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FDF and government set out shared vision for food and drink manufacturing industry to achieve 20% growth by 2020
The food and drink industry and government have today (13 Dec) launched a shared vision for 20% growth in food and drink manufacturing by 2020.
This ambitious vision builds on work already underway to unlock the potential of the industry in key areas such as securing new export markets; and ensuring that the food and drink industry can attract and retain the skills and talent it needs over the next few years including in critical areas such as food scientists and engineers.
Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Caroline Spelman MP said: “There are going to be huge opportunities for Britain’s food industry to supply an increasingly hungry world in coming years and sell high quality products to emerging markets. That’s why alongside manufacturers we’re leading a range of strategies, focussed on competitiveness, to drive economic growth. 2020 is a welcome project that will fully complement all the ambitious work we’re doing.”
Her views were echoed by Business Minister Mark Prisk MP: "There is huge potential for growth in the food and drink sector. I welcome the industry’s ambition to grow their sector by 20% by 2020 and ensure that food and drink manufacturing in Britain has a bright future."
FDF Director General Melanie Leech said: “Research undertaken for FDF by Grant Thornton has helped us identify the major opportunities and barriers to our growth. It is clear that our industry has formidable strengths: product quality, branding and our ability to innovate are among our key competitive advantages both in the domestic market and abroad. UK food and drink manufacturing companies already have an excellent track record in these areas and a high reputation for quality and we have used these as the base to develop our vision.”
“The Grant Thornton report provides a wealth of information about our sector. In the New Year we will sit down with Government to unpack it further and to develop a detailed plan to work towards our shared vision and maximise our sector’s potential to contribute to the UK economy.”