Exports help plea

Published on Wednesday 14 October 2009 20:34

THE chief organiser behind the UK stand at the Anuga food fair in Cologne this week made a plea for more government support for companies moving into the export market.

Sandra Sullivan, of events firm PS8, said: "I know of many more companies who would be here if there was more government funding. It is not just the cost of the stand, but if the government could help with receptions and paying for meeting areas, it would help the export drive."

Previously, companies wanting to attend exhibitions such as Anuga gathered together under the government-supported Food From Britain banner, but that organisation was closed down this year by the UK government.

Richard Lochhead, rural affairs secretary, the only minister from the UK to attend the show, said the support Scottish firms received from Scottish Development International covered 40 per cent of costs. Among the 6,200 stands were the the Quality Meat Scotland stand and those of Baxters, Walkers and three other Scottish food firms.