Brits to sell seaweed to the Japanese

Nine British food and drink companies will be selling seaweed to the Japanese – along with products ranging from herb cordials to smoked salmon – at the Foodex exhibition in Tokyo on 11-14 March 2008.

One of the most import-dependent nations in the world, Japan currently imports over 60% of its total food supply and its inhabitants have a higher consumer spend per capita than any European country. UK exports to Japan hit £141.8million in 2006, and the nine British exhibitors on Food from Britain’s British pavilion will seek to grow this figure as they showcase their products to over 95,000 professionals from the region’s food service, retail and manufacturing industries.

The opportunity available to the Foodex exhibitors is not limited to Japan. Foodex 2007 was visited by nearly 10,000 buyers from other growing markets, including China, Singapore and Malaysia. Exports to the entire region totalled over £1billion in 2006 and look set to grow as the regional economy continues to expand.

Food from Britain will highlight the new products on offer on the British pavilion with a New Product Showcase which includes Rocombe Organic Ice Cream cups, Dr Stuart Herb Lozenges and Selwyn’s Seafoods’ Natural Nori Seaweed. Ruth O’Connor, Development Markets Executive at Food from Britain, commented: “The British exhibitors at Foodex are presenting quality products which will appeal to the Japanese taste for innovative, premium products. As Foodex becomes an increasingly regional show, the opportunities for these products in other markets can only grow.”

The British pavilion can be found in Hall 4, stand 4F04-I.

ENDS

Notes for editors

Food from Britain (FFB), the international market development network which works in over 30 international markets, helps some 700 British food and drink companies each year to build their international business.  For further information visit: www.foodfrombritain.com.        

The exhibitors on the British pavilion at Foodex 2008 are:

• Nichols plc
• Thorncroft Ltd / Represented by Thalgo
• Gourmet's Choice Smoked Salmon Ltd
• Dart Valley Foods Ltd
• Only Natural Products Limited
• X35 Energy Ltd
• Cross Culture Holdings Ltd
• Selwyn's Penclawdd Seafoods
• The East India Company Tea Ltd

04 March 2008