding success with our exporters meeting many key potential buyers, offering some important leads to help grow their overseas trade. We also held a reception at the British Embassy where top chefs and importers had the chance to sample some of the finest British lamb, which proved hugely positive for the UK’s red meat sector. The feedback we’ve received from our exporters who attended the trade mission has been extremely positive, with all praising the visit and the meetings that AHDB facilitated – many of which resulted in some strong potential business opportunities. Trade missions are an important area of work undertaken by AHDB to help industry understand the needs of new and emerging markets, grow our exports and continue to enhance the UK’s global reputation for excellence. As we look to the year ahead, we hope to facilitate more opportunities, meetings and visits to key target markets and help our levy payers reap the rewards that these valuable connections provide.