Unlocking crowded export markets is best done face to face, according to one of the Yorkshire brewers looking for trade in the US market.

Leeds based Saltaire Brewery was one of six Yorkshire brewers that attended the international beer exchange at the International Beer Festival, organised by the Maine Brewers Guild earlier this month.

Nick Helliwell, sales director at Saltaire Brewery, said: “The two most mature markets in the world for beer are the UK and the US.

“The consumer in the UK and the US is more knowledgeable about beer than they are anywhere else in the world.

“Certainly if you’re looking to grow business it’s one of the biggest markets you can get into but it’s a difficult market to get into.

“It’s challenging because the beer they already have is so good and the market is so developed. It is probably the most difficult market to get into. The only way to do that is to go face to face, meet people and understand them.”

Saltaire Brewery was joined by five other Yorkshire brewers: Brew York, Rudgate Brewery, Roosters Brewing Co, Kirkstall Brewery and Vocation Brewery.

The beer exchange was organised by the UK government and aimed to give the businesses the opportunity to connect with potential buyers and distributors.

The executive director of Maine Brewer’s Guild, Sean Sullivan, said: “It gives the UK brewers the chance to collaborate with those in the US that are heavily influenced by what is coming out of the UK’s growing craft beer industry. I hope we see lots of success from the collaboration and continue to join forces with breweries from either side of the pond.”

The exchange was backed by a UK Government initiative, Food is GREAT, which is led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in partnership with the Department for International Trade (DIT). UK food and drink companies taking part in the initiative are encouraged to establish their presence in overseas markets.

Stephen Noblett, Food and Drink sector expert at DIT Yorkshire said: “The trip to Maine gave brewers the chance to showcase their beer to an audience of prospective buyers, distributors and the public from across the US which is a key market for British beer.

“Maine is known for its booming craft beer tourism so creating an opportunity for these breweries to showcase what they have offer during the festival could lead to some exciting and lucrative deals.

“Craft beer exports has seen a sharp increase over the past 12 months and it’s continuing to grow.

“It’s fantastic to see breweries taking advantage of these opportunities and, with the right support and guidance such as trade missions like this, anyone can do it.

“Trade Missions are especially important as people get to meet buyers from across the globe face to face .”