A Northern Powerhouse delegation of Yorkshire food and drink businesses recently visited Dubai to exhibit their products at Gulfood.

Seabrook Crisps, Harrogate Spring Water and The Ice Co were among the businesses showcasing Yorkshire-made products at Gulfood to buyers from around the world. A five-day international exhibition, it features 5,000 food and drink exhibitors and attracts over 100,000 visitors every year.

Organised as part of the Food is GREAT campaign, the trade mission was a cross-department initiative by the UK Government between Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

During Gulfood, a Food is GREAT networking breakfast and panel event took place at the British Embassy in Dubai. With 125 UK food and drink businesses taking part, discussion focused on opportunities in the Middle East led by a panel of experts including representatives from Marks and Spencer, Defra, the UAE government, and Choithrams, a large supermarket chain in the UAE.

Regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber at the DIT, Mark Robson, said: “Over the past 10 years, global demand for British produce has grown significantly, with food and drink exports now worth more than £22 billion.

“This international demand presents an excellent opportunity for food and drink firms across Yorkshire.

“There’s an abundance of Yorkshire producers of all sizes that have already taken the leap to sell abroad, including crisp makers, brewers, pie makers, cheesemongers and more.

“Our 29 dedicated Yorkshire and the Humber International Trade Advisers are on hand to help firms navigate the challenges exporting may throw at them.”