Supporting the launch of Defra's Great British Food Unit, Ian Wright CBE, Director General of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has responded.
Wright (pictured) said, 'UK food and drink is a major national asset and the envy of the world. Government's new Great British Food Unit, announced today, could be a real game changer for UK food and drink exports.
'Helping this country's 6,000+ producers, many of them small enterprises, to compete in the fiercely competitive global marketplace will help us meet our ambitious target to grow value added exports by a third to £6bn by 2020.
'In the UK, we have doubled total food and drink exports in a decade, and, with the right support, even more UK brands can take their fair share of the opportunities that abound abroad.
Wright concluded, 'We strongly share the Government's commitment to making the UK the investment destination of choice, and agree that a growing and sustainable food and drink industry is vital to our shared economic future.
'Through the industry and Government partnership promised by the unit - kicked off in this, the Year of Great British Food - we will work to give Britain's makers, bakers and bottlers the support they need to thrive.”