Food From Britain prepares to close

Source: Food and Drink Digital

Date :20/08/2008 16:48:06

UK food and drink exporters face an uncertain future as Food From Britain (FFB) prepares to close its doors.

The organisation lost its Defra funding of £5 million this year and there is not expected to be a private sector replacement when it is forced to close in March 2009.

FFB has promoted British food and drink exports around the world since its inception in 1983. Covering markets in Europe, the US, the Gulf States and Asia Pacific, it helped make brands such as Quorn vegetarian products and Tyrells vegetable crisps household names internationally.

FFB’s Chairperson, Lady Sylvia Jay, pointed out in its annual report: UK food exports have grown in value to a record-breaking £11.5 billion in 2007, up from £10.5 billion in 2006 “with excellent knock on effects for the UK economy as a whole.”

Producers and manufacturers of British food exports had held out hope of a similar organisation being set up in its wake, and that an exception would be made to the 2006 EU regulations on Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) rules.

No such exception has been made, therefore FFB’s employees would have to be re-employed under civil service terms, at a far higher cost than could be afforded.