Statement from the Managing Directors of the “Food from Britain (FFB) International Network”

Following the recent statement regarding cuts to the DEFRA budget affecting Food from Britain (FFB) and the subsequent publicity, all of the nine FFB International Offices have been contacted by several UK Food & Drink companies who have shared their concerns about the impact of the cuts.

The Managing Directors of the “FFB International Network” want to emphasize their determination to continue to provide a first-class export management service to the UK Food and Drink industry.

Since their privatization in 1991, the “FFB International Network” is proud of their contribution to the UK Food & Drink industry.

David Wilson, Managing Director of FFB North America said “Our clients were surprised by the cuts and alarmed by the short notice of their effect. The “FFB International Network” will prepare itself for the challenge of change.  We will work closely with our clients and we are determined to continue to maintain the high quality of service that is expected from FFB, in the months and years to come – we will aim to maintain business as usual.

The Managing Directors of the FFB International Network are seeking the active support of FFB London and DEFRA in the coming months to look at all options to ensure they can continue to service the requirements of the British Food and Drink Industry in international markets.”

END.

 
For more information please contact:

David Wilson
Managing Director - FFB North America
(Spokesperson on behalf of the Managing Directors of the “FFB International Network”)

+44 (0) 7710 046093 (UK mobile)
+1 203 550 3891 (US mobile)

Food From Britain North America
12 Avery Place, Second Floor
Westport, CT 06880, USA

Additional notes:

 “The FFB International Network” is nine independently owned companies that employ 64 food and drink specialists who provide export consultancy servicing hundreds of clients in the UK Food & Drink industry, many of which are SME’s (small and medium size enterprises).
  
 “The FFB International Network” has office locations in: Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, France, Spain, Denmark, Canada and the USA.

The “FFB International Network” Managing Directors are:
Roy Edleston / Patricia Czerniak – FFB Germany (covering Austria and Switzerland)
Sauro Musiani – FFB Italy
Philip Horemans – FFB Belgium
Pim Haasdijk – FFB Netherlands
Luis Garcia – FFB Portugal
Dominique Mine – FFB France
Guillermo Alvarez de Lorenzana – FFB Spain
Jakob True – FFB Nordic (covering Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway)
David Wilson – FFB North America (covering USA & Canada)

17 March 2008